Airport security screener in US Virgin Islands found guilty of jury tampering in drug case

TSA screener in USVI guilty of jury tampering

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — A jury in the U.S. Virgin Islands has convicted an airport security screener of jury tampering in a drug trafficking trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nolan Paige says Transportation Security Administration screener Ikim Blackett, 31, was convicted Monday after two hours of deliberation by the U.S. District Court jury. Sentencing is expected next month.

The TSA screener at Cyril E. King Airport was charged with going to the house of a juror and offering to pay her $1,500 in return for a not guilty verdict in a federal case involving six men accused of smuggling cocaine from the U.S. territory to North Carolina.

All six men were convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.