A 33-year-old woman was sentenced to eight years in federal prison Thursday after she and three other women hid cocaine in their bras and underwear upon returning to Port Canaveral from Jamaica earlier this year, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
The D.C. woman was sentenced to eight years and one month for conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. She pleaded guilty on July 20, 2016.
According to court documents, the woman, as well as three others, traveled to Jamaica in May 2016 on board a commercial cruise ship.
When the four women arrived in Jamaica, the D.C. woman allegedly coordinated a meeting with someone who provided the group with more than six kilograms of cocaine concealed in bras and underwear. The D.C. woman apparently paid the person for the cocaine, and the four women returned to the cruise ship with the cocaine concealed under their dresses in the bras and underwear they were provided, according to documents.
The women apparently hid the cocaine in the cabin they shared for the remainder of the cruise.
When the cruise ship returned to Port Canaveral, the D.C. woman and the three other women departed the ship and entered the customs area of the port with the cocaine concealed in their bras and underwear.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers identified the cocaine during screenings and searches of the women.
The other three women were sentenced as well. One was sentenced to two years in prison, one was sentenced to one year and 10 months and one was sentenced to two years and six months.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security investigators.
Being charged with drug importation in the state of Florida is a very tough thing to deal with, especially if you do not have qualified legal representation. By hiring a knowledgeable drug crimes defense lawyer, you take an important step in achieving the most successful outcome for your particular case. Our Florida Drug Crimes Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you through this difficult time by providing you with legal advice and personal attention so that we can work towards a positive resolution to your case.
Drug importation can be charged when drugs and controlled substances are brought into Florida across state lines, both from out-of-country or from another state. Some commonly imported drugs and controlled substances in Florida are:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Crystal Meth
- Prescription Drugs
- Ecstasy
- Heroin
If you are facing charges of drug importation, you need to secure legal representation right away. Without proper legal representation, you could be looking at maximum penalties.
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