FUGITIVE DRUG LORD NABBED IN SENIORS COMPLEX

Happier Times

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GRASS loving grandpa, Mark Phillips has been caught in a seniors community 31 years after skipping out of his trial.
Back in 1979, the 62-year-old fled court for being part of a Miami marijuana smuggling ring, evading capture for three decades by remaining constantly vigilant. 
But when US Marshals moved in on the Century Village apartment block they found the evasive old timer having a nap.   
After waking up the snoring senior the lead deputy Marshal told Phillips: 'The judge wants to see you Mark.'"
He replied: "The judge wants to see me from 30 years ago."

Before his escape Phillips was charged in what was the country's largest marijuana importation prosecution in history along with 13 other gang members.
The smuggling ring was known as the Black Tuna Gang whose name came from the  radio tag of the group's Colombian source for their drugs.
Authorities estimate the notorious crew smuggled 500 tons of marijuana into the U.S. in the mid-70s.
Phillips will now be sentenced for his racketeering conviction as well as fugitive charges.
But if he expects any leniency, his hopes might be dashed as he will appear 'in the near future' before
U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King - the same judge he walked out on during his criminal trial.
In the 1970s, Phillips was the corporate director for a Florida based yacht company and brokered the purchase of vessels.
Marshals say he was involved in buying yachts 'so the interior of the boats could be restructured to afford maximum cargo area for the transportation of the loads of marijuana to be received from mother ships on the high seas'.
Phillips apparently showed up with a suitcase full of cash to purchase a yacht for $223,000, according to official reports.
He was arrested and released on bail on July 5, 1979. Phillips took part in his trial for six weeks, but on November 5 1979 he failed to show up at the federal courthouse in Miami.
Although he wasn't there, he was convicted of seven counts of participating in racketeering activity and possession with intent to distribute marijuana although he was absent from court.
Phillips was living under the pseudonym of Marcus Steffan and used a false passport to travel around the world.
Authorities learned he had rented two New York penthouse apartments for $10,000 a month using the fake name and travelled between Chile and Germany for many years.
He returned to the U.S. last year and obtained a Florida driver's license using his real name.
But it did not appear he felt comfortable being back home.
The U.S. Marshals said: "There were no clothes in the drawers in the apartment. All his belongings were contained in one travel bag."
It remains to be seen how much time Phillips will now have to spend in jail after over 30 years living as a fugitive.
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