A young woman was caught smuggling drugs on a cruise ship, and she pleaded guilty. When she confessed her reason for committing the crime, it shocked the courtroom.
You may have heard about the infamous Melina Roberge. Like many 24-year-old women, she was an avid user of social media. Because of her good looks and lavish lifestyle, she attracted attention online, which includes the favor of a wealthy, older man. This “sugar daddy” offered Roberge plenty of perks in exchange for her affection.
One of those perks was a 51-day cruise around the world. Roberge and friend Isabelle Lagacé sailed from the U.K., all the way to Sydney, Australia, but something was fishy about this particular cruise. Australian Border Force noticed the many stops the ship made along the way. Cruise ships make plenty of stops, but authorities stay vigilant in case something looks foul. On this trip, something certainly did.
ABF identified them and one other passenger as “high-risk travelers” and proceeded to inspect their rooms. Low and behold, the police discover huge quantities of cocaine hidden among their beach towels and sunscreen. Caught red-handed with the deadly drug, Roberge had no choice but to plead guilty. Speaking before the court, she explained why she committed the crime.
Among the promises of wealth and the prospects of an indulgent vacation, Roberge admitted she did it for the likes on Instagram. There we have it, folks, we’ve just reached peak social media stupidity.
A Canadian woman who recently pleaded guilty to smuggling cocaine aboard a glamorous ‘round-the-world cruise admitted in court on Wednesday that she was partly doing it for Instagram likes.
During her sentencing hearing in Sydney, Melina Roberge, 24, informed the court that she accepted the gig as a glamorous “cover” for the drug-smuggling operation after a man she described as “my sugar daddy” offered her money, trips and gifts, News.com.au reports.
In addition to the ritzy perks of the job, the court also heard that Roberge enjoyed “tak[ing] photos of myself in exotic locations for ‘likes’ and attention,” according to the Associated Press. [Source: Fox News]
Like other social networks, Instagram is littered with countless wannabe superstars. These people (both men and women) hope to win the approval of strangers and gobble up millions of followers. The rewards for such Internet fame can be limitless. A social media vixen can score lucrative ad deals, appear on talk shows, even land gigs in Hollywood.
It seems like the prospects of becoming famous were too much for Roberge. The lavish trips, the exotic locations, and the fawning praise of users called to her like the siren’s song, but the path to riches and fame was paved with ugly criminal activity.
Officials discovered 77 pounds of cocaine in Roberge and Lagacé’s shared cabin, and an additional 130 pounds in Tamine’s room, together estimated to be worth anywhere between $21.5 million and $30 million.
Roberge further told the court that she and Lagacé, whom News.com.au identified as a 29-year-old former Canadian porn star, were recruited by the unidentified “sugar daddy” to serve as foils for the operation. The two had also worked as escorts for the “sugar daddy” in Morocco prior to taking the gig on the cruise, according to the site.
“I was meant to just be there and look like I was on holiday and look like a cover for everyone else,” Roberge told the court of her role on the cruise. [Source: Fox News]
It looks like this “sugar daddy” used these two attention-seeking girls as his scapegoats. They would put themselves in danger to smuggle the drugs. He would collect the payout, from safety. According to Telegraph, Lagacé — the second “Cocaine babe” — was compelled to do it to pay off a $20,000 (AUD) debt.
The desire to be famous is powerful. Many people have destroyed their lives seeking it. In this era of social media, anyone can go from obscurity to superstardom overnight. But is it really worth it? Roberge was so eager to get those candid beachside shots, she agreed to transmit drugs across international lines. Now, she’s famous, not for sexy pics but for time spent behind bars.
Lagacé has already been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years, after pleading guilty. Roberge claims to have played a smaller role in the scheme. She nonetheless faces just as harsh a penalty. Her sentencing has yet to be revealed, but it will no doubt be long.
Were all the likes worth it? Considering her social media account is now inactive, I doubt it.