Southwest Baggage Handler Admits to Drug Smuggling, Money Laundering

A former Southwest Airlines employee faces 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of drug smuggling and money laundering. According to his confession, the baggage handler used his credentials to smuggle marijuana on Southwest flights and laundered over $51,000 in drug money.

A former Southwest Airlines baggage handler pleaded guilty to charges of drug smuggling and money laundering in federal court. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Keith Ramon Mayfield, 37, of Oakland, California, entered the plea as part of an agreement.

In 2015, Mayfield was formally indicted on the charges. On February 21, 2018, he ultimately pleaded guilty to three of those accusations: entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to launder money. The charges come with penalties of between five and 40 years in prison, along with fines of up to $5 million.

Under the plea, the former employee admitted to using his credentials to get marijuana past the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint and on aircraft through various means. One method called for Mayfield to carry the luggage into the secure zone using his identification, then hand it off to passengers to carry aboard their flights. In other situations, Mayfield would aid in the transportation of marijuana by sending it as Southwest Cargo. Overall, he admitted to transporting at least 350 kilograms of marijuana across the United States.

In addition, Mayfield admitted to participating in money laundering as well, transporting over $51,000 in cash from drug transactions. He would deposit the money in accounts at banks in Texas, before withdrawing that money in Northern California.

Mayfield is currently released on a $250,000 bail bond. He will be sentenced for his guilty plea in federal court in June 2018.

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