US air marshals sentenced in cocaine plot

HOUSTON - A US air marshal was sentenced to more than seven years in prison, and another to nine years for a plot to smuggle cocaine by using their positions to clear airport security, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Shawn Ray Nguyen, 38, and Burlie Sholar, 33, got 87 months and 108 months, respectively, from US District Judge Kenneth Hoyt after they earlier pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine and to bribery.

They were arrested in a February sting operation in which they agreed to carry 15kg of cocaine on a flight from Houston to Las Vegas, Nevada for US$75,000 ($118,000).

Officials said they set up the sting after an informant told them Nguyen, a former US drug agent who lives in Houston, had been involved in drug trafficking.

Nguyen got a lighter sentence than Sholar because of his cooperation with authorities, said US Attorney Don DeGabrielle.

They could have faced up to life in prison for the conspiracy charge and 15 years for bribery.

The United States greatly increased airport security after the September 11, 2001 attacks and puts air marshals on flights to prevent hijackings.

Nguyen and Sholar were hired as air marshals in 2002.

- REUTERS