A former American Airlines aircraft mechanic was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday for attempting to smuggle cocaine hidden under the cockpit of a flight from Jamaica to New York. The case highlights a significant security breach in the airline industry.
Mechanic’s Role in Smuggling Operation
Paul Belloisi, 56, of Smithtown, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry after being convicted in May 2023. Belloisi was found guilty of conspiring to possess and import cocaine, following a U.S. Customs search of American Airlines flight 1349 on February 4, 2020. The flight had arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Customs officers discovered 10 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 25.6 pounds (11.6 kg) hidden in an electronics compartment under the cockpit. The street value of the cocaine was estimated at over $250,000.
The Arrest and Evidence
Authorities caught Belloisi when he attempted to access the electronics compartment after the flight had landed. Customs officers had replaced the cocaine bricks with fake ones sprayed with a substance that glows under black light. When confronted, Belloisi’s gloves glowed under the black light, indicating he had handled the fake bricks. Additionally, he carried an empty tool bag and wore a jacket large enough to conceal the cocaine.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Judge Irizarry rejected Belloisi’s request for an acquittal, ruling that jurors had enough evidence to conclude that he knowingly conspired to import the cocaine. Belloisi’s lawyer, David Cohen, announced that his client plans to appeal, arguing that the nine-year sentence was excessive and disproportionate to national sentencing statistics.
In her ruling, Judge Irizarry stated that Belloisi’s actions posed a serious threat to security at one of the country’s vital border crossings and the transportation infrastructure.
Prosecutors and Airline Reaction
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace emphasized the potential danger posed by Belloisi’s actions, which could have compromised the security of the flight and JFK Airport. American Airlines was not accused of any involvement in the smuggling operation.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent security checks within the aviation industry to prevent such incidents from threatening national safety.
