chuckakers 426 #1 August 31, 2004 Arrests made at Skydive Chicago By DAN CHURNEY — For The Times-Press DAYTON — Two south suburban men are each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after being taken into custody by U.S. Customs agents after they landed their craft at the Skydive Chicago facility near Dayton early Friday morning. The arrests came after an eight-hour air pursuit that ended at about 3:50 a.m. Friday. The airplane and a half-ton of marijuana were seized as well. Ira Williams, 31, of Manteno, and Gene Lisula, 31, Orland Park, are each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Agents said they found 1,000 pounds of marijuana inside the plane. This quantity of marijuana would usually be valued at about $1.2 million. A third person has been charged in the case as well. William Ivan Pardo, of Brownsville, Texas is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to do the same. Pardo's age was not available this morning. Pardo is a certified parachute rigger, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Pardo was arrested on these charges by U.S. Customs agents in Brownsville on Friday -- the same day that Williams and Lisula were taken into custody. Federal agents said they became suspicious of the plane when it took off from an airport in Brownsville, Texas, which is on the border with Mexico. The plane was tracked by radar until it landed at Edinburg, Texas. When it left there, it was being followed by a U.S. Customs jet, which was eventually joined by three other government jets. As Williams’ and Lisula’s craft approached the airport at Skydive Chicago, a U.S. Customs helicopter containing response team agents from Cincinnati was dispatched to Skydive Chicago to await the arrival of Williams and Lisula. Williams’ and Lisula’s plane landed, followed by two of the government planes, and the arrests were made. Fred Morelli Jr., the attorney for Skydive Chicago operators Matthew and Missy Nelson, expressed anger at the two pilots arrested Friday at the facility on drug trafficking charges. “I’m angry at them. Matthew and Missy are really angry at them. It took a tremendous amount of nerve to land there,” said Morelli. Morelli, who was once a judge, said he is “absolutely confident” that neither Matthew nor Missy Nelson, nor anyone involved with the management of Skydive Chicago, had anything to do with Williams’ and Lisula’s flight. Matthew and Missy took over operation of the facility after their father, Roger W. Nelson, died in a skydiving accident in June 2003. Morelli also said that he believes the men landed at Skydive Chicago because it is one of the few airports in Northern Illinois that is closed late at night. He added that runway lights were not lit when Williams and Lisula touched down. Matthew Nelson was gone at the time and Missy Nelson was sleeping, but she was awakened by the sound of the helicopter that landed federal agents at the airport, Morelli said. Morelli further said that he believes the plane used by Williams and Lisula was rented in Texas and has been returned there. Morelli said he did not know what connection, if any, Williams and Lisula had to Skydive Chicago. Williams and Lisula are being held at the federal jail in Chicago and had a court hearing. A federal spokesman said that Williams and Lisula will be taken to Texas where their case will be prosecuted. They are being held in the federal detention facility in Chicago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #2 August 31, 2004 That same information can be found here. May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
