Husband and Wife Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

MINNEAPOLIS - Two individuals from Detroit, Michigan, have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, beginning in January 2022 through May 2023, Ladale Jajaum Solomon, 30, and Leila Darsel Ivery, 30, conspired together to distribute cocaine. On May 16, 2023, Solomon and Ivery flew on separate flights from Los Angeles, California, to Cleveland, Ohio, each with a layover at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP). Both Solomon and Ivery were transporting cocaine in their respective checked suitcases. Solomon and Ivery intended to transfer the cocaine after landing in Cleveland. During their respective layovers at MSP, law enforcement determined their suitcases were suspect. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement seized a total of approximately 23 kilograms of cocaine from the two suitcases.

Ivery pleaded guilty on November 28, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. On March 26, 2024, she was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge David S. Doty to 57 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Solomon pleaded guilty on December 5, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge David S. Doty to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the MSP Airport Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.