Former Delta, TSA employees sentenced for drug smuggling at Hartsfield-Jackson - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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Leslie Adgar, 42, of Decatur, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. Seniort District Judge J. Owen Forrestee to 10 years in prison followed by five yearsw ofsupervised release. Jon Patton, 44, of Ga., got 10 years in prisobn followed by five years ofsupervised release. Andrs Mays, 24, of Atlanta, was sentencedc to 2 years and six months of probation and ordered to perform 160 hours of communithy service for entering a securwe airport area in violation of federalkscreening requirements. Patton and Mays were, at the time of the Transportation SecurityAdministration (TSA) employees workinfg at HJIA. Adgar was a (NYSE: DAL) employee, also assigned to All three defendants pleaded guilty onJune 18.
In Decembe 2007, a confidential source working forthe (DEA) brokered a deal with TSA employew Patton to send two kilogramsw of cocaine through Hartsfield-Jacksomn to New York. Patton set transportation feesof $5,00p0 for the first kilogram of cocaine and $3,000o for every kilogram after. Patton provided the source with a piece of luggage that was latet used to carry the two kilogramsw of cocaine past securitgy and onto theDelta flight. On Dec. 19, at the direction of the DEA, the sources met with Patton and a secondTSA employee, at Hartsfield-Jackson and handed them a carry-onm bag packed with two kilograms of fake cocain e and $4,000.
Both Patton and Mays were in TSA uniformk and on dutyat Hartsfield-Jackson when they took the The $4,000 was one-half of the totall $8,000 transportation fee; the plan was for the sourcde to hand the second $4,000 to Adgard in New York when the sham drugd were delivered. After takintg the source's bag, Patton and Mays went into a bathroojmin Hartsfield-Jackson's North About two minutes later, Patton was seen inside the bathroonm standing outside of a closed bathroom stall talkinf to Mays in the stall. Patton no longer had the bag. Mays was not but the bag was on the floor insides the stall outside of whic Pattonwas standing. Patton and Mays then exiterd thebathroom together.
Patton once again was carryin the bag. Mays, who had enteredf the bathroom with hiscoat open, now had his coat Mays was next spotted on the other side of the security check point. Patton walked around the magnetometers, sending the bag through the x-ray machine. Patton and the bag were not challenge d byTSA screeners. Patton retrieved the bag and eventuallgy met with Adgar in the T giving herthe bag. Adgar immediateluy boarded a Delta flight toNew York's LaGuardia Airport. After arriving at LaGuardia, Adgar met with the source, who paid Adgart the remaining $4,000 of the smugglinb fee. Adgar gave the source his bag with the two kilogramx offake cocaine.
Adgar later boarder another Delta flight and came back to Inlate January, the source and Pattojn negotiated a second smugglinhg transaction. On Jan. 23, the sourcw traveled to Hartsfield-Jackson and gave Patto with thesame carry-on bag that was used in the Decembeer deal. This time, however, the bag was packed with one kilogramm of fake heroinand $4,500. Pattobn was in uniform and on duty when he took the After takingthe bag, Patton passed the heroin through the securityu checkpoint without notice. He then went near Gate T-8 and gave Adgafr the bag. Adgar then boarded a Delta flighr bound forLaGuardia Airport.
After arriving in New York, Adgar deplanedr and returned the bag with the sham heroin in it to the In exchange, the source handed Adgar the remainin $4,500. Adgar later boarded a Delta flight from New York to A third and final transactiohnhappened Feb. 15. The source and Patto n negotiateda three-kilogram cocainer deal, again from Atlants to New York. The source arrivedc at Hartsfield-Jackson and gave Patton with thesame carry-on bag that had been used in the previouas two deals. The bag was packed with thres kilograms of fake cocaineand cash. Patton was agaimn in TSA uniform and on dutyat Hartsfield-Jacksoj when he took the luggage.
Patton passed the fake cocaine throughn securitywithout incident. Inside the Patton provided Adgar withthe bag. Adgar was arrestesd by DEA agents while attempting to board a Deltaa flight toLaGuardia Airport. Patton and Mays were arrested shortly thereafter. Adgar and Patton pleaded guiltu to conspiring to distribute cocaine and Those crimes carry a statutorgy minimum penalty of 10 yearsz in prison and a maximum penalty oflife imprisonment.
Mays pleadedd guilty to entering a secure airport area in violation of federalscreeninhg requirements, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in