Former American Airlines Mechanic Sentenced to Nine Years for Smuggling Cocaine on Flight

A former American Airlines mechanic, Paul Belloisi, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States. Belloisi, 55, was convicted in May 2023 of conspiring to possess and import cocaine, as well as for the actual importation of the drug, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Belloisi, who used his insider access at New York’s JFK Airport, was part of a scheme to smuggle cocaine on an international flight. According to court documents, he was caught trying to transport approximately 26 pounds of cocaine, hidden in a highly sensitive compartment of an American Airlines plane arriving from Montego Bay, Jamaica, in February 2020.

Drug Concealment in Cockpit

The incident began when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers selected Flight 1349 for a routine inspection. As part of their search, officers checked the external panels of the aircraft, including the main avionics compartment located beneath the cockpit. In this compartment, they found ten bricks of cocaine, wrapped and hidden behind an insulation blanket. The total weight of the drugs was around 26 pounds, with a street value estimated at $250,000.

In a clever move, CBP officers replaced the cocaine with fake bricks and sprayed them with a special substance that glows under blacklight. They also equipped the bricks with a transponder that would alert authorities if the package was disturbed.

Belloisi, unaware of the setup, was later observed entering the avionics compartment. Officers moved in after seeing him tampering with the insulation blanket where the cocaine had been hidden. When confronted, authorities found that Belloisi’s gloves were glowing under blacklight, confirming that he had come into contact with the sprayed substance.

Smuggling Tools Discovered

At the time of his arrest, Belloisi was found with an empty tool bag, which authorities believe he planned to use to transport the cocaine. His jacket had suspicious cutouts, large enough to hide the bricks of cocaine. According to Special Agent John M. Moloney of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this method of creating hidden compartments in jackets and bags is commonly used by drug smugglers.

“In my training and experience, narcotics smugglers commonly make such cutouts to carry concealed contraband in the interior lining of coats and jackets,” Moloney explained.

Impact on Public Trust and Aviation Safety

The case highlights the significant risks posed by insiders working in sensitive roles in the aviation industry. Acting Special Agent Darren McCormack of the Homeland Security Investigations team emphasized how Belloisi’s actions threatened both public safety and the aviation industry.

“Belloisi’s demise should send a message to anyone attempting to exploit the aviation industry for personal gain,” McCormack said. “He put his greed above the safety and trust of the public.”

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace condemned Belloisi’s actions, noting the damage caused by his betrayal of the public’s trust. “The defendant abused his insider position at JFK Airport to help smuggle more than 25 pounds of cocaine into the United States in a highly sensitive electronics compartment of an international aircraft,” Peace said. “Those who work in trusted positions at our airports and in other critical industries must know that they face serious consequences for crimes of corruption.”

The court documents reveal that Belloisi was not acting alone, though the indictment did not name any other conspirators. Authorities are continuing their investigations into the larger network that may have been involved in the smuggling attempt.