An American Airlines mechanic who worked at JFK Airport was found guilty Tuesday of trying to smuggle over $300,000 worth of cocaine stashed in a hidden compartment under the cockpit, federal prosecutors said.
Paul Belloisi, 55, of Hicksville, was convicted by a jury on all three drug charges after being caught “red handed” during the smuggling operation, US Attorney Breon Peace said.
When American Airlines flight 1349 arrived at JFK Airport on Feb. 4, 2020 from Jamaica, the plane was selected by Customs and Border Protection for a routine search, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said.
During the search, officers discovered 10 bricks of cocaine that weighed more than 25 pounds hidden inside an electronics compartment on the underside of the cockpit.
The drugs were worth as much as $320,000, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
The cocaine was swapped with fake bricks by agents and sprayed with a substance that glows when a special light shines on it.
Law enforcement placed the plane under surveillance from a distance and waited, prosecutors said.
Shortly before the plane’s next expected departure, officers with CBP and Homeland Security Investigations saw Belloisi enter the electronics compartment.
He was then confronted by authorities.
The gloves he was wearing were glowing under the black light, proof that he handled the sham bricks, the feds said.
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He also had an empty tool bag and was wearing a jacket that had cutouts in its lining large enough to fit bricks, prosecutors said.
“As proven, the defendant was caught red-handed trying to facilitate the smuggling of a large stash of cocaine hidden in an electronics compartment of the aircraft,” Peace said in a statement.
“This corrupt airline mechanic not only abused his position of trust and undermined the security of a vital border crossing in our district, but was also willing to potentially endanger the safety of travelers as well as the community.”
“Not only did Belloisi violate the law by conspiring to traffic cocaine into the United States, but he used his trusted position as an American Airlines mechanic at JFK International Airport to facilitate his criminal activity,” said HSI New York special agent in charge Ivan Arvelo.
The three charges he was convicted of were conspiring to possess cocaine, conspiring to import cocaine, and importing cocaine.
He could face 20 years in prison at sentencing.
Belloisi’s lawyer David Jason Cohen told Newsday “we respectfully disagree with the jury’s verdict. I believe it goes against the weight of evidence … I’ll discuss all options with the family at a later time.”
His previous attorney said in February 2020 the government didn’t have much of a case.
“If you ask me, the government has very little evidence to support their contentions in the indictment,” said past lawyer David Besso.
“Mr. Belloisi has worked for American Airlines for 30 years. He’s got a spotless record, no prior criminal history and he was performing his official duties when they set up a sting operation.”
