Three people have been sentenced to federal prison terms for their roles in a crude but clever scheme to smuggle cocaine and methamphetamine out of the San Diego International Airport.
Cameras are everywhere in the airport, but four airport employees went to spots where there are no cameras—men’s toilets.
The indictment says each man got into a separate bathroom stall and handed packets of cocaine and meth to drug couriers under the bathroom divider to the adjacent stall.
Four baggage handlers were indicted by a federal grand jury a year ago along with seven others from San Bernardino and Fresno. The airport workers had access badges that allowed them to go almost everywhere without search.
Two baggage handlers who worked for Delta Global Services, Saul Bojorquez, 27, and Brian Alberto Gonzalez, 31, have recently been sentenced to five years and 15 months respectively in federal prison. Jesus Morales, 22, got 33 months. Nine others are awaiting hearings or trial.
The undercover investigation began in March, 2013 when a nervous drug courier was spotted inside the San Diego airport. It’s not uncommon for people to bring carry-on luggage into their bathroom stall, and he was alleged to have picked up seven packages of cocaine.
During the year-long investigation, authorities seized $103,846 in cash, 17 pounds of cocaine, and 18 pounds of meth that came from flights out of San Diego. The drugs were found from San Diego flights in New York, Honolulu, Detroit, Baltimore and other cities.
Bojorquez, who is also known as Saul Aviles, of Chula Vista, is free on $140,000 bond until a March 20 hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Barry Moskowitz in which he is seeking to remain free while on appeal.
Bojorquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Bojorquez withdrew from the scheme some time before he was charged, his attorney said.
Gonzalez, of San Diego, remains free on $150,000 bond and must surrender by May 8, ruled Moskowitz. Morales, of San Bernardino, is free on $50,000 bond until he surrenders May 1. Gonzalez and Morales pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine respectively with intent to distribute.
Paulo Mendez Perez, 37, of Chula Vista, will be sentenced April 17 by Moskowitz. Mendez pleaded guilty to possession of 18 pounds of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The U.S. Attorney’s office is seeking a 97-month sentence for Mendez, who was detained without bail and remains in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Felix Samuel Garcia, 30, of Imperial Beach, pleaded guilty to possession of meth with intent to distribute. He will be sentenced April 10 and he is free on a $150,000 property bond. Both Mendez and Garcia worked for Delta as baggage handlers.
Other co-defendants from San Bernardino and Fresno are awaiting trial.
