DALLAS (AP) — Prosecutors say a North Texas man who helped smuggle what he thought was cocaine onto flights from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport must serve nearly 16 years in prison.
Moniteveti “Vince” Katoa was sentenced Thursday in Dallas. Katoa in January pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine.
Three of his associates also pleaded guilty in the 2015 sting. One received 7½ years in prison. The other two await sentencing.
Officials say none of the individuals worked for DFW Airport. Some were employed by companies operating at the airport.
Undercover agents provided packages, purportedly with drugs, for transport on commercial flights — in exchange for payments. The packages were flown to Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago and San Francisco, plus Newark, New Jersey, and Wichita, Kansas.