JetBlue Flight Attendant Who Allegedly Attempted to Smuggle Nearly 60 Pounds of Cocaine Denied Bail
Marsha Gay Reynolds, 32, was denied bail in a California court.
— -- The JetBlue flight attendant who allegedly tried to smuggle nearly 60 pounds of cocaine through Los Angeles International Airport has been denied bail by a California court and will remain in custody until her trial.
Marsha Gay Reynolds, 32, appeared in Los Angeles federal court Tuesday, where Judge Andre Birotte said he was worried she could be a flight risk. He said there are no condition that can assure her appearance in court.
"Before the bags were even opened, she utilized her track skills to flee the airport," Birotte said.
A grand jury returned an indictment Thursday morning finding "probable cause" of the crime. During the hearing, Reynolds' hands and feet were chained as her mother, father and pastor read a Bible while sitting in the audience.
Reynolds' defense attorney, Stuart Goldfard, told ABC News he was "very disappointed" that she was not granted bail. She will be arraigned on April 22 and has not yet entered a plea.
Reynolds was initially granted $500,000 bail on March 24 in a Brooklyn court by Judge Viktor V. Pohorelsky, who said he made the decision in large part because she surrendered herself. The decision was overturned later that day by a judge in Los Angeles and Reynolds was transported to California by U.S. Marshals to appear in court Wednesday.
The 32-year-old was charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine after she allegedly dropped a suitcase full of the drugs at an airport security checkpoint at LAX airport on March 18 and fled.
The amount of cocaine Reynolds was carrying was initially reported to be 70 pounds, but Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Attorney's office, Thom Mrozek, said further analysis found the amount of cocaine to be just shy of 60 pounds.
If convicted, Reynolds could face 10 years to life in prison.
Reynolds was not flying in the capacity of a flight attendant at the time of the incident, according to JetBlue. She turned herself into authorities in New York on March 23.
She is a former beauty pageant contestant and has been a New York-based JetBlue employee for six years. She is also a full-time nursing student.
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