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Press Release

Pilot for Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas
Defendant Absconded After Plea in 1995 and Remained a Fugitive for 17 Years

DALLAS — A former Dallas resident and member of the Jose Paz Garcia drug trafficking organization (DTO), who, after pleading guilty in 1995 to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, absconded, and remained a fugitive for 17 years, was sentenced today, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Anthony Harrison Bell, a/k/a “Pajaro,” (Bird), 58, worked as a pilot for the Jose Paz Garcia DTO. Arrested in south Florida in 2013, Bell was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn. He pleaded guilty in October 1995 to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana and cocaine.

Jose Paz Garcia, along with several coconspirators, was convicted at trial in the Northern District of Texas in May 1996. He was sentenced to serve life in federal prison.

According to Bell’s factual resume, from approximately June 1994 through early August 1995, Bell was employed by Jose Paz Garcia to fly quantities of marijuana and cocaine, for distribution and sale to others throughout the U.S., from El Paso, Texas, to Dallas. Bell would also transport drug proceeds, derived from Garcia from the sale of the marijuana and cocaine, from Dallas to Garcia and his associates in El Paso.

For example, Bell admits that on:

      1)   June 1, 1995, he used his Cessna 310L aircraft to transport 10 kilograms of cocaine from El Paso to Dallas for Garcia;

      2)   June 5, 1995, Bell, along with co-conspirator Miguel Robles, acquired approximately 140 pounds of marijuana from Garcia, and the next day Bell used his Cessna 310L aircraft to fly it to Nebraska, Colorado, and Ohio for redistribution;

      3)   June 30, 1995, Bell, along with Robles, acquired approximately 104 pounds of marijuana from Garcia, and Bell used his Cessna 210 aircraft to fly the marijuana from Dallas to Columbus, Ohio, for redistribution; and

      4)   July 12, 1995, Bell, using his Cessna 210 aircraft, flew approximately 173 pounds of marijuana from Dallas to Detroit for Garcia.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Revesz prosecuted.

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Updated February 1, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking