British beautician facing jail after 'trying to smuggle cocaine'

A British beautician could be locked up for 60 years in the US for allegedly bringing £3.5million worth of cocaine stashed in suitcases home from a holiday in Mexico.

Kimberly Hall, 28, claimed she was forced to carry suitcases for two men who offered her a free holiday to Cancun.

Her father said they were 'property developers' and reportedly 'invited her to stay with them' after meeting her at another holiday in Portugal.

She alleged they 'threatened' her once she arrived in Mexico and 'coerced her into bringing two suitcases home' which they had packed.

She thought they contained $250,000 in cash, according to her family. But Homeland Security investigators at Chicago O'Hare Airport discovered 43kg of cocaine in the bags worth $4.5m. 

Officers were waiting for her at Chicago's O'Hare airport as she was preparing for a connecting flight to Manchester.  

Ms Hall's father John, 59, told The Sun: 'She's not a drug smuggler. They got her phone and threatened her family and that's why she did it.

'She's never been into trouble, nothing at all. She's had a good upbringing and has always worked for her money.

'The only thing she's guilty of is being stupid and being naive.'

Ms Hall, from Middlesbrough, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver after her arrest in August. 

Her father said they've paid £28,000 for a local attorney, are terrified about her well-being because she's 'petrified'. and 'in tears'.

She was allegedly found with more than 900 grams, which places it in the top bracket for sentencing.

This is a Class X Felony which carries between 15 and 60 years in prison.

Class X felony drug charges are usually for people who intend to manufacture or distribute illegal drugs.

Penalties can vary based on the quantity of drugs in their possession.

She is currently in Chicago's Cook County jail, awaiting her trial.

The jail has held several infamous criminals, including Al Capone, Tony Accardo, Frank Nitti, Larry Hoover, Jordan Tate, Jeff Fort, Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy and the Chicago Seven.

People protesting about the conditions within have claimed in the past that some inmates have no access to soap, restriction on exercise.

A coalition of former inmates, relatives of current inmates and advocates say that the inmates' first amendment rights are being violated daily as they aren't allowed to worship the way they choose.

In a statement to CBS 2, the Cook County Sheriff's Office called the claims that are being made by this group 'baseless.'

They said their facility is considered a model across the country for safety and that inmates are provided many critical services including mental health services and the essentials of soap and balanced nutritious meals.