California drug courier sentenced to prison for attempting to smuggle cocaine through Charlotte airport

CHARLOTTE, NC (Press Release) — Carlos Fernandez, 33, of Porterville, California, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, followed by three years of probation, for attempting to smuggle 20 pounds of cocaine through Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Carlos Fernandez

Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

According to court documents and court filings, on July 27, 2021, Fernandez was questioned by police during a routine interception at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking after a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the defendant's suitcase. Fernandez had just arrived in Charlotte on a flight from California.

Court documents show that police searched Fernandez's suitcase and found a smaller suitcase containing three vacuum-sealed packages, or “bricks.” A lab analysis of the bricks confirmed the substance was cocaine, weighing in at about 20 pounds. A forensic analysis of Fernandez's seized cell phones revealed messages discussing drug trafficking. During the investigation, officers also discovered that Fernandez frequently traveled back and forth between California and Charlotte as a drug courier.

On November 7, 2023, Fernandez pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to resell and aiding and abetting. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon assignment to a federal facility.

In his announcement today, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shavonn Bennette of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte led the prosecution.