A Twist of Fate: Love, Laughter and Legal Consequences in Key Biscayne
On a day that would drastically change the course of Casey Ramirez’s life, his major concern was about the banners he had ordered. He had commissioned a pair of aircraft to cruise over Key Biscayne beach, each bearing a distinct banner. The initial message projected his affection towards his girlfriend, oftentimes referred to as P.J – an acronym for Pamela Jackson. The secondary banner, however, carried a crude jest aimed at his colleagues, Kent Moeckly and Greg Schmidt.
Ramirez’s plan for the day held the promise of a hearty laugh. Unbeknownst to him, the following day would be marked by Pamela Jackson packing her bags, fuming with anger, and heading back to California. Consequently, their romantic relationship would crumble. As time passed, Ramirez and Moeckly would face legal consequences, being found guilty on charges related to the federal cocaine trade.
In a twist of fate, Schmidt would turn against his comrades and serve as the key witness for the prosecution. The day had begun with an early start, as per Ramirez’s insistence. He quickened the pace for their group – guiding them from the Silver Sands Motel for a breakfast meal and then leading them to their destination on the Atlantic coast where they would witness the spectacle.
This beach was typically swarming with locals and tourists, but at this early hour, only a handful of early risers were present. The wind was strong, gusting at about 30 mph, stirring up the sand and inspiring a few to practice their wind surfing. The quiet morning was then filled with a low hum as the first aircraft surfaced, trailing its banner.
Contrary to expectations, the first banner to grace the sky was the sarcastic message earmarked for his colleagues: ‘Kent and Greg, sit on it and rotate.’ The heartfelt message for his beloved, Pamela Jackson, followed soon after, soaring and circling back around the city.
On the sandy shores, Ramirez engraved a heart symbol while Greg captured a memorable image. The photograph showed Ramirez and Jackson locked in an embrace, a symbol of their love, as the aircraft showcased the banner up in the sky: ‘P.J., I love you. Casey.’
The group watched as the aircraft performed another round, everyone shading their eyes against the bright morning sun. It was a typical Ramirez-style affair, an over-the-top gesture, combined with his unique sense of humor.
Nevertheless, in spite of the overt humor and nonchalance of the event, an air of apprehension wrapped itself around the group. Their associate, known popularly as ‘Uncle Bill’ Coulombe, was likely in mid-flight, returning from an undisclosed ‘mission’ originating from the distant south.
As the day turned into evening, a trio was seen congregating near a cluster of modest townhouses located in the suburban Miami neighborhood of Pembroke Pines. Close to the residential mailboxes, three men engaged in deep conversation. On this particular day, Thursday, April 21, 1983, Casey Ramirez, with his Hispanic features and juvenile haircut, presided over the conversation.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Ramirez were two tall Caucasian individuals. ‘Casey was talkin’ about a ‘mission,’’ Schmidt later mentioned in his court testimony. It appeared they were deliberating over who would undertake this distinct mission.
Disturbed by the possibility of surveillance, Ramirez had steered the conversation outside the townhouse. His anxieties manifested in a belief that the townhouse was infiltrated by federal bugs, and he was careful not to discuss such sensitive matters within its wall or over the phone,” as per Schmidt’s statement.
Though his paranoia might seem unwarranted, it wasn’t completely baseless. The federal agents, who had been probing into Ramirez’s activities, had been clandestinely keeping tabs on the movements related to the townhouse for quite some time.