Mexican faces federal charges

A Mexican national has been charged with trying to smuggle a box cutter onto an airplane at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

Federal prosecutors this week charged Juan Carlos Justo-Martinez with one count of dangerous weapon on an aircraft and a second count of possession of false immigration documents. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance this morning in U.S. District Court. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

According to court documents, security screeners located the "artfully concealed" box cutter in Justo-Martinez's carry-on luggage. The blade was allegedly taped to the metal frame of a speaker, which was tightly wrapped in clear plastic.

Justo-Martinez initially told federal agents he knew the box cutter was attached to the speaker but that he had not had time to dispose of it prior to arriving at the airport, documents state. However, he later reportedly denied knowing the blade was there.

Justo-Martinez denied having any identification, but a later search turned up apparently fraudulent Social Security and alien registration cards, according to charging documents. He then allegedly admitted purchasing the false documents at a local Hispanic market, documents state.

Justo-Martinez is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail pending a federal detention hearing.