LOS ANGELES, Calif.–The son of a former fire chief and an ex-Transportation Security Administration agent could each be sent to prison today for their roles in a smuggling operation that shipped marijuana-filled luggage on flights out of Los Angeles International Airport.
Millage Peaks IV, 25, whose father is a retired Los Angeles fire chief, and ex-TSA agent Randy Littlefield, 29, of Paramount, both pleaded guilty in September to a federal conspiracy charge. They each face up to five years in prison at sentencing hearings today before U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II.
Prosecutors contend Peaks was the ringleader of the yearlong scheme.
In court papers, Peaks acknowledged promising to pay $500 to ex-TSA agent Dianna Perez for each pot-filled suitcase that cleared security checkpoints at LAX between November 2010 and October 2011.
Littlefield, for his part, admitted twice accepting $200 from Perez when she needed help moving the marijuana through security.
Perez, who also pleaded guilty, admitted using her position and knowledge of LAX procedures to get the pot onto Boston-bound planes on nine occasions in exchange for cash. Her sentencing date has not been set.
Admitted pot couriers Andrew “Drew” Welter, 25, of Fontana, and Charles “Smoke” Hicks, 24, of Culver City, also pleaded guilty in the case and are set to be sentenced by Wright on Jan. 28.
