Pilot flies two tons of pot from California to East Coast over two years, feds say

A Connecticut pilot was sentenced for his involvement in a marijuana trafficking ring after feds said he flew almost two tons of pot from California to the East Coast.

Donald Burns, 62, of Milford, was sentenced Wednesday to two and a half years in prison and two years of probation, according to a Justice Department news release.

Feds said in court documents that Burns was flying from northern California to Connecticut. On June 28, 2017, Burns flew the plane to Lubbock, Texas, from California and flew to Arkansas, West Virginia, and Connecticut the next day, according to the release.

Authorities found 400 pounds of marijuana and Burns was arrested.

Investigators found the marijuana was intended for three Connecticut residents, who would distribute the drugs, according to the release. The trafficking ring “earned millions of dollars by trafficking nearly two tons of marijuana from California to Connecticut,” the release said.

Burns pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute in May 2019 and agreed to turn over his plane, according to the release.

This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Pilot flies two tons of pot from California to East Coast over two years, feds say."