#American Airlines mechanic accused of smuggling cocaine in hidden aircraft compartment

An American Airlines mechanic used his position to help smuggle nearly 12 kilos of cocaine bricks from Jamaica hidden in a mechanical compartment beneath a plane, according to Brooklyn federal prosecutors.

Paul Belloisi, 52, of Hicksville, New York, pleaded not guilty via telephone conference Monday in Central Islip federal court on a three-count indictment, charging him with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to import cocaine and importation of cocaine.

He was busted Feb 4 after American Airlines flight 1249 arrived at JFK from Montego Bay, Jamaica.

During a routine search, two customs and border patrol officers inspected an external panel under the aircraft that houses the electronics system and discovered ten bricks of cocaine, according to court papers.

The officers replaced the narcotics with sham bricks, sprayed them “with a substance that glows when illuminated with certain light” and set up a radiofrequency tripwire that would alert them to movement inside the compartment, the indictment says.

Hours later, at about 8 p.m., after passengers had begun boarding for the next flight, Belloisi allegedly entered the electronics compartment, sending a signal to the officers.

When he emerged, the agents shone a light on his gloves that revealed he had touched the fake bricks.

He also had an empty red tool bag with him. He was detained and taken into custody. The officers later noticed that his American Airlines jacket had cuts in the interior lining.

“The red tool bag and the interior jacket lining together would have been sufficient to carry the seized contraband,” the indictment states.

Belloisi, who is free on $300,000 bond, faces up to life in prison if convicted.

His lawyer David Besso said the charges are a stretch.

“If you ask me, the government has very little evidence to support their contentions in the indictment,” said 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.”