A Panamanian pilot charged in a cocaine smuggling case with former military strongman Manuel Noriega pleaded guilty Thursday to flying $800,000 in drug money from Florida to Panama in 1983.
Eduardo Pardo, 44, admitted to one count of violating the travel act before U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler, who scheduled sentencing for April 25. Pardo, who is being held without bond, faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.Pardo's guilty plea means he could now be called to testify against Noriega and three others awaiting trial on drug-trafficking and racketeering charges contained in a federal indictment returned in Miami in 1988. If Pardo refuses to testify, government prosecutors could subpoena him.
Pardo, who was arrested last month, admitted flying $800,000 in cocaine profits from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to Panama in 1983. His co-pilot, Daniel Miranda, also was charged with transporting drug money, however, he denies knowing that the money was in the plane.
Pardo, Miranda and Noriega are among 16 defendants charged in the cocaine trafficking and racketeering case in Miami. Five, including Noriega and the other two, are in custody, and Pardo is the first to plead guilty.
Before the court hearing, Steve Kollin, one of Noriega's lawyers, said he was aware of Pardo's decision to plead guilty but uncertain whether Pardo would testify against Noriega.
Steven Kreisberg, who represents accused smuggler William Saldarriaga, said it was possible Pardo had changed his plea in order to cooperate with the government but more likely that he decided to plead guilty because he feared a lengthy trial.
Last week, Noriega's lawyers told Hoeveler it could take nearly two years to prepare for the case.
Attorneys for the other defendants said they doubted Pardo would try to implicate their clients.
Noriega, who surrendered to U.S. agents following the December attack on Panama, is accused of using his official position to foster drug trafficking between Colombia and the United States from 1981 to 1986. If convicted, Noriega would face a maximum of 145 years in prison and a $1.1 million fine.