Flying High Again Courtesy of the TSA

Three Federal Transportation Security administration officers along with two others have been arrested and charged with allowing prescription drug dealers to move tens of thousands of pain killers that are highly addictive, and cash from the proceeds across airports and highways. The officers, based in New York, Florida, and a Westchester county, New York police officer allowed oxycodone through airport security after taking cash, cash cards and checks in exchange for security free transportation of the narcotics. Prescription pain medication abuse is rampant in New England and is spreading rampantly through the U.S. with the help of a few folks that are paid to shake us down for a whole other reason.
The TSA officers, Christopher Allen, 45, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; John Best, 30, of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and Brigitte Jones, 48, of the Bronx, N.Y., were charged with conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute oxycodone. The New York police officer, Michael Brady, 36, and the Florida trooper, Justin Kolves, 28, face the same charges; their hometowns were not released.

Kolves also flew from Florida to New York to provide protection for what he thought was an oxycodone sale in Connecticut, authorities said.

The five, who were among 20 people arrested in connection with the alleged scheme, face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

“In these times, no one needs to be reminded about how dangerous it is when officers who have sworn to uphold the law accept money to ‘look the other way,’” said U.S. Attorney David Fein.