Colorado pilot convicted of smuggling methamphetamine.

COURTHOUSE — A Colorado pilot will remain grounded at Montgomery County’s jail after he was convicted of charges he was involved in a plot to smuggle methamphetamine to the county.

James Michael Handzus, 51, of Rifle, Colo., showed no emotion on Tuesday as Judge Joseph A. Smyth convicted him of charges of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy in connection with incidents that occurred in April in Plymouth and at Wing’s Field in Whitpain.

# “I believe the legal justice system in this country works, sometimes,” Handzus said matter-of-factly as sheriff’s deputies escorted him from the courthouse in handcuffs for the trip to jail where he will remain pending his sentencing hearing early next year.

 Deputy District Attorney Kevin Steele characterized Handzus’ arrest and conviction as “significant.”

“Thankfully, in this case, he was dealing it…to an undercover detective. That saved us from having a lot of poison put out on the streets of Montgomery County,” Steele said after the verdict was announced.

Handzus potentially faces decades in prison, including significant mandatory prison terms, in connection with the scheme to deliver more than 430 grams of methamphetamine to undercover detectives.

 During the two-day trial, Steele argued the one pound of methamphetamine that was seized had a street value of between $64,000 and $76,800.

“The ramifications of the use of this are just horrible to the people and the addictions this causes. So, was it a significant drug bust? Yes, it was an extremely significant drug bust and we kept a lot of methamphetamine off the streets from a guy who had planned to open up shop and bring large quantities here to Montgomery County,” said Steele, who was assisted by prosecutor Lindsay Carfagno.

Handzus’ girlfriend, Tamara Vincent, 41, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and conspiracy in connection with the incident and is awaiting sentencing. Vincent’s lawyer, John I. McMahon Jr., said Vincent participated in the conspiracy but was not the “main actor.”

Vincent faces a possible maximum sentence of 10-to-20-years in prison on the charges.

 Despite his girlfriend’s admission, Handzus opted to go to trial on the charges, which were the culmination of a sting operation conducted by county detectives.

 During his testimony, Handzus maintained he was set up by a police informant, claiming the informant planted the one pound of methamphetamine inside his luggage.

“I didn’t put it there. I didn’t know it was there,” Handzus testified.

Handzus went so far as to say that he suspected the undercover detective who arrested him was “a little confused” when he testified that Handzus played an active role in the drug negotiations. At the same time, Handzus proudly claimed to be “a patriot” who respected law enforcement.

“I think he did an outstanding job. You know what I think? I don’t think he knew he was being duped by the same woman who duped me,” Handzus told the judge.

Defense lawyer Douglas P. Earl argued prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence that Handzus planned to deliver the one pound of meth to detectives.

But prosecutors said detectives did an outstanding job investigating Handzus.

In March, the district attorney’s Drug Task Force and Narcotics Enforcement Team, which had been investigating the distribution of methamphetamine in the county, learned that Handzus allegedly had been smuggling large quantities of the methamphetamine into the county using his airplane, nicknamed “My Lady,” according to arrest documents.

On April 21, authorities learned Handzus was arriving at Wing’s Field in Whitpain, court papers indicate. Although Handzus did not file flight plans before piloting the aircraft on a 2,400 mile trip from Las Vegas, investigators had seen his Facebook page and learned of his travel plans, court records indicate.

After the Colorado couple was in town, an undercover detective arranged to purchase the meth from Handzus the following day, according to arrest documents. The undercover detective arranged to meet Handzus and Vincent at Ruby Tuesday’s on Chemical Road in Plymouth, court papers indicate.

At the restaurant, Vincent allegedly explained that her boyfriend had family in the area, and when the couple visited they brought the drugs to sell to pay expenses and provide spending money, according to court papers. She allegedly agreed to sell the undercover detective a pound of meth for $27,000.

Vincent suggested the prospective buyer could divide the substance up into eighths of an ounce, called “eight balls,” that would sell on the street for between $500 to $600 each, according to prosecutors. Selling the meth in those quantities would result in a street value between $64,000 and $76,800, authorities alleged.

After inspecting the meth, the undercover detective gave Vincent a $2,000 down payment. Detectives then moved in and arrested the couple, and the pound of “crystal meth” was seized from the couple’s luggage, according to court documents.

 Prosecutors previously alleged the methamphetamine was manufactured in Mexico and sent to Las Vegas, which is “the hub of distribution” for the illicit narcotic in the United States. Prosecutors described the confiscated drugs as “very high grade.”

 Authorities previously moved to take possession of the airplane, a 1959 Piper Comanche, under state drug forfeiture laws.

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