Infamous pilot, drug smuggler returns to prison

Russell Brothers, a septuagenarian, convicted drug smuggler, gun hoarder and pilot, turned himself in at a federal prison on Tuesday.

This time, Brothers, 78, will spend a year and three months in a federal prison and then do a year on probation, according to federal court records. According to the federal Bureau of Prisons, Brothers is serving his term at a facility in Lexington, Ky.

Brothers is no stranger to life behind bars.

He was convicted in Florida on drug trafficking charges in 1988 and again in 1993 on trafficking and money laundering counts. In one judge’s words, the “giant among giants” in international smuggling served 11 years in prison for running cocaine between Florida and the Bahamas.

Earlier this year, Brothers pleaded guilty in federal court in Nashville to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of attempted obstruction of justice. Court papers say his surrender date was delayed because he is in poor health and underwent surgeries.

Authorities found a slew of weapons at Brothers' home in Burns after a series of events reminiscent of a television crime drama.

Trouble began again for Brothers after he safely belly-landed his 1961 twin-engine Beechcraft airplane at the defunct Cornelia Fort Airpark on April 20, 2012.

Although Brothers didn’t alert authorities, his unmistakable silver airplane and long association with the small airfield led police to him two days later.

Six days later, a search of his home turned up 16 guns, including revolvers, rifles and a shotgun, authorities said. He gave one gun to another man and asked him to lie to investigators, and squirreled another away at a relative’s house, prompting the other charges, according to court records.

Reach Stacey Barchenger at 615-726-8968 or on Twitter @sbarchenger.