2 WILL GO TO PRISON IN AIRPORT DRUG CASE

A former Orlando International Airport baggage handler and a truck driver
who bragged of extensive ties that allowed him to smuggle drugs past OIA
security were sentenced in Orlando's federal court Monday.

Edwin Vega-Reyes, 32, of Orange County was sentenced to nearly four years
in federal prison, while Jose Luis Ortiz, 37, will serve seven years and
nine months in prison. The case against the two Kissimmee residents and
four others arrested in a federal sting exposed serious security flaws and
raised questions about employees' screening at OIA.

Last summer, a four-month investigation uncovered a ring of baggage
handlers who for the right fee agreed to smuggle heroin, cocaine, marijuana
and guns for undercover agents posing as couriers and dealers.

Vega-Reyes and Ortiz pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to
distribute 2.2 pounds of heroin each after a sting operation by federal
agents. According to court documents, a confidential informant in May
approached Ortiz, who asked for $5,000 to deliver the heroin to a courier
who would board a flight to Puerto Rico.

Subsequently, Ortiz -- who already has a federal marijuana-trafficking
conviction in Texas -- agreed to smuggle 50 pounds of marijuana onto
airplanes using the services of his stepson Luis Santana Torres and Jose
Cantres, who worked at OIA as well.

The arrests led to an immediate shake-up of background screenings for all
runway personnel at OIA. The case also caused federal judges to note how
easy it was to buy off airport personnel.

"Anything could have been in those bags, and they did not know if they were
dealing with terrorists," U.S. Magistrate James Glazebrook said at a bail
hearing after the Aug. 21 arrests.

After his arrest, Ortiz cooperated with federal authorities who in turn
asked U.S. District Judge Patricia Fawsett to sentence him below sentencing
guidelines.

Cantres, 37, and Santana Torres each were sentenced to time served in
January and given two years of supervised release.

Two other former OIA subcontracted employees -- Angel "Tito" Diaz, 26, and
Luis Morales, 28 -- pleaded guilty Monday to entering a secure airport area
with the intent to commit a felony.

According to their plea agreements, Diaz and Morales helped arrange the
smuggling of 5 kilograms of cocaine and five guns for $4,000 in a separate
undercover sting. Both await sentencing dates.