Pilot contradicts testimony on Brooks' trips

A former co-pilot on David Brooks' personal jet testified Tuesday that the body-armor magnate's chief pilot was not on flights to a Kentucky horse auction and a personal trip to Toronto with friends of Brooks.

Michael Lanzi's testimony appeared to contradict that of Brooks' chief pilot, Irving Villalon, who previously implied that he was on the flights that federal prosecutors have maintained were part of Brooks' scheme to loot DHB Industries, once based in Westbury.

Lanzi's testimony, elicited by defense attorney Larry Shtasel at federal court in Central Islip, was part of the continuing attempt by Brooks' lawyers to nibble away at statements by government witnesses to cast doubt on their overall credibility.

Lanzi said he had a clear recollection that Villalon was not on flights to Toronto because he remembered dining there with another pilot, and believed that records from Brooks' airline company that he was shown by Shtasel indicated that Villalon was not on board during the Kentucky flight.

Prosecutors used Villalon's testimony to show that Brooks had allegedly billed the company for numerous personal flights, including to Toronto and Kentucky, that were allegedly taken for business purposes.

Other government witnesses have testified that the trip to Kentucky was to view a horse auction, and the Toronto trip was to entertain Brooks' friends.

In another trial development, Brooks' attorneys have complied with an order by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert to hand over a list of their next seven witnesses and material about their testimony to the government and the court or be charged with contempt and face sanctions for professional misconduct.

In an order issued late Friday, Seybert said she had been attempting to speed up the trial that began in January, but that the unnecessary tactics of Brooks' attorneys in not handing over such lists on "multiple occasions . . . has led to innumerable delays during the trial."

Brooks' lead counsel Kenneth Ravenell complied with the order on Sunday and handed over names and related material, but denied defense lawyers had been involved in wrongdoing.