American Airlines Mechanic Convicted of Cocaine Smuggling Under Jetliner Cockpit

An American Airlines mechanic, Paul Belloisi, has been convicted of conspiring to import and possess cocaine after he was caught trying to smuggle 10 bricks of cocaine weighing 25.56 pounds, worth approximately $285,000 to $320,000, in an electronics compartment under the cockpit of a jetliner at JFK Airport. Belloisi faces up to 20 years in prison. Law enforcement officials praised the collaborative efforts of CBP officers and HSI special agents in identifying and arresting Belloisi, who abused his position of trust and undermined the security of a vital border crossing.