Fourteen tobacco smugglers were sentenced to fines totaling nearly $ 5 million, Revenu Quebec announced Tuesday morning in a press release.
Posted at 4:44 p.m.
Three of them were also sentenced to prison terms of up to two years less a day, the Quebec agency said.
All the convicted individuals were arrested in December 2016 following an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police called Cendrier which targeted tobacco smugglers but also an alleged importer of cocaine.
The suspects had been betrayed by an accomplice who had unwittingly become a civilian undercover agent (ACI) for the federal police.
The ACI had set up its own transport company to move the illicit goods and its drivers or employees were double agents of the United States Police or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“Project Ashtray stems from a major RCMP investigation that targeted groups of individuals who facilitated contraband tobacco. The product transited between the United States and the Akwesasne reserve before being transported by boat on Lake Saint-François, then shipped by land to the Kahnawake and Kanesatake reserves. The investigation showed that several individuals were involved in the transactions, ”writes Revenu Quebec spokesperson Martin Croteau.
A 28-year-old man from Hogansburg, New York, Lawrence Jock, was sentenced to the highest fine, 1 million, in addition to a 15-month jail term. But according to our research, Jock stopped appearing in court as of October 2019, he is still charged with conspiracy and charges related to the Excise Act and is currently wanted.
The individuals were sentenced for having sold, delivered or had in their possession tobacco intended for retail sale in Quebec and the package of which was not identified in accordance with the Tobacco Tax Act, for having transported tobacco. tobacco intended for sale and the package of which was not identified in accordance with the Tobacco Tax Act and not to be registered with Revenu Québec or to hold any of the permits required by law to engage in commercial activities related to tobacco products.
The alleged cocaine importer arrested during the Cendrier investigation, Jaime Flores, 55, remains accused of conspiracy, attempt to commit an offense and breach of conditions. A motion for a stay of proceedings is currently being debated.
Other individuals convicted under the Excise Act
- Daniel MacDonald, 28, Cornwall, Ont: $ 506,000 in fines and two years less a day in jail
- John Lewis White, 49, Hogansburg, NY: $ 25,000 and 18 months in prison
- George Robertson, 52, Kahnawake: $ 287,000
- Gaetan Joseph Tremblay, 58, Akwesasne, Ont: $ 500,000
- Carlos Nelson, 47, Kanesatake: $ 293,000
- Simon Chevarie-Dudemaine, 36, Boisbriand: $ 287,000
- Blaise Flores, 29, Saint-Zotique: $ 293,000
- Frédéric Bordeleau-Beaupré, 25, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield: $ 287,000
- Joseph Thompson, 35, Akwesasne: $ 293,000
- Wendy Mayo, 65, Kahnawake: $ 287,000
- Kenneth Cree, 45, Hogansburg, NY: $ 287,000
- Edward Lee-Lachance, 33, Montreal: $ 287,000
- Benoit Lamoureux, 40, Longueuil: $ 120,000
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, extension 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of La Presse.