SAN FRANCISCO — A Hayward man was discovered responsible of federal drug smuggling fees after being indicted as half of a bigger crackdown on a nationwide cocaine distribution ring, authorities mentioned Monday.
Lemack “Lee” Bellot, 42, tried to “facilitate the smuggling of cocaine” by means of San Francisco Worldwide Airport in 2018. Bellot was convicted of two counts of making an attempt to help and abet possession with intent to distribute cocaine following a weeklong trial in federal court docket, in keeping with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace of Northern California.
Between March and November 2018, “Bellot made quite a lot of preparations” to assist another person smuggle giant quantities of cocaine by means of the airport, however these shipments weren't really cocaine as a result of Bellot was unknowingly negotiating with a confidential supply working for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, authorities mentioned.
The supply was posing as an Atlanta-based drug trafficker who would fly to the Bay Space to purchase cocaine and wanted a fast technique to transport it again to Atlanta for distribution, in keeping with a press release from the U.S. legal professional’s workplace.
The DEA was investigating Bellot primarily based on info that he had been paying off airport employees to permit medicine to be smuggled previous airport safety.
Authorities mentioned Bellot met with the DEA informant a number of occasions at Fogline Sports activities Bar and Grill in Hayward, a bar owned by Bellot, which obtained its title when it appeared on the fact TV present Bar Rescue, which supplies makeovers to struggling bars. The bar was beforehand known as Russell Metropolis Sports activities Bar and Grill.
The 2 males mentioned smuggling medicine by means of Bay Space airports, with Bellot telling the informant he used to run “bricks” of cocaine — a kilogram sized bundle — from airports within the Bay Space to cities throughout the nation till his airport contact was arrested.
“Bellot additionally informed the (informant) that though he had taken a break from airport smuggling following the arrest of his airport affiliate, he had just lately discovered somebody new to assist him smuggle medicine by means of SFO and the Oakland Worldwide Airport,” the assertion mentioned.
Bellot and the informant agreed to make use of his new smuggling connection and “remained in touch over the subsequent eight months as Bellot arrange numerous schemes to smuggle cocaine by means of the airports.”
Bellot, together with six others, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019.
Bellot faces a most sentence of 40 years in jail and a tremendous of $250,000, plus restitution, for the primary depend and a most sentence of life in jail, and a tremendous of $500,000 for the second depend. His sentencing has not been scheduled but, authorities mentioned.