Milford Pilot Gets Prison Time For Sikorsky Airport Drug Bust

STRATFORD, CT — A pilot from Milford was sentenced to more than two years behind bars for his role in a large-scale marijuana trafficking conspiracy that was busted at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced in a news release. Donald Burns, 62, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.

In 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration began investigating a Piper single-engine aircraft, owned by Burns, that was making regular flights between Stratford and northern California, the news release said. On June 28, 2017, Burns flew from California to Lubbock, Texas. The next day, he flew from Texas to Arkansas, and then to West Virginia and Connecticut, where he landed at Sikorsky airport.

A law enforcement search of the plane revealed about 400 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages, and Burns was arrested, according to the news release. Investigators determined the marijuana was intended for Robert Capelli, Scott Bodnar, Terrell Givens and others to distribute in Connecticut, the news release said.

The investigation revealed that, for more than two years, Capelli and his associates earned millions by trafficking nearly 2 tons of marijuana from California to Connecticut, according to the news release. Members of the conspiracy also laundered more than $6 million to purchase marijuana in California, maintain properties for distribution in Connecticut, pay Burns to transport the marijuana, and for other expenses related to the conspiracy, the news release said.

Burns pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, according to the news release. He also agreed to forfeit the Piper aircraft. Burns, who is released on bond, must report to prison May 26.

Capelli, of Milford; Bodnar, of Ansonia; and Givens, of Beacon Falls, have all pleaded guilty or been found guilty by a jury of marijuana distribution charges, been sentenced to several years in prison and forfeited property including money, cars and jewelry, the news release said.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program, Stratford police and several other law enforcement agencies.