WEIRSDALE, Fla. — A man wanted for more than three decades for his involvement in a railroad drug ring made his first appearance before a judge Friday in Marion County.
Howard Farley Jr., 72, who investigators described as a “drug kingpin,” was arrested in Weirsdale Wednesday after officials said he’d been living under a fake identity since 1985.
According to a criminal complaint that referred to Farley as “John Doe,” around February of this year he submitted a passport application using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of an infant who died in 1955.
Investigators said Farley had been living under that child’s name since 1985, when he evaded custody after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Nebraska and charged with a narcotics conspiracy.
Officials said at the time of his arrest, Farley was attempting to board his private aircraft in the hangar at his Weirsdale home. They said he flew using a fraudulent pilot’s license in the name of the deceased child.
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It appears the home and a plane may be registered to a woman who also lives in the home, who Farley referred to as his wife when talking to his attorney in the courtroom on Friday.
Local residents said they were surprised that something like this happened in Weirsdale, which is only home to some 3,000 residents.
“I mean it’s kind of weird to think it happened in a little town like this,” said Marion County resident Rachel Dahlgren.
Since Farley hasn’t officially hired an attorney yet, his bond hearing was pushed back until next week. During that hearing he may attempt to get released while he awaits trial.
If convicted on the charges of passport fraud for which he was arrested on Wednesday, officials said Farley faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
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