BROOKLYN, NY – A former American Airlines mechanic, Paul Belloisi, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle more than 25 pounds of cocaine into the United States. Belloisi, who worked at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), abused his insider position to participate in an elaborate drug trafficking scheme, using sensitive areas of an aircraft to conceal the drugs. U.S. District Judge Dora L. Irizarry handed down the 108-month sentence after Belloisi’s conviction in May 2023 on charges of conspiracy to import and possess cocaine.
The case dates back to February 4, 2020, when American Airlines flight 1349 arrived at JFK from Montego Bay, Jamaica. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, conducting a routine inspection, discovered 10 bricks of cocaine, weighing 25.56 pounds, hidden inside an electronics compartment located beneath the cockpit. The cocaine, with a street value exceeding $250,000, was replaced by law enforcement with fake bricks treated with a glowing substance. Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and CBP placed the aircraft under surveillance.
Belloisi, later observed approaching the aircraft and climbing into the electronics compartment, was apprehended by law enforcement. His gloves, which glowed under a black light, revealed that he had handled the fake cocaine bricks. He was also found carrying an empty tool bag and wearing a jacket with cutouts in the lining large enough to conceal the drugs.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace emphasized the danger Belloisi’s actions posed to public safety, stating that his abuse of trust not only fueled drug trafficking but also jeopardized national security. HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Darren McCormack echoed this sentiment, highlighting the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in bringing Belloisi to justice. CBP Director Francis J. Russo applauded the teamwork between agencies that helped dismantle the smuggling operation.