Californian Seized in Huge Cocaine-Smuggling Case

Twelve people, including a Southern California man, were under indictment Friday by a Pennsylvania grand jury in what federal drug authorities called a sophisticated smuggling operation that has airlifted 7 1/2 tons of cocaine from Colombia during the past six years.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the amount was the largest known importation by a single drug ring and brought the suspects an estimated $25 million in illicit profits.

The federal indictment was unsealed in Harrisburg, Pa. In Scranton, acting U.S. Atty. James West said the ring used a Pennsylvania charter air service to fly the cocaine from four Colombian airfields to Florida, Pennsylvania and New York for sale in the New York City area.

West said the smugglers set up radio communications centers to monitor the flights of their specially outfitted aircraft and even used decoy planes to confuse federal drug agents.

John F. Robertson III, identified by authorities as a resident of Palos Verdes Estates and the general manager of the charter company as well as one of the ring’s pilots, reportedly was arrested Tuesday in Long Beach. A federal Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman said Robertson appeared before a U.S. magistrate Wednesday and was remanded to the custody of the federal marshal.

Robertson and four other suspects who had been arrested by Friday were being held without bail, according to West.

A DEA spokesman said Robertson was living in a Spanish-style home in the expensive Malaga Cove area of Palos Verdes Estates, but a current occupant indicated he no longer lives there.

The prosecutor said Robertson owns a “mansion-like” residence at Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, where federal agents dug up $4.2 million stashed in 21 sections of buried sewer pipe.

The money was mostly in $20 bills, agents said, but also included $50s and $100s.

“This represents one pilot’s profits,” West said. He called it Robertson’s “savings account” and said the suspect “thought he had a nest egg for life, but he can be assured that the government is going to keep its hands on that money as the fruits of a criminal.”

West said federal officials also have seized $15 million worth of airplanes and other assets of the suspects.

The pilots allegedly flew as much as $1 million in cash on each flight to Colombia since 1980 and returned to the United States with up to 1,300 pounds of cocaine. West said pilots were paid $3,000 to $4,000 per kilo per flight. One load, he said, resulted in commissions of $1.8 million.

Two-Year Probe

The indictment, which followed what U.S. Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III said was a two-year investigation, charged Robertson with being involved from the beginning of the conspiracy until 1984.

“By the time the investigation started . . . Robertson had moved to Palos Verdes and was running an aviation firm that modified planes for long-distance flights and provided charter service to Nevada,” West said.

He declined to say whether Robertson continued to be involved in the alleged smuggling ring while operating that company.

The Pennsylvania charter air service Robertson managed was Air America Inc., according to the indictment. It was headquartered at the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Airport, where the smuggling flights allegedly began with duffel bags full of cash being loaded aboard the airplanes.

West said there was no connection between Air America and a similarly named airline formerly connected with the Central Intelligence Agency.

Colombians Indicted

Indicted with Robertson were Arturo Correa-Arroyave and his brother, Rigoberto, both of Colombia; Thomas Keen Edenfield Jr. and Anthony E. Deck, both of Albuquerque; Christopher Peter Sharsky, of Uvalde, Tex., and six Colombian nationals listed only by the nicknames Danny, Peter, Beatrice, Claro, Eddie and Hernando.

Arturo Correa-Arroyave, however, already has been found dead in Colombia, West said, apparently kidnaped and killed by rival drug traffickers. He was discovered about a week ago with his ears and tongue cut away and his eyes gouged out, even though a $50-million ransom had been paid. West said the murder did not appear to be related to the investigation or the indictment.

The Correa-Arroyave brothers reportedly were associated with a major Colombian crime family, the Ochoas.

Planes Provided

Investigators charge that Robertson, Edenfield and Air America Inc. owner Fredrik John Luytjes provided the airplanes and pilots for the flights carrying drugs and money.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Gordon Zubrod said Luytjes, an unindicted co-conspirator, has signed an agreement to plead guilty to drug trafficking charges.

Federal agents said at least six people, including Robertson, were pilots for the ring, flying modified long-range aircraft. Two of the alleged pilots, Cornelius Ashley Bird Jr. and James Cooper, were named as unindicted co-conspirators.

The ring reportedly installed radio equipment in Colombia and set up communications equipment at Luytjes’ home in Deer Lake, Pa., as well as at Robertson’s property in the Poconos to monitor the movement of their planes.

All defendants were charged with conspiracy to import and possess cocaine with intent to distribute it. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

Times staff writers Eric Malnic and Karen Roebuck contributed to this story.