By Rick Daysog, Sacramento Bee

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a Placerville aircraft broker in a novel case involving the alleged sale of six planes to Mexican drug traffickers.

Joe Stancil, former owner of a Placerville Toyota dealership, and his company Stancil Enterprises Inc. were charged last week with helping buyers from Sinaloa, Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, evade federal reporting requirements for large cash transactions.

“The principal object of the conspiracy was to … increase sales of planes at Stancil Enterprises Inc. by obtaining business from apparently criminal elements who wished to purchase planes with currency while evading all cash transaction reporting requirements,” the complaint said.

Donald Heller, an attorney for Stancil, said his client didn’t know the buyers and was not aware that the customers were involved in criminal activities.

Heller said he’s working out a plea deal with the U.S. attorney’s office that likely will include a deferred prosecution agreement.

Prosecutors also are seeking the forfeiture of more than $423,000 allegedly received from the airplane sales.

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