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A refugee who government officials said had been on the run for decades after failing to appear in court and using a dead person’s identity for drug offenses was convicted in federal court Friday.
Howard Farley was sentenced to four years in prison by Senior District Judge John Antoon II. Farley is also facing a year of supervised release for passport fraud, serious identity theft, and piloting without a legitimate pilot’s license. He pleaded guilty to the charges in April, government officials said.
The court ordered the confiscation of Farley’s plane, according to federal officials. The plane was confiscated by the Department of Homeland Security from the 72-year-old’s home in Love’s Landing, Weirsdale.
Refugee:Man wanted in Nebraska since 1985 was found in a SE Marion County drug case
Who knew him:Howard Farley’s neighbors were shocked to learn that he had been a longtime fugitive from justice
Disputed:No bail found for Nebraska refugee in SE Marion County
Government officials said in Farley’s consent form that he admitted using information from a dead child to obtain a U.S. passport and pilot’s certificate or license.
Authorities said Farley worked as a pilot with the deceased’s birth certificate between Jan. 4, 2016 and his arrest on Nov. 28, 2020.
During their investigation, federal authorities said Farley used the infant’s identity for more than 35 years to avoid arrest. He was charged with drug conspiracy in Nebraska in 1985. While evading concern, officials said Farley had traveled extensively and led a lavish lifestyle.
Farley’s wife is a co-defendant in the case, according to federal officials. In an earlier trial, prosecutors argued that Duc Hanh Thi Vu of Vietnam helped her husband forge documents so that Farley could get his pilot’s license. Her case is slated for the case trial, federal officials said.
“We are determined to work with the US Attorney General, along with our state, state and local law enforcement partners, to bring refugees like Mr Farley to justice regardless of how long they have been on the run,” said Peter Kapoukakis, a said a special envoy from the Diplomatic Security Service or DSS Field Office in Miami in a press release.
In the same press release, Todd Damiani, Special Envoy for the Department of Transportation to Inspector General South, said he hoped Farley’s verdict “serves as a serious warning that we, along with our law enforcement and prosecution partners, are not wavering in our commitment to prosecuting those who are ready to to endanger security for your personal benefit. “
Farley, who has been at the Marion County Jail since December, was still at the facility on Saturday.
Several agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Social Security Agency, the Internal Revenue Service’s crime department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was followed up by US Assistant Attorney Michael P. Felicetta. At his hearings, Farley was represented by Orlando lawyer Fritz Scheller.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com, or @almillerosb.
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