Saury Antonio Ortega. Photo elnuevodiario.com.do
NEW YORK.- Acting as drug trafficking “mule,” in official uniform and traveling in a JetBlue airline courtesy flight, Dominican commercial pilot Saury Antonio Ortega, 41, tried to smuggle several kilos of cocaine with a street value of $75.000 dollars.
Ortega, an employee of the Dominican airline MAS based in Santo Domingo’s La Isabela International Airport (AILI), went before a Brooklyn Federal Court judge to face charges of conspiracy with intention to distribute cocaine in the United States.
He tried to pass Kennedy Airport’s security checks, even using his credentials and tried to sneak by with a group of JetBlue workers. His arrest on July 19 was the result of a drug detecting dog in the terminal.
An American citizen, Ortega, grew up in the Bronx and lives in the Dominican Republic.
He faces up to 25 years in prison in found guilty of smuggling the cocaine, hidden the Dominican coffee cans in his carryon luggage.
Written by: danny00, 28 Jul 2011 11:30 AM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
is their no end to the drug business in the dr?
he is a pilot, not some poor fool from a campo with no education. why?
GREED AND LUST.
this is sad for me to hear.
few years ago i was on a areican airlines flight. from the cabin came a message that the pilot that was making the landing was a DOMICIAN. this brought a lot of smiles for the passengers on board this craft., when i saw the headlines 1st thoughts where that it was the same guy.
glad at least to see it was not the dominican pilot with american.
From: United States
Well here goes another one. 20 years in a american jail then maybe he will have his citizenship stripped and sent back to the DR like all the other 3-4000 a year criminals.
From: United States, Reality Check
They wrongly assume the American judicial system is corrupt as the dominican judicial system where there are many back-door political deals done for dirty money and back-scratching going as leaders like Hippo & now Prez LF have a "don't ask, don't tell policy" on internal corruption they already know about but remain silent per the Wiki Leak cables.
Well, if this dominican pilot didn't know... well, now he sure as hell knows now!
Now, the only thing he needs is a good attorney to get a lower sentences (not likely) and some soap-on-a-rope!
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
His family hit the lottery, they will be stripped of some wealth by the americans
Written by: Juango, 28 Jul 2011 12:59 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
What a fool. With judgements like that, I would never want him as my pilot..... JetBlue, please do better background investigations and testing of your pilots.. He probably would be one to take dangerous chances while piloting a passenger jetliner.Say like flying through a thunderstorm for the thrill of it... What an IDIOT !!! Throw his a$$ in jail just for being stupid!
Correction: Sorry about that, I thought he was a jetBlue pilot .... oh well... still an IDIOT!
Written by: ASDR59, 28 Jul 2011 1:01 PM
From: United States
Sadly, more and more the DR is in the news for illegal drug activities. I hope that our leadership and citizens recognize this downward spiral. It was only when Colombia realized that their citizenship and their passports were looked upon in shame and disgrace, did they begin to change their standing in the world. I wish the same for our people. Stand for what is right, lead people to a place of honor and decency. This guy has put all of us on the map. I will be looked as a mule and a criminal.
Written by: BLANCO, 28 Jul 2011 1:06 PM
From: Dominican Republic
What an IDIOT !!! Throw his a$$ in jail just for being stupid!
COPY THAT.......HE WORKS FOR A DOMINICAN AIRLINE COMPANY AND WAS TRAVELLING AS QUEST ON JET BLUE.........COPY THAT
Written by: juanb, 28 Jul 2011 1:09 PM
From: Dominican Republic
If he were caught here he would get a hero's parade.
From: United States
I am not justifying his actions, what is wrong is wrong. But hey, leave the poor guy alone. Don't be so hard on him. He was just moon lighting for a few extra bucks on the side. It is a business venture like any other, this one just happens to be illegal. How many legitimate businesses destroy families and kill millions of people but because it is not criminalized then it is ok to cause damage and hurt others. The problem with our society is the double standards, if everything is equal across the board then maybe things will improve and not be so bad.
Written by: bernies, 28 Jul 2011 3:14 PM
From: United States, key west fl
Hey Jim, he cannot be deported like the rest of those scumbaggs because he is an american citizen now and that cannot be reboke only green cards are taking away.
Written by: Rainman, 28 Jul 2011 3:44 PM
From: United States
Daddy is not going to be able to get him out this is not the DR. The guy should be charged with stupidity since he did this and lost everything for only $75,000 a good job and a good pension for nothing
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
Dats tree keys in da Big Appol.....
How many courtesy flights has he been on, he must have a lot of disposable cash right about now.....He deserve whats coming to him for not calling it quits a while ago......
Written by: curios1, 28 Jul 2011 8:28 PM
From: United States, right where im standin
im going to go out on a limb and say probably right after he got nabbed he said . DAM WHAT WAS I THINKING !
From: United States
I mean, I'm sure Pilots don't really make a boat load of money but still, REALLY?? I mean is it REALLY worth the risk of ruining your ENTIRE career, your life and damaging that of your families?? I mean the situation with Jimmy Bauer should have been a CLEAR indication that status means NOTHING. And it means even LESS to a highly trained K-9 who smell all the ingredients you will use before you even decide on WHAT you wanna eat. Stupid.
From: Botswana, La reconnaissance est une lachete'
This is nothing new he just happened to get caught. So many of those guys who fly the south American routes do this on a regular. It's not always only charts in their flight bags. No they are not always from DR, good old USA.
Written by: ateo2010 
, 28 Jul 2011 11:06 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Owning Noobs
dumb nigga.
Written by: Grosero, 29 Jul 2011 6:08 AM
From: United States
"FOOL"......had a nice job but threw it away trying to compete with Uncle Sammy....The only who gets away with smuggling are those who are in charge of stopping it!
From: United States
I hope they throw him under the jail and let him rot.
Written by: danny00, 29 Jul 2011 10:44 AM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
great job and the respect that goes along with it. {one real man}
wonder how much respect hes going to get now?
From: United States, New brunswick NJ
F@*king MORON blow a good job with bennies and freedom for easy money.
Written by: Vivacuba, 29 Jul 2011 12:25 PM
From: Dominican Republic
when the gringo government is thrown out of DR only then will the drugs stop. Vivacuba. No gringo criminal government here ...only GITMO and the lease will expire someday.
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
These retarded plaintain eaters believe they are in DR.
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he is a pilot, not some poor fool from a campo with no education. why?
GREED AND LUST.
this is sad for me to hear.
few years ago i was on a areican airlines flight. from the cabin came a message that the pilot that was making the landing was a DOMICIAN. this brought a lot of smiles for the passengers on board this craft., when i saw the headlines 1st thoughts where that it was the same guy.
glad at least to see it was not the dominican pilot with american.
Well, if this dominican pilot didn't know... well, now he sure as hell knows now!
Now, the only thing he needs is a good attorney to get a lower sentences (not likely) and some soap-on-a-rope!
Correction: Sorry about that, I thought he was a jetBlue pilot .... oh well... still an IDIOT!
COPY THAT.......HE WORKS FOR A DOMINICAN AIRLINE COMPANY AND WAS TRAVELLING AS QUEST ON JET BLUE.........COPY THAT
If he were caught here he would get a hero's parade.
How many courtesy flights has he been on, he must have a lot of disposable cash right about now.....He deserve whats coming to him for not calling it quits a while ago......
wonder how much respect hes going to get now?