A Jet Blue flight attendant was charged Wednesday with possession with the intent to distribute nearly 70 pounds of cocaine after dropping it at security and fleeing from Los Angeles International Airport, according to prosecutors and court documents.
Marsha Reynolds, 31, of Jamaica, New York, surrendered to the Drug Enforcement Administration at JFK Airport in New York Wednesday afternoon.
The criminal complaint says she approached the "known crew member" checkpoint at LAX Friday evening and was randomly selected for additional screening.
"Upon arriving at this checkpoint, Reynolds dropped her luggage, removed her shoes, and fled the area, running down an upward-traveling escalator and away from TSA officers," prosecutors said in a statement.
Officials said that law enforcement at the scene did not chase after her because they needed to make sure the bags didn't contain “explosives or any dangerous devices.”
Inside the bags, investigators allegedly found 11 packages with cocaine, each labeled "BIG ranch."
“Our nation’s security depends on every individual with security clearances to honor the trust placed in them. The defendant’s conduct violated that trust and, in the process, exposed the public to a major narcotics transaction and the dangers inherent to such a transaction," U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said in a statement.
Reynolds was expected in court in New York today and faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
It was unclear from court records whether she has a lawyer.
JetBlue has issued a statement saying, "We are cooperating with authorities on their investigation."
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