Pubdate: Mon, 03 Apr 2006
Source: Austin Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Austin Chronicle Corp.
Contact: 
http://www.austinchronicle.com/info/email-directory.php?mailto=mail&name=General
Website: http://www.auschron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/33
Author: Harvey Rice

TWO AIR MARSHALS PLEAD GUILTY TO DRUG, BRIBERY CHARGES

Two federal air marshals pleaded guilty today to drug and bribery 
charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, raising the 
possibility that other air marshals are under investigation.

Burlie L. Sholar III, 38, and Shawn Ray Nguyen, 32, pleaded guilty to 
agreeing to accept $15,000 in return for using their positions as air 
marshals to bypass security to smuggle 15 pounds of cocaine on a 
flight to Las Vegas.

Their arrests raised concerns about airport security, with 
prosecutors pointing out during a detention hearing in February that 
Nguyen had smuggled other items in a briefcase and had stated that he 
didn't care what the briefcase contained.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre said the investigation was 
continuing, but cautioned against the expectation of more arrests.

"We will have to wait and see where the investigation leads us," he said.

The possibility of wrongdoing by other air marshals was evident in 
February when a third air marshal admitted during a dramatic 
courtroom confrontation to sharing a room with Sholar so he could 
bill the government for a second hotel room.

Patrick Hightower, one of four air marshals who appeared as character 
witnesses for Sholar during a detention hearing, was relieved of his 
credentials and badge and assigned to administrative duties in the 
wake of his courtroom admission.

Homeland Security spokesman David Adams said Monday that Sholar and 
Nguyen remained on indefinite suspension without pay.

A Homeland Security Department agent testified during the same 
hearing that Sholar threatened Nguyen, saying that "his life wasn't 
worth anything," if he offered incriminating information about other 
air marshals.

Nguyen's attorney, Kent Schaffer, declined to say whether his client 
would offer information about misconduct by other air marshals, 
although he stated in the February hearing that Nguyen had done so.

Schaffer said Nguyen pleaded guilty because "he felt that the best 
way to ... demonstrate his repentance about his conduct was to take a 
guilty plea as early as possible."

Sholar's attorney, George Parnham, also declined to say whether his 
client might have information about wrongdoing by other air marshals.

"We believe that this was the best alternative for Mr. Sholar," 
Parnham said of the guilty plea. "We want to save ourselves as much 
of his future as we can."

In their plea agreements, the two admit that they discussed accepting 
$5,000 per kilogram from an FBI informant in exchange for trying to 
smuggle 15 kilograms, or about 33 pounds, of cocaine past security at 
Bush Intercontinental Airport and onto a flight bound for Las Vegas.

Sholar made flight and hotel arrangements and agreed to meet Nguyen 
at his house prior to making the smuggling attempt, according to the 
plea agreements. A federal informant, who had recorded numerous 
conversations with Nguyen, delivered the cocaine and $15,000 in 
marked bills to Nguyen's house Feb. 9, shortly before the two were 
arrested, the agreements state.

They were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to 
distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and aiding and abetting 
the bribery of a public official.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt told Sholar and Nguyen that they 
could be sentenced to 10 years to life in prison and a maximum fine 
of $4 million on the drug-smuggling charge and 15 years in prison and 
a $250,000 fine on a bribery charge.
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