Page 6 - aruba-today-20180106

A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 6 January 2018
Past of ‘cocaine cowboys’ pilot may haunt him Prosecutors drop

charges against 4
By CURT ANDERSON Polish musicians
AP Legal Affairs Writer
MIAMI (AP) — The colorful
past of a pilot who has long By N. K. GERANIOS
bragged about flying loads Associated Press
of drugs for Colombian SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) —
cartels during Miami’s “co- Rape and kidnapping
caine cowboys” era in the charges against all four
1980s may come back to members of a Polish death
haunt him in an auto fraud metal band were dropped
case. Friday by prosecutors in
A federal judge agreed Washington state.
Friday to let prosecutors The band members have
use as evidence much of been detained in the Unit-
Mickey Munday’s open ed States since a wom-
bragging about his past an claimed that she was
in media interviews, social gang-raped after a con-
media posts and in the cert last year in Spokane,
2006 documentary “Co- Washington.
caine Cowboys.” But U.S. Prosecutors filed a motion
District Judge Robert Scola in Spokane County Supe-
ruled that most direct drug rior Court dismissing the
references can’t be intro- In this Aug. 11, 2016 photo, Mickey Munday talks to a reporter in Love Park in North Miami, Fla. charges against members
duced. Federal prosecutors want to use the past of Munday, a pilot from Miami’s “cocaine cowboys” era of Decapitated, citing only
“I’m trying to minimize the against him during an upcoming trial on charges of participating in an auto fraud ring. the “well-being of the vic-
term ‘cocaine cowboy’ (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) tim,” as the reason.
being used,” Scola said at lin cartel and later the Cali stop the truck — and if they “THE REAL Mickey Munday A trial for the four men had
a hearing. “It’s very prejudi- cartel. did, the driver could simply Original Cocaine Cow- been scheduled for Jan.
cial.” “If it flies, rolls or floats,” say he had an order to pick boy.” 16.
What Scola will allow in the Munday, now 72, frequent- up the car and no idea Munday served about nine “We feel it was the result of
auto fraud trial, which starts ly said, “I can drive it.” what was in the trunk. years in prison during the everyone taking a second
Tuesday, are references In addition, prosecutors will “I took advantage of law 1990s after pleading guilty look at this matter in light
Munday frequently made be able to use statements enforcement weaknesses,” to smuggling charges in- of new evidence,” said
about his prowess as a pi- and social media posts Munday said in one Twitter volving many tons of co- Steve Graham, attorney
lot, driver and boat cap- Munday made about using post. caine. for band member Waclaw
tain. Prosecutors say it’s rel- tow trucks to smuggle co- “Think, when was the last Most of his work for the Co- Kieltyka, 35.
evant because Munday’s caine. In those days, smug- time, if ever, any of you lombian cartels was be- “They are headed back
alleged role in the auto glers would pack the drugs have seen a tow truck tween 1982 and 1986, the home this week,” Graham
fraud ring was transporta- into a car’s trunk and put stopped by the police.” height of the hyper-violent said of the band members.
tion, similar to his 1980s work it on a tow truck, reducing Munday’s Twitter profile drug smuggling era that Kelly Fitzgerald, a Spokane
for Pablo Escobar’s Medel- the likelihood police would contains this description: engulfed Miami.q County deputy prosecutor
handling the case, was not
immediately available for
San Francisco: comment.
The charges were dis-
Man acquitted of killing sentenced for gun charge missed without prejudice,
meaning the four men
By PAUL ELIAS the tactic his state court could be charged again in
Associated Press lawyers took to insulate the the future.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A San Francisco jury from any According to court docu-
Mexican man acquitted mention of his immigration ments, a woman told po-
of murder in the shooting status and the nationwide lice that she was invited
death of a San Francisco debate around it. onto the tour bus after the
woman that sparked a na- During the presidential band’s show on Aug. 31.
tional immigration debate campaign, President Trump The woman claimed that
was sentenced Friday to pointed at Steinle’s death she was raped in the bath-
time served for illegal gun as a reason to build a wall room of the bus.
possession. San Francisco along the Mexican border Band members were ar-
Superior Court Judge Sam- and tighten immigration rested in Los Angeles
uel Feng also denied a de- policies. County, California, after a
fense request to give Jose The president has also show there Sept. 9 and ex-
Ines Garcia Zarate a new threatened to withhold tradited to Spokane.
trial for his conviction of be- federal funding to cities The other three band
ing a felon in possession of with sanctuary city policies. members are Michal Lyse-
a firearm. Garcia Zarate will In this July 7, 2015 file photo, Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, right, is “A vote for guilty in the jko, 27; Rafal Piotrowski, 31;
now be taken into federal led into the courtroom by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff federal case is a vote for and Hubert Wiecek, 30.
custody to faces two gun Adachi, left, and Assistant District Attorney Diana Garciaor, Trump,” Serra said outside The state’s case largely
possession charges in fed- center, for his arraignment at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. court Friday.San Francisco consisted of testimony
eral court. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) District Attorney George from two women who told
The San Francisco Sheriff’s up. Garcia Zarate’s lawyer inject as much politics as he Gascon said he was police that they were held
Department said it would Tony Serra said he expects can into his defense of Gar- pleased with the sentence against their will on the
hold Garcia Zarate in its jail a transfer this weekend. cia Zarate in federal court, and declined to comment band’s tour bus after the
until U.S. Marshals pick him Serra also said he plans to a marked departure from on the federal charges.q show.q