Two federal air marshals pleaded guilty Monday to drug and bribery charges for accepting money to smuggle cocaine on a flight to Las Vegas. The two marshals -- Burlie L. Sholar III, 38, and Shawn Ray Nguyen, 32 –- admitted that they took $15,000 “to use their positions as air marshals to bypass airport security and smuggle 15 pounds of cocaine,” writes
The Associated Press. The men were arrested in February as part of a sting operation. The
Houston Chronicle adds the arrests “raised concerns about airport security,” with prosecutors contending that Nguyen has smuggled other items through security and that he “he didn't care what the briefcase contained.” Along with the guilty plea, Sholar and Nguyen agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, who say the investigation will continue. However, officials are uncertain whether more arrests are imminent. "We will have to wait and see where the investigation leads us," says Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre. One Homeland Security Department agent who testified during hearings on the case claimed that Sholar threatened Nguyen, saying that "his life wasn't worth anything" if Nguyen offered information that incriminated other air marshals. Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, according to
Reuters/Airwise.
