LAX baggage screener pleads guilty

From the District Attorney's Office:

LOS ANGELES - Rap artist Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, was charged today with possession of cocaine base and battery.

Ivey, 45 (dob 8-1-63), was arrested March 6 at Los Angeles International World Airport after authorities searched his luggage and allegedly found cocaine. At one point, Ivey allegedly grabbed a screener's arm to prevent the search.

He is charged in case SA070577 with one felony count of possession of cocaine base, one misdemeanor count of battery and one misdemeanor count of possession of a smoking device. He was released on bail.

He is scheduled to be arraigned April 3 at LAX Superior Court, Dept. 144. If convicted, he faces up to three years state prison.

We got two rapper crime stories out of LAX today.

First, Coolio was arrested at the airport today on suspicion of possession of an illegal substance. Check out that story here.

Then, we got a release from the City Attorney's office touting the conviction of rapper Uncle Murda for using a fake identification car during screeing last year.

Uncle Murda, whose real name is Leonard Grant (over there on the left), presented the fraudulent card to a security screener on May 14, according to the City Attorney's office. Grant, 27, of New York, pleaded no contest to one count of possession of a counterfeit California identification card.

In exchange for his plea, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Mark Zuckman sentenced Grant to 18 months probation and ordered him to perform 50 hours of community service.

The photograph on the car was of Grant, but the identification number was traced to another individual, according to the authorities.

Earlier in 2008, the rapper whose singles include "Bullet Bullet" and "Hard to Kill," was shot while sitting in a parked car in New York. The bullet grazed his head and refused to cooperate with the police investigation.

 

 

The Spokesman Review has the story of the Spokane, Wash. woman, and her mother, who went on trial for bringing the monkey into the U.S. from Thailand by stuffing it under her shirt and pretending she was pregnant.

LAPD just put this one out:



Los Angeles: An off-duty LAPD Officer stands accused of sexual assault following a holiday celebration at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport.

Police Officer Eduardo Bermudez, 29 years of age, assigned to Pacific Area Patrol Division, two years on the Department, was arrested Sunday morning, December 7, 2008, at around 8:00 a.m. by detectives assigned to Internal Affairs Division.  Officer Bermudez was booked for California Penal Code Section 664-261, Attempt Rape.  Officer Bermudez was booked at Men's Central Jail and was held on $100,000 bail.

Based on preliminary information, it appears that a sanctioned LAPD Pacific Area holiday party had concluded and several Department employees were participating in an unofficial "after party" at the hotel.  When allegations of criminal activity came to light, proper notifications were made and on-duty police supervisors and Internal Affairs Division investigators were dispatched.  

Internal Affairs Division has assumed responsibility for the investigation.                    

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to Internal Affairs Division at
(213) 473-3870.  After-hours and on weekends calls may be directed to the 24-hour, toll-free number, 1-877-LAPD24-7 (527-3247) or texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website, and can remain anonymous.

This just in:

Date: 12/3/2008 10:44 AM

Judge gives terrorist Ressam same 22-year term
By GENE JOHNSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer

SEATTLE (AP) _ A federal judge on Wednesday re-imposed a 22-year prison sentence for terrorist Ahmed Ressam, an al-Qaida-trained terrorist convicted of plotting to bomb Los Angeles International Airport at the turn of the millennium.

This from the Associated Press in Seattle:

Date: 12/3/2008 2:48 AM

US prosecutors seek 45 years for would-be bomber
By GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

SEATTLE (AP) _ U.S. prosecutors want to nearly double the original prison sentence of would-be millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam, saying he has stopped cooperating with them and still poses a "serious threat."