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WFFC

Marijuana and plane seized at Skydive Chicago

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I was asking in general about skydiving... not an individual.

Not trying to attack you, but I find it in poor taste to cast rumors like that......



Well, it appeared you asked about the history - you did not clarify history on what. The "rumors" have been around for years and Roger did do time, along with many others in our sport, not necessarily related to Roger's incident. Now whether or not SDC was funded by said drug money will probably never be proven, but its a good story.

It really sucks for Missy and Rook to have to deal with these really stupid people and we all know the media doesn't get much right nowadays.

Judy
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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Not trying to attack you, but I find it in poor taste to cast rumors like that......



It's not like it's a new rumor or anything. Roger has a place all his own in the "rich history" of skydiving that's been referenced in this thread and I don't see a problem with mentioning it.

Blues,
Dave
"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

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Cutaway was written by someone who knew skydiving's rich history



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This might sound naive... but what history is that?



The co-writer for Cutaway and Dropzone was Guy Manos. He has done about everything associated with skydiving from movies to competition to world records.

Skydiving does have a history of drug smuggling, in the same way that boating and flying do. It's a delivery tool. There have been incidents where dead skydivers were found with drugs attached to them.

I live in Florida. Every little town has a grass landing strip in the boonies. All the coastal towns used to have commercial fisherman with high-speed boats.

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Another story today:

August 18, 2004
Ottawa Daily Times

3rd man facing charge in plane case

By DAN CHURNEY, Staff Writer

A third man also is facing a charge in connection with the seizure of a planeload of marijuana Friday morning at the Skydive Chicago airfield near Dayton.

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 Ira J. Williams, 31, of Manteno and Gene M. Lisula, 31, Orland Park, were taken into custody by Customs agents after landing their plane at Skydive Chicago.

The agents had followed Williams' and Lisula's craft by air for eight hours as Williams and Lisula flew from Texas to Skydive Chicago. When the men touched down, they were met by Customs agents who had been dispatched to Skydive Chicago ahead of time. The agents in the planes also landed.

The government said they found about 1,000 pounds of marijuana in Williams' and Lisula's plane. This amount would usually be valued at about $1.2 million.

According to court documents, Williams and Lisula flew the marijuana into the United States from Mexico.

The case is being prosecuted in Texas.

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Oh goodie, are we going to hijack this thread and list all of Michael's problems?

His number one problem is that he can't move back to Colorado fast enough!
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

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Oh goodie, are we going to hijack this thread and list all of Michael's problems?



Works for me!! Maybe we should consult with T to find out some good stuff about him. :D

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

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Okay we know that Roger had a past. Well hell who doesn't have something!
I say just because the aircraft landed at SDC does not mean that it is associated with the drop zone.

As to Michael updating, I don't see anything wrong in that either. I would expect someone to do the same no matter where the incident occurred.








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Works for me!! Maybe we should consult with T to find out some good stuff about him.



Some how I don't think T is the "kiss and tell" type.
Though she sure is a fun drunk:ph34r:
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

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What problem? Me no Blow Joe but $30 is a lotta dough. (at least it is for a single-purpose newspaper subscription, in my book.) Mo' powa 2 ya.

D. James Nahikian
CHICAGO



ye have little knowledge...I emailed the newspaper and asked them to forward the stories to me so I wouldn't have to drive to Ottawa. They graciously sent them on.

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ye have little knowledge...I emailed the newspaper and asked them to forward the stories to me so I wouldn't have to drive to Ottawa. The graciously sent them on.



Yeah, that's our little Micheal. If there is a way around it, he'll find it.

I figured there was no way you would be paying that $30 ;)
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

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Ohhhhhhhhh!!!! So your issue is that you're a cheapskate and not a raker of muck. What's wrong with supporting the local economy! And how'd ya ever manage to afford a mo' stylin' jumpsuit than Sunny Che? That, like the hat (still gonna get me one, I need it more than you do), is another thread I suppose.

D. James Nahikian
CHICAGO

Ain't gonna Blow Joe (Joe feels likewise)

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Okay we know that Roger had a past. Well hell who doesn't have something!
I say just because the aircraft landed at SDC does not mean that it is associated with the drop zone.

As to Michael updating, I don't see anything wrong in that either. I would expect someone to do the same no matter where the incident occurred.



If you look at the airports around Chicago where you could land and unload a heavily loaded twin without being seen, you wouldn't choose Midway or O'Hare. Or almost any of the others that have long runways easily visible at night. 8N2 is unusual in not being surrounded by a security fence, and in having a long runway with no obstacles (suitable for an unlit night landing), and being out in the boonies. These guys, being skydivers (at least, Lisula is, don't know about Williams), obviously knew about it.

The closest airport to Manteno (Williams home) is Kankakee, and that is well secured and has an FAA presence around the clock. The closest to Orland (Lisula's home) is Frankfort, and that is surrounded by urban sprawl.
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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Why observing you surreptitiously via my invis0-engineeringgraduatestudent0-attorney0-globalbidnessowner0-gettingfat0 -ray goggles. You just can't see _me_. I'm almost out of the woods and there's a lifetime of endowed jumping and Freakish fun ahead! PM.

Myth & mirth,
D. James Nahikian
CHICAGO

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And another view:

http://www.times-press.com/newsmain.php?storyid=9503

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.

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

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Of course for ethical and other reasons you could choose to not do that. Yet another thread.

D. James Nahikian
CHICAGO


James -

"Peeling" is not unethical. There is no hacking going on, they just have an easy name scheme for their web pages. Until WFFC posted that they charged $30 I never knew simply because I would just go to the site URL I knew by heart. Poor web design is not my fault.
_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

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