Airport Employee Arrested on Cocaine Charges

Stone Mountain resident Rasondo Maurice Norris has been arrested on charges of attempting to possess and distribute cocaine, according to a statement from United States Attorney Sally Yates. 

Norris, 29, worked as a baggage handler for AirTran Airlines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and "(used) his credentials to bypass security with backpacks of contraband," Yates said. "The defendant allowed what he believed to be drugs and weapons on board commercial flights."  

According to Yates, Norris would help people involved in criminal activity to bring contraband onto airplanes, for a fee, by using his access clearance to bypass TSA security.   

In May this year an undercover agent gave the defendant a backpack containing what was represented to be five kilograms of cocaine. Norris took the backpack from the agent, bypassed security, and returned the backpack once the agent cleared security. "In a similar manner, on May 30, 2013, Norris again bypassed security with a backpack, this time containing what was represented to be $500,000 in drug proceeds," the statement reads. "Finally, on June 5, Norris once more bypassed security with a backpack carrying what was represented to be three kilograms of cocaine, and a Mack 11 automatic firearm, a magazine and a silencer. Norris was paid between $600 and $800 each time he bypassed security with the contraband."          

The charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000,000 for count one and 40 years in prison and a 5,000,000 fine for count two. Norris is scheduled for a bond hearing on June 12 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Vineyard.