News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008

Former Airline & Airport Employees Charged with Conspiracy to Smuggle Cocaine at Jacksonville International Airport

MAY 15 -- Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division, Robert E. O'Neill, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Edwin Goodwin, Security Director of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Jacksonville, Sedrick Rivers, Chief of the Jacksonville International Airport Police Department, and Sheriff John Rutherford, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, announced the indictment of Lashawandra Brown and Antione Knox. Brown and Knox were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The maximum penalties both defendants face, if convicted on all counts, are 10 years to life imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $4 million.

Brown was a ticketing agent and worked for United Airlines. Knox worked at a shoe shine station in the airport. According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute 5 kilograms of cocaine and attempted to possess 5 kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute. The case was investigated by the DEA, TSA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Jacksonville International Airport Police Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.