Opinion ID: 484754
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the august 1980 successful load

Text: 23 Jerry Laughingwell in Texas agreed to rent an aircraft to Bennie and Cooper for $75,000. When Cooper declined to fly the next load from Jamaica because he felt the plane had insufficient fuel capacity, Delarm, who had reappeared, agreed to pilot the flight. Stan decided to avoid the need to pay Slusser by using one of the airstrips Slusser had shown him without notifying Slusser that he was doing so. Stan selected an airstrip on an Indian reservation near Lake Okeechobee. 24 As the fully-loaded plane was landing at the designated airstrip, Bennie failed to blockade the south entrance to the airstrip and a person driving a jeep entered the area. When the person refused Bennie's offer of $5000 in exchange for his silence, Bennie, Stan, Basso, Beech, Merritt and one other person off-loaded the aircraft quickly in anticipation that the police would arrive soon. Ambrit exited the plane with all the flight maps, and Delarm immediately took off in the plane. The pickup trucks carrying the marijuana proceeded to Beech's house in Homestead. Bennie went to the Clewiston Airport where Delarm was to land the plane. 25 Delarm flew to the other side of Lake Okeechobee and landed at Pahokee Airport in order to refuel. In landing, Delarm cut off the landing pattern of Palm Beach County Deputy Sheriff Mark Wetherington. On the ground, Wetherington observed marijuana residue through the open door in Delarm's aircraft when he went to question Delarm. He arrested Delarm and seized the aircraft. Bennie and Stan got Hauk, the bail bondsman, to post bond for Delarm.