Community Corner
Ex TSA Agent Sentenced in Pot Smuggling Scheme
Dianna Perez was sentenced to two years in federal prison. In February a Culver City resident was sentenced to probation for his part in the scheme.
An ex-Transportation Security Administration agent was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for her role in a scheme to smuggle marijuana on flights out of Los Angeles International Airport.
Dianna Perez, 28, of Inglewood, pleaded guilty in September to a federal conspiracy charge. She could have received up to five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In court papers, Perez acknowledged working with Millage Peaks IV, son of a retired Los Angeles fire chief, who promised to pay $500 for each pot-filled suitcase that cleared security at LAX.
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Perez admitted in her plea agreement to helping her co-defendants smuggle drugs on nine occasions between November 2010 and October 2011.
Admitted pot couriers Andrew “Drew” Welter, 25, of Fontana, and Charles “Smoke” Hicks, 24, of Culver City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy earlier. Hicks received probation.
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Peaks, 25, was sentenced in January to a year in federal prison and ordered to pay a $6,000 fine. He was also ordered serve three years of supervised probation.
Co-defendant Randy Littlefield, also a former TSA agent, was sentenced to eight months behind bars and will also serve three years of supervised release.
Federal officials said Peaks arranged the marijuana shipments out of LAX, an enterprise made possible by bribing Littlefield and Perez.
The marijuana was being flown from Los Angeles to Boston, according to court papers.
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