Northeast
Former American Airlines mechanic sentenced to prison for smuggling cocaine in compartment under cockpit: feds
A New York-based former American Airlines mechanic who was facing financial troubles before being convicted of conspiracy to traffic cocaine has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison in a plot where he hid bricks of the drug under a passenger plane cockpit, according to federal authorities.
Customs agents caught Paul Belloisi, a 56-year-old Smithtown resident, red-handed in 2020 after they discovered more than 25 pounds of the drug and swapped it out with a fake parcel covered in a substance that would later glow under black light, according to federal investigators. Court records show he had filed for bankruptcy three years earlier.
Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement that federal agents later staked out the plane and watched Belloisi head into the compartment where the fake drugs were hidden with an empty tool bag and a jacket with cutouts large enough to conceal the bricks.
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS USE SECURITY PRIVILEGES TO SMUGGLE MILLIONS IN DRUG MONEY OUT OF US: FEDERAL PROSECUTORS
Former American Airlines mechanic Paul Belloisi received a nine-year sentence in federal prison for his role in trafficking cocaine into the United States at John F. Kennedy International Airport. (Justice Department)
They shined the black light on his gloves and saw the tell-tale glow.
Federal authorities dubbed him a “corrupt inside man” and said the sentence should serve as a warning to other workers who intend to abuse their positions.
“Paul Belloisi put his personal gain before the safety of the aviation industry by abusing his position to participate in a scheme to import over 25 pounds of cocaine into the U.S., repeatedly storing smuggled narcotics within sensitive areas of passenger airplanes,” HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Darren McCormack said in a statement. “His demise should send a message to anyone attempting to exploit the aviation industry: HSI New York and our law enforcement partners are committed to maintain the safety of the U.S. domestic and international transportation infrastructure.”
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Homeland Security Investigations says the holes in the lining of Belloisi’s jacket were made to help him hide cocaine. (Justice Department)
American Airlines, which has not been accused of wrongdoing in the smuggling case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the federal criminal complaint, a flight arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport from Jamaica on Feb. 4, 2020.
A Boeing 777 of American Airlines arrives from Milan at JFK International Airport in New York on Feb. 7, 2024. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
Two Customs and Border Protection agents inspected the plane and found 10 bricks of cocaine hidden in a blanket in a compartment under the cockpit.
They swapped it out with fake bricks and a transponder that would alert them to movement in the compartment. HSI agents also assisted in visual surveillance from a distance.
WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN O’HARE AIRPORT BAGGAGE MACHINERY DIED OF SUICIDE: POLICE
Federal authorities said they found Belloisi with this empty tool bag after he entered a jet compartment where they recovered more than 25 pounds of cocaine. (Justice Department)
Hours went by with no movement, but about 20 minutes before the plane’s scheduled departure, Belloisi showed up and entered the compartment, according to the complaint. Five seconds later, he tripped the transponder.
Judge Dora Irizarry handed down three sentences of 108 months to run concurrently for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine and importing cocaine.
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Boston, MA
Shay Maloney’s overtime goal lifts Boston Fleet to road victory
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Shay Maloney scored 41 seconds into overtime and the Boston Fleet edged the Vancouver Goldeneyes 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Much of the game was a goalie duel, with neither side scoring until the third period.
Haley Winn was first to strike, getting the Fleet on the board early in the final frame with her second goal of the year.
Hannah Miller responded for the Goldeneyes with 3:26 remaining, blasting a one-timer past Boston goalie Aerin Frankel from just inside the blue line. Frankel stopped 25 of the 26 shots she faced, and the Fleet won its sixth straight game.
Kristen Campbell made 25 saves in the Vancouver net.
The win moved the Fleet back into sole possession of first place in the league standings, two points ahead of the Montreal Victoire.
Vancouver was without goalie Emerance Maschmeyer, who is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury. Kimberly Newell served as Campbell’s backup.
Pittsburg, PA
How Pittsburgh area drivers can save money on gas as prices rise during the war with Iran
Until the prices at the gas pump start to come down, we’re all looking for a way to trim our spending on fuel. The good news is that there are a number of ways to do that, and they just might be in your wallet or on your phone right now.
