Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Importation of Ecstasy

          BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Anthony Ighodaro, 32, of Toronto, Ontario, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Richard J. Arcara to the importion of ecstasy pills containing both 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and N Benzylpiperazine [BZP] into the United States from Canada. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Duszkiewicz and Carol G. Bridge, who are handling the case, stated that on July 25, 2010, Ighodaro was attempting to enter the United States from Canada at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. The defendant was referred by Customs and Border Protection officers to a secondary inspection because of inconsistencies in the information he provided concerning the rental vehicle he was operating. During the subsequent investigation, law enforcement officers, with the assistance of a narcotics detection K-9, found six duct taped bundles secreted in the rear bumper of the car which contained approximately 31,128 Ecstasy pills. The pills had a street value in excess of $620,000 and were believed to be  destined for the Atlanta, Georgia area. Today’s conviction comes the day before Ighodaro was to go to trial on the charges.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Randy Howe, Acting Director of Field Operations.