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Press Release

Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty to Importing Drugs into U.S.

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
 

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Leeann Corley, 29, of Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty to importing 32,767 pills containing methamphetamine, MDMA and BZP into the United States from Canada before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000 or both.

Assistant U.S Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that on March 3, 2011, the defendant attempted to enter the United States from Canada at the Peace Bridge as a passenger on a Greyhound bus. During a secondary inspection of the bus and its passengers, Corley was sent for a pat-down search after several inconsistencies were found in her statements to Customs and Border Protection Officers. During the search, officers located