Sting Operation At IAH Nets Two

How trustworthy are the federal officers who protect commercial passenger traffic from hijackers and other major threats? It's not a very comforting question... but it comes up after two federal air marshals were charged with using their badges to hustle 33-pounds of cocaine through airport security in Houston, and onto a plane bound for Las Vegas.

There was just one catch. From the beginning... it was a set-up.

Marshals Shawn Ray Nguyen, 38, and 32-year old Burlie Sholar III were apparently working with a government informant when authorities say the two made a deal to smuggle the 33 pounds of coke through security at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Federal authorities told the Houston Chronicle the investigation started last November.

Authorities say Nguyen has been consorting with the criminal element for awhile. In addition to the cocaine smuggling charge, the man is also accused in other cases of smuggling drugs, money and fake government documents.

"I ain't greedy, I've done this ... before," Nguyen says on tape during a conversation with the informant.

He and Sholar were in federal court Monday, and both men are due back in court for a detention hearing on Thursday.

It might seem like an open-and-shut case -- and it may prove to be -- but Nguyen's lawyer advised those in court Monday to not fit his client for an orange jumpsuit just yet.

"It's premature to be slamming the prison door shut," attorney Kent Schaffer said, adding that new information would soon shed "a whole different light on what is being portrayed today."

Sholar, who appeared in court without an attorney, is something of a mystery. Whereas Nguyen has a lengthy list of prior issues, little information was available about Sholar's background.

The complaint said Nguyen was an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration from 1997 to 2002.

Federal officials say this is the first time ever that an air marshal has been accused of using his influence to smuggle drugs aboard airplanes. We hope so...

FMI: www.dhs.gov