Whether it’s credit card reward programs or brand loyalty programs, finding a discount at the gas station is easier than you might think.
Most major gas stations either have loyalty programs or memberships that can save you money. There’s also the option of using AAA to find some savings.
On your phone, there are several apps and options that can save you money, like GasBuddy or Waze.
“The Auto Club app, which is our app, it actually will guide you toward the least expensive fuel in the area near you,” explained Jim Garrity of AAA East Central.
Both AAA and AARP have deals with Shell, where members can get five cents off a gallon.
Meanwhile, if you’re getting your shopping done at one of the warehouse, wholesale stores such as Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco, part of your membership is a gas discount, which is usually at least 10 cents cheaper.
Even if you aren’t a member of one of these wholesale stores, many grocery stores have rewards programs that can get you a discount at gas stations.
Garrity said there are also things you can do behind the wheel that can save you money on gas, starting with slowing down.
“Essentially, for every five miles over 50 miles an hour you’re driving, we found that you’re decreasing your fuel economy exponentially,” he explained.
He also said that drivers should avoid jack rabbit starts – basically pushing down on the gas pedal instead of easing off the brake and putting slight pressure on the gas pedal. Drivers also should make sure that they’re keeping up with regular maintenance.
“They save up pennies that over time really add up,” he said.
Obviously, changing your driving habits is hard, especially because you don’t see immediate results, and that can lead to frustration.
Using those memberships, rewards programs, and discount resources, that’s real money and more immediate.
Connecticut
Study: Late-Night Gamers in Connecticut Are Dragging Down Productivity
According to a study published by Win.gg, all those late-night gaming sessions aren’t just wrecking your sleep—they’re wrecking Connecticut’s bottom line. Yeah, apparently your midnight raid or Fortnite grind comes with a side of lost productivity, and it adds up fast.
Win.gg surveyed 2,000 working gamers across the U.S., then crunched the numbers with data from the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The results? Roughly 47% of employed gamers in Connecticut admit they’re dragging the next day after a late-night session. On average, that translates to about 2.6 hours of work that… well, never really happens. If you put a dollar figure on it, that’s about $104 lost per worker in a single day. Multiply that by the state, and we’re looking at a staggering $74 million in lost productivity. Yup, you read that right—$74 million just because people stayed up too late chasing loot or finishing that last level.
Read More: Three Arrested for Burglary in New Fairfield
It’s not just your career that’s taking a hit, either. Gamers in the state report cutting their sleep by an average of 1.8 hours to fit in those extra hours of gaming. And we all know what happens when you skimp on sleep: coffee consumption goes up, focus goes down, and suddenly responding to emails feels like decoding hieroglyphics.
So, what does this mean for Connecticut? Employers are essentially paying for productivity that doesn’t happen, and the state as a whole is bleeding money. But let’s be real—nobody’s about to stop gaming. If anything, this is a reminder that maybe those late-night raids are best saved for the weekend, or at least capped so the Monday grind doesn’t feel like a marathon through molasses.
If you want to dive into all the numbers and methodology, Win.gg has the full breakdown here. But the takeaway is clear: your gaming habit might be costing more than you think—both in sleep and in dollars.
Exploring Beyond the Rusty Gates of Danbury’s Oldest Cemetery on Wooster Street
I live just down the block from the Wooster Street Cemetery and whenever I pass, I am always struck at how odd it is. You have this quiet, beautiful place that is dedicated to the people who were buried there, in the middle of a busy city and almost no one ever goes there. I decided to go take a deeper look around and see what was beyond the iron gates and stone walls.
Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
7 of the Most Beautiful Towns in the State of Connecticut
Connecticut is overflowing with both manmade and natural beauty. In some places, the two intersect to create a magical, almost fictional feel. Here are 7 Connecticut Towns that look like they came straight from a storybook.
Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
Top 10 Chain Restaurants with the Most Locations in Connecticut
The other day the boys and I were talking about KFC’s new “gravy flights,” and it got me wondering—do you know which fast-food chain has the most locations in Connecticut? None of us did, so I looked it up.
Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
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