CHRISTIANSTED – A St. Croix baggage handler who was caught with cocaine strapped to his leg at the airport was given two years in prison by a federal judge, authorities said.
Ray Harris, Jr., 24, was sentenced Thursday for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Wilma Lewis sentenced Harris to twenty-four months in prison, according to Shappert. Judge Lewis also sentenced Harris to three years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment.
On February 17, 2017, Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
According to documents filed in court, on May 4, 2016, the defendant and another individual who were employed by Worldwide Flight Services at the Rohlsen Airport, entered the TSA screening area before their scheduled shifts.
The defendant attempted to pass through the screening area and triggered the metal detector. A search of his person revealed a brick-like package wrapped with gray duct tape strapped to one of his legs.
The other individual also had a similar package strapped to one of his legs. The packages field-tested positive for
cocaine.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.