WHEELING-The man who eluded capture after crashing an airplane loaded with 520 lbs. of cocaine on Dec. 18, 2004 near the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport has been caught by federal marshals.
Alex P. Neville, supervisory deputy U. S. Marshal in Clarksburg, said Eugene Cobbs was deported on immigration violations by the Mexican government Wednesday and taken into U.S. custody in Houston where he had an initial appearance at 3 p.m. before a U.S. magistrate judge.
Neville said on Dec.18, 2004, Cobbs is alleged to have been piloting a plane which crashed near the local airport.
"Cobbs was able to successfully elude capture following the plane crash." Neville said. "Immediately following the incident, the Wheeling DEA office launched a criminal investigation and charged Cobbs through a criminal complaint on Dec. 20, 2004. Cobbs was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wheeling in April of 2005."
The indictment charges Cobbs with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Neville said Cobbs is being held in Houston and will be returned to Wheeling "fairly soon" if he does not contest his identity as the same man named in the indictment.
He said the fugitive investigation for Cobbs was turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency on Dec. 27, 2004. Investigators from the U.S. Marshals Office in Clarksburg initiated a fugitive investigation which resulted in leads being sent out throughout the country.
"During the late spring of 2008 it was discovered that Cobbs had likely fled to Mexico and was residing near Guadalajara," Neville said. "On Dec. 5, Cobbs was detained by Mexican immigration officials in Guadalajara. Cobbs' arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA and Mexican authorities. The apprehension took place without incident. Cobbs was immediately flown from Guadalajara to Mexico City by Mexican officials."
Neville said Cobbs was located by Mexican officers on Dec. 1 based upon intelligence gathered by the U.S. Marshals Service and DEA. His residence was located in Valle Real, an exclusive, gated community in the suburbs of Guadalajara.
When authorities responded to the crash scene in 2004, they found no people but they did discover what was described as $24 million worth of cocaine. The plane contained 327 lbs. of cocaine packaged in blocks and another 193 lbs in the plane's nose compartment.
A search for Cobbs began after he was identified as the pilot of the Piper Aerostar twin-engine plane.
Authorities believed Cobbs was picked up by a motorist near the airport's front entrance. He was said to have had a cut on his forehead when he asked for a ride to a hotel.
When Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne learned of the arrest today, he said he was pleased U.S. authorities worked successfully with Mexican officials in taking Cobbs into custody. Although he was not surprised the arrest was made, the sheriff said such arrests are more difficult as years pass. Burgoyne noted the case is nearing its four-year anniversary.
"He's coming home for Christmas," Burgoyne said. "That was an unbelievable case. Sometimes it takes time. There are some people in Mexico trying to do the right thing, and this is a case in which the two governments worked together. When they are out of the country, it's tough to get them."
According to the sheriff, Cobbs was fortunate to survive the crash. He said the drug suspect managed to hitchhike to Weirton where he was picked up by someone from Pittsburgh.
Burgoyne referred to Cobbs as "a smart guy" with "connections on both coasts." He said the drug suspect has many financial resources.
"We were hoping it was money in the plane and not cocaine," Burgoyne said. "It would have been a ton of money for us."
Gabe Wells contributed to this story.