United States Attorney David E. Nahmias Northern District of Georgia

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias

Northern District of Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Patrick Crosby

2/19/08 (404)581-6016

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/ FAX (404)581-6160

TSA AND DELTA EMPLOYEES INDICTED IN DRUG SMUGGLING

STING AT HARTSFIELD JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Atlanta, GA - LESLIE ADGAR, 42, of Decatur, Georgia, ANDRE MAYS, 24, of

Atlanta, Georgia, and JON PATTON, 44, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, were indicted today by

a federal grand jury on charges relating to a drug-smuggling operation at Atlanta Hartsfield-

Jackson International Airport (“HJIA”). All three are in custody and late this afternoon made

their initial appearance before a United States Magistrate today in federal court in Atlanta.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “These individuals allegedly abused

their positions at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to smuggle drugs past security and onto Delta

flights. This indictment should serve as a cautionary tale for others who would betray the

trust that the public places in the frontline workers at our nation’s airports: such illegal

conduct will be discovered and the offenders swiftly brought to justice. We appreciate the

good work of our law enforcement partners and the cooperation of Delta Air Lines in this

investigation.”

Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division

stated, “The key information in the case came from the Kings County District Attorney’s

Office in New York, and that lead was significant. These defendants betrayed the trust of the

American public by breaching the ever-important role of frontline airport security. Their

greed led to their demise. The concerted efforts of a multitude of federal, state and local law

enforcement agencies made the success of this investigation possible.”

Kings County (New York) District Attorney Charles J. Hynes said, "I would like to

commend the DEA and TSA for their hard work in this important investigation. We are

pleased that we were able to play a significant role in the indictment of these defendants."

“We have been involved with this investigation from the very beginning and have

cooperated fully with law enforcement and our federal partners to vigorously pursue this case

and at the same time ensure that security operations at the airport were never put at risk,” said

Mike Davis, Special Agent in Charge, TSA Office of Inspection, Atlanta Field Office. “We

know we have a special trust with the public and that's why we aggressively pursue any

criminal activity that may occur in our own ranks. We have zero tolerance for criminal

behavior --any officer who does not reflect the integrity of our workforce and instead violates

the law will be referred for prosecution.”

According to Nahmias, the indictment, and other information presented in court:

PATTON and MAYS are Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees working

at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. ADGAR is a Delta Air Lines employee, also

assigned to HJIA. In December 2007, a confidential source (“CS”) working for the Drug

Enforcement Administration (DEA) brokered a deal with TSA employee PATTON for the

transportation of two kilograms of cocaine through HJIA to New York. PATTON set

transportation fees of $5,000 for the first kilogram of cocaine and $3,000 for every kilogram

thereafter. PATTON subsequently provided the CS with a piece of luggage that was later

used to carry the two kilograms of cocaine past security and onto the Delta Air Lines flight.

On December 19, 2007, at the direction of the DEA, the CS met with PATTON and

a second TSA employee, ANDRE MAYS, at HJIA and handed them a carry-on bag packed

with two kilograms of fake cocaine and $4,000. Both PATTON and MAYS were in TSA

uniform and on duty at HJIA when they took receipt of the luggage. The $4,000 was one-

half of the total $8,000 transportation fee; the plan was for the CS to hand the second $4,000

to Delta employee LESLIE ADGAR in New York upon delivery of the sham drugs.

After taking possession of the CS’s bag, PATTON and MAYS entered a bathroom in

HJIA’s North Terminal with PATTON carrying the luggage. Approximately two minutes

later, PATTON was observed inside the bathroom standing outside of a closed bathroom stall

talking to MAYS in the stall. PATTON no longer possessed the CS’s bag. MAYS was not

visible but the CS’s bag was on the floor inside the stall outside of which PATTON was

standing. Approximately two minutes later, PATTON and MAYS exited the bathroom

together; PATTON once again was carrying the CS’s bag. MAYS, who had entered the

bathroom with his coat open, now had his coat closed. MAYS was next spotted on the other

side of the security check point.

PATTON then walked around the magnetometers, sending the CS’s bag through the

x-ray machine. PATTON and the bag were not challenged by TSA screeners. PATTON

retrieved the bag and eventually met with ADGAR in the T concourse, providing her with

the CS’s bag. ADGAR immediately boarded a Delta Air Lines flight to New York’s

LaGuardia Airport. After arriving at LaGuardia, ADGAR met with the CS, who paid

ADGAR the remaining $4,000 of the smuggling fee; ADGAR, in turn, gave the CS his bag

with the two kilograms of fake cocaine. Approximately one hour later, ADGAR boarded

another Delta flight and returned to Atlanta.

In late January, the CS and PATTON negotiated their second smuggling transaction.

On January 23, 2008, again at the direction of the DEA, the CS traveled to HJIA and

provided PATTON with the same carry-on bag that was used in the December deal. This

time, however, the bag was packed with one kilogram of fake heroin and $4,500. PATTON

was in uniform and on duty when he took receipt of the luggage.

After taking the bag from the CS, PATTON passed the heroin through the security

checkpoint without notice. He then proceeded to the area around Gate T-8, where he gave

ADGAR the bag. ADGAR then boarded a Delta flight bound for LaGuardia Airport. After

arriving in New York, ADGAR deplaned and returned the bag with the sham heroin in it to

the CS. In exchange, the CS handed ADGAR the remaining $4,500. Approximately one

hour later, ADGAR boarded a Delta flight from New York to Orlando.

A third and final transaction occurred on February 15, 2008. The CS and PATTON

negotiated a three-kilogram cocaine deal, again from Atlanta to New York. On this date, the

CS arrived at HJIA and provided PATTON with the same carry-on bag that had been used

in the previous two deals. The bag was packed with three kilograms of fake cocaine and

cash. PATTON was again in TSA uniform and on duty at HJIA when he took receipt of the

luggage. Subsequently, PATTON passed the fake cocaine through security without incident.

Inside the airport, PATTON provided ADGAR with the bag. ADGAR was arrested by DEA

agents while attempting to board a Delta flight to LaGuardia Airport. The sham narcotics

were also recovered. PATTON and MAYS were arrested shortly thereafter.

The indictment handed down today charges PATTON and ADGAR with conspiring

to distribute narcotics and attempting to distribute cocaine and heroin on the three dates drugs

were smuggled through HJIA to New York. MAYS is charged with the drug conspiracy and

attempting to distribute cocaine on December 19, 2007. The charges carry a maximum

sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $4,000,000.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations.

The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges; it will be the Government's burden to

prove the defendants' guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about

the dangers of drugs at the following web site:

NK"http://www.justthinktwice.com"www.justthinktwice.com

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement

Administration, with assistance from Department of Homeland Security, Office of the

Inspector General, Transportation Security Administration, (TSA), the Kings County (New

York) District Attorney’s Office, the Doraville Police Department, Atlanta Task Force 1

local member agencies: City of Covington Police Department, City of Marietta Police

Department, City of Griffin Police Department, City of East Point Police Department,

Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, City of College Park Police Department, City of Atlanta

Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Delta Airlines

Corporate Security, and the DEA/New York Organized Crime Strike Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kurt R. Erskine and Robert C. McBurney are

prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney,

or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick

Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet

address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of

Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan