Customs Analyst, Courier Held in Food Smuggling Scheme
Federal investigators arrested a U.S. Customs Service analyst and a customs house courier Friday on suspicion of helping smuggle rice sticks and other Asian foods through the San Pedro Bay ports, authorities said.
Investigators arrested Denise Britt, 43, who processed shipping data to determine which freight containers customs inspectors would examine, and Joann Winfield Gillam, 52, who carried paperwork between importers or exporters and the customs house. They also arrested Lizzie Bea McGirt, 57, a retired Food and Drug Administration employee, in Louisiana.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Marc Harris said Gillam bribed McGirt with about $1,200 per month. Officials said she also paid off Britt to make sure no parameters in the customs computer system would target the freight for closer inspection.
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