flydog
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By Jody A. Benjamin
Sun-Sentinel
Posted February 9 2002
MIAMI -- Seven pilots and two airport ramp workers in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have been charged with possessing fraudulent immigration documents and Social Security cards, federal prosecutors said Saturday.
Some of them flew commercial jets crammed with passengers whose luggage, pockets and shoes had been checked by tightened airport security.
Others flew cargo planes, repaired engines or pumped tanks with fuel.
But all of the Venezuelan nationals were undocumented immigrants, according to federal authorities who announced a sweep of arrests at homes throughout the two counties intended to close a gaping loophole in airline and national security.
“They had no business in a cockpit flying these planes or transporting cargo,” said U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis. “They lied to get into the cockpit. What we’ve uncovered here is an organized conspiracy.”
Nine men, including a relative of one of the pilots, were arrested. One suspect remained at large.
The pilots were licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration but had no permission to fly planes in the United States, according to officials.
The pilots and airport workers paid up to $25,000 each for fraudulent stamps in their passports that allowed them, and in some cases their families, to enter the country while they supposedly awaited green cards. The fake stamps in red ink also allowed them to obtain Social Security cards and Florida driver’s licenses, officials said.
The case points to a gaping breach in airline security, as well as law enforcement’s heightened focus on the issue in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne, who addressed a news conference at the Miami federal courthouse Saturday night.
“It is very disturbing to know that the very pilots flying our planes are here as illegal aliens having procured fraudulent documentation,” Jenne said. “Obviously airports are a major [security] concern now.”
Airline officials cooperated with law enforcement investigating the alleged illegal scheme, said Lewis.
Six pilots were arrested. Two worked for American Eagle, including one who flew between Miami and the Bahamas and another based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Two others flew cargo planes for Fort Lauderdale-based Express.net airlines. One flew for Fort Lauderdale-based Executive Jet. The sixth pilot flew for Tradewinds Airlines, a cargo line based in Fort Lauderdale.
Arrested were American Eagle pilot Pedro Agusti, American Eagle pilot Luis Garmendia, Express.net pilot Arnoldo Azara, Executive Jet Aviation pilot Pedro Bottome, Express.net pilot Ramon Castillo and pilot Juan Anibel Silva.
Also arrested Saturday were aircraft mechanic Luis Hernandez and fueler Luis Gonzalez.
Authorities were searching for a seventh pilot, Pedro Martinez Jr. who is thought to be in Venezuela. One of Martinez’s relatives, Pedro Martinez Sr., also was arrested.
Searching the suspects’ homes, federal agents seized passports with the fake stamps, phony letters from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and forged letters from the Venezuelan government, Lewis said.
“There are a number of other pilots we are going to be looking at,” said Lewis. “There could be more arrests in the coming days.”
They also have not yet arrested the people thought to have been selling the fake stamps.
The defendants were brought to the federal detention center Saturday night. Some are being held on immigration violations but they are expected to be criminally charged in the days ahead, officials said.
Authorities pointed to the arrests as one of the first key accomplishments of the newly created domestic terrorism task force.
“These are tangible results showing very clearly that federal, state and local authorities can work together as a united front,” Jenne said.
INS chief of investigations Jim Goldman said authorities received a tip from an informant, but he declined to elaborate. However, according to a criminal affidavit, Pedro Agusti came to INS offices last June to inform officials about the fraudulent scheme. Agusti told an INS agent he had paid two people $2,800 in exchange for a fake stamp in his passport that he could later use to get a Social Security card.
Agusti gave officials a list of 30 additional people he knew had also fraudulently acquired stamps.
Last Monday, another man, Franceso Baffone, came to INS and described a similar scheme, according to the affidavit.
The person selling the fake stamps told the buyers they also eventually would receive legal permanent U.S. residency status, he said.
“They wanted to live in the United States and work as commercial pilots,” Goldman said. “The people purchasing these stamps were under the impression that they were living here scot-free and that green cards were coming in the mail.”
Jody A. Benjamin can be reached at 954-356-4530 or [email protected].
Sun-Sentinel
Posted February 9 2002
MIAMI -- Seven pilots and two airport ramp workers in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have been charged with possessing fraudulent immigration documents and Social Security cards, federal prosecutors said Saturday.
Some of them flew commercial jets crammed with passengers whose luggage, pockets and shoes had been checked by tightened airport security.
Others flew cargo planes, repaired engines or pumped tanks with fuel.
But all of the Venezuelan nationals were undocumented immigrants, according to federal authorities who announced a sweep of arrests at homes throughout the two counties intended to close a gaping loophole in airline and national security.
“They had no business in a cockpit flying these planes or transporting cargo,” said U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis. “They lied to get into the cockpit. What we’ve uncovered here is an organized conspiracy.”
Nine men, including a relative of one of the pilots, were arrested. One suspect remained at large.
The pilots were licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration but had no permission to fly planes in the United States, according to officials.
The pilots and airport workers paid up to $25,000 each for fraudulent stamps in their passports that allowed them, and in some cases their families, to enter the country while they supposedly awaited green cards. The fake stamps in red ink also allowed them to obtain Social Security cards and Florida driver’s licenses, officials said.
The case points to a gaping breach in airline security, as well as law enforcement’s heightened focus on the issue in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne, who addressed a news conference at the Miami federal courthouse Saturday night.
“It is very disturbing to know that the very pilots flying our planes are here as illegal aliens having procured fraudulent documentation,” Jenne said. “Obviously airports are a major [security] concern now.”
Airline officials cooperated with law enforcement investigating the alleged illegal scheme, said Lewis.
Six pilots were arrested. Two worked for American Eagle, including one who flew between Miami and the Bahamas and another based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Two others flew cargo planes for Fort Lauderdale-based Express.net airlines. One flew for Fort Lauderdale-based Executive Jet. The sixth pilot flew for Tradewinds Airlines, a cargo line based in Fort Lauderdale.
Arrested were American Eagle pilot Pedro Agusti, American Eagle pilot Luis Garmendia, Express.net pilot Arnoldo Azara, Executive Jet Aviation pilot Pedro Bottome, Express.net pilot Ramon Castillo and pilot Juan Anibel Silva.
Also arrested Saturday were aircraft mechanic Luis Hernandez and fueler Luis Gonzalez.
Authorities were searching for a seventh pilot, Pedro Martinez Jr. who is thought to be in Venezuela. One of Martinez’s relatives, Pedro Martinez Sr., also was arrested.
Searching the suspects’ homes, federal agents seized passports with the fake stamps, phony letters from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and forged letters from the Venezuelan government, Lewis said.
“There are a number of other pilots we are going to be looking at,” said Lewis. “There could be more arrests in the coming days.”
They also have not yet arrested the people thought to have been selling the fake stamps.
The defendants were brought to the federal detention center Saturday night. Some are being held on immigration violations but they are expected to be criminally charged in the days ahead, officials said.
Authorities pointed to the arrests as one of the first key accomplishments of the newly created domestic terrorism task force.
“These are tangible results showing very clearly that federal, state and local authorities can work together as a united front,” Jenne said.
INS chief of investigations Jim Goldman said authorities received a tip from an informant, but he declined to elaborate. However, according to a criminal affidavit, Pedro Agusti came to INS offices last June to inform officials about the fraudulent scheme. Agusti told an INS agent he had paid two people $2,800 in exchange for a fake stamp in his passport that he could later use to get a Social Security card.
Agusti gave officials a list of 30 additional people he knew had also fraudulently acquired stamps.
Last Monday, another man, Franceso Baffone, came to INS and described a similar scheme, according to the affidavit.
The person selling the fake stamps told the buyers they also eventually would receive legal permanent U.S. residency status, he said.
“They wanted to live in the United States and work as commercial pilots,” Goldman said. “The people purchasing these stamps were under the impression that they were living here scot-free and that green cards were coming in the mail.”
Jody A. Benjamin can be reached at 954-356-4530 or [email protected].
