FLORIDA : Pilot in Noriega Case Sentenced to Prison

The first of Manuel A. Noriega’s co-defendants to be punished in a drug smuggling case was sentenced in Miami to 30 months in prison, but may only have to serve 15 more months. Panamanian pilot Eduardo Pardo, who already has served five months, has cooperated with the U.S. attorney’s office in its investigation of the deposed Panamanian leader. He will continue to cooperate, his attorney said. Pardo, 44, pleaded guilty in February to one count of illegal travel for flying $800,000 in cocaine profits from Florida to Panama in 1983. Under sentencing guidelines, Pardo would be freed in 20 months, including five already served.