Community Corner
Another Ex-TSA Officer Pleads Guilty in LAX Pot Smuggling Scheme
Randy Littlefield, of Paramount, is the fifth and final person to plead guilty in the scheme.
A second ex-Transportation Security Administration agent pleaded guilty Wednesday to pocketing at least $400 in bribes to help marijuana smugglers circumvent security checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport.
Randy Littlefield, 29, of Paramount, entered his plea to a federal conspiracy charge stemming from his part in the scheme, which involved four others including the son of a retired Los Angeles fire chief and a second former TSA officer. All pleaded guilty.
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Littlefield faces up to five years in prison at his Jan. 14 sentencing hearing in Los Angeles federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The defendant was a public official who “acted corruptly” as part of a conspiracy "to defraud the United States and, secondly, to commit bribery'' in violation of his official duties, Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Blanco summarized for the court.
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Littlefield didn't speak at the hearing other than to respond to the judge's questions, including whether he understood the rights he was giving up.
“Yes,” Littlefield said when U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II asked him if he was indeed guilty.
In court papers, Littlefield acknowledged accepting $200 on two occasions from fellow TSA agent Dianna Perez when she needed help clearing pot- filled luggage through security at LAX.
In her guilty plea, Perez admitted using her position and knowledge of LAX security procedures to get loads of marijuana onto Boston-bound planes on nine occasions during the yearlong scheme in exchange for cash.
Perez, 28, of Inglewood, also faces up to five years in prison at her Jan. 7 sentencing hearing.
Millage Peaks IV, the 24-year-old son of the former fire chief, was apparently the leader of the ring. In his plea agreement, Peaks admitted promising to pay $500 to Perez for each pot-filled suitcase that passed through airport security between November 2010 and October 2011.
Peaks, also facing five years in prison, is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 14.
From City News Service
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