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https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/five-men-sentenced-federal-prison-international-drug-and-money-laundering-operation

ATLANTA - Jason Arias, Daniel Newton, Anthony Blair, David Barros, Shondra Vernon, and Madison Rene Kelleher have been sentenced for their participation in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States from the Dominican Republic in the checked baggage of airline travelers.

“These defendants exploited our country’s airline carriers to carry out a large-scale drug trafficking operation,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “For several years, the defendants imported a great deal of cocaine into the United States but eventually were arrested and prosecuted thanks to the diligent work of our federal and local law enforcement partners.”

“Anthony Blair orchestrated a drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the United States, destroying communities and putting countless lives at risk,” said Acting Special Agent in charge Travis Pickard who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “This sentence is the culmination of a great investigation executed by HSI and its partners and its success is directly related to their hard work and professionalism. We will continue to exhaust all resources and use all of our available assets to pursue those criminals and organizations involved in bringing poison into our communities.”

“Customs and Border Protection officers work side by side with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous drugs from reaching our communities,” said Zachary Thomas, CBP Area Port Director Atlanta. “Narcotics interdiction remains an enforcement priority for CBP, and it is one of the many ways CBP helps protect our citizens and the public.”

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “Through hard work, this illegal drug distribution and money laundering network has been removed from our streets. This criminal enterprise had no regard for the potential impact of their actions.”

“Anytime law enforcement agencies work together to stop illegal activities, it is a win for communities locally, nationally, and internationally,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.   “The conviction of this group proves the effectiveness of our law enforcement partnerships, the dedication of the members of the various agencies that protect the world’s busiest airport, and our commitment to bringing criminals to justice.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: From approximately 2015 through June of 2018, these defendants and members of their conspiracy obtained cocaine in Costa Rica, concealed the drugs in sealed cans labeled as food, and smuggled the contraband into the United States in checked luggage. Jason Arias obtained and packaged the cocaine in Costa Rica. Anthony Blair then recruited over 60 travelers in Atlanta to agree to an “all-expenses paid” vacation to Costa Rica to assist with the transport of the drugs into the United States.

As a part of the scheme, the recruited travelers, when ready to depart Costa Rica, met with Arias who arranged for the travelers to bring purported souvenirs to Blair and others in the United States. In fact, the souvenirs included sealed cans containing kilograms of cocaine. After the cocaine was sold, profits were reinvested in the enterprise, smuggled back to Costa Rica, and spent to support the defendants’ extravagant lifestyles, including the rental of a $14,000 per month Atlanta-area apartment.

In total, the organization imported more than 150 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. The conspiracy unraveled when U.S. Customs and Border Protection special agents located cocaine in the luggage of two travelers and arrested Blair when he arrived to meet the travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The following defendants have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May for their respective roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy:

Anthony Blair, 44, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $434,195 in drug profits to the United States.  Blair was convicted of multiple narcotics and money laundering offenses following a jury trial on May 23, 2023.

David Barros, 37, of Taunton, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.  Barros was convicted of multiple narcotics and money laundering offenses following a jury trial on May 23, 2023.

Jason Arias, 39, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.  Arias was convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine and money laundering on August 10, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.

Daniel Newton a/k/a “Russia,” 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to one year and one month in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Newton was convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine and money laundering on September 12, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.

Shondra Vernon a/k/a “Frenchie,” 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to three years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release.  Vernon was convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine on November 9, 2021, after she pleaded guilty.

Madison Rene Kelleher, 32, of Fall River, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to three years of probation.  Kelleher was convicted of money laundering conspiracy on November 19, 2019, after she pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Atlanta Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler A. Mann and Calvin A. Leipold III prosecuted the case.