Man Sentenced In Drug Smuggling Scheme

An American man has been sentenced in a U.S. Federal Court to 36 months of probation and a $1,000 fine for his role in a US-to-Bermuda drug smuggling scheme.

The Associated Press reports that Brian Wade — who previously worked as baggage handler at Philadelphia International Airport  – pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute more than six pounds of cannabis by stowing it on a flight heading to Bermuda.

His name had come up during the recent trial of Craig Hatherley [27] and Lorenzo Lottimore [33], who were found guilty of conspiring with others to import almost $1 million worth of heroin via a US Airways flight bound for Bermuda on June 2011.

During that trial, the Court heard that after Mr Wade’s arrest in 2010 he confessed to the scheme and agreed to work with the U.S. authorities. The resulting operation saw a fake package containing flour placed on the plane, and a ‘sting’ operation conducted to arrest those involved on the Bermuda end.

Two years prior to that trial, Mr Lottimore plead guilty to two counts of breaching airport security after he was found exiting an airline using a folding ladder in September 2010. This resulted in two planes being grounded and airport services being suspended while authorities conducted extensive security searches.

Mr Hatherley and Mr Lottimore are currently awaiting sentencing.

#AmericanArrests #AmericanRelations #InternationalCrime

Category: All, Court Reports, Crime, News