Gordon C

Fractional Pilot Busted for Smuggling Ecstasy

AIN has confirmed that Franklin Rodriguez, the U.S. Air National Guard pilot arrested April 12 for smuggling Ecstasy into the U.S. aboard a C-5A Galaxy, was at that time (and may still be) a Beechjet captain for Flight Options.

The fractional operator declined comment about the situation, citing employee-employer confidentiality.

According to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials, Rodriguez, 35, and loadmaster John Fong, 36, were found to be carrying in their baggage some 290,000 Ecstasy pills–worth an estimated $11.6 million on the street–after conducting a military mission from Germany to Stewart Airport in Newburgh, N.Y. The two men admitted to law enforcement officers that they had transported Ecstasy on previous military flights. They have both been charged with conspiracy to import Ecstasy into the U.S. and conspiracy to distribute the drug, each offense carrying a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

The DEA, which found a “large sum of cash” in Rodriguez’s Bronx, N.Y. apartment, said last week it didn’t yet know whether he transported Ecstasy while flying any civilian aircraft.