A Transportation Security Administration employee allegedly worked with an accused drug dealer to smuggle drug money through Buffalo Niagara International Airport, federal prosecutors say.
The accused dealer, Derek Frank of Amherst, N.Y., appeared at a detention hearing on Friday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, while TSA employee Minnetta Walker of Buffalo was not in attendance.
The two were arrested earlier this week following a year-long probe by the FBI and federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Both entered pleas of not guilty in the case presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.
Prosecutors say Walker routinely ushered suspected drug traffickers past airport security, including Frank who passed through security in February carrying $12,000 from an undercover informant to fly to Arizona and purchase drugs.
"Federal, state and local law enforcement worked collaboratively to identify and arrest two individuals — one with a badge and one without — who were abusing our transportation security in order to transport bulk quantities of alleged narco-dollars out of the Buffalo area," DEA Special Agent in Charge John Gilbride said when the two were arrested.
Walker faces the possibility of six years in prison if found guilty of charges of obstructing security measures.
Frank is charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, for which he faces the possibility of 20 years in prison if convicted, as well as possession with intent to distribute marijuana and distributing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) or more of marijuana.
In court documents, federal agents say Walker let one person travel under a false name and helped others bypass normal security measures by escorting them through checkpoints and directing them away from body image scanners and pat-down lines.
Walker also is accused of waiting with suspects, personally handling their baggage and occupying them to avoid scrutiny by other airport security personnel, federal authorities said.