Airline Employee and Passenger Sentenced On Cocaine Conviction

Ahkoy Smith, 25, and Shakari Francis, 27, both of St. Thomas, were sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 20 months incarceration on their convictions of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Friday.

According to court documents, on Jan. 11, Customs and Border Protection officers observed Frances, a Cape Air employee, on an airport surveillance camera entering the men’s restroom in the departure terminal. Officers approached Francis, who admitted that he was paid $2,000 to deliver two bricks of cocaine to Smith in the restroom. Officers later established a passenger screening station at the Spirit Airlines departure gate at the Cyril E. King Airport. As the officers approached Smith, he ran onto the active runway to escape but was immediately apprehended. Smith was found in possession of a red “Jordan” backpack containing two bricks of cocaine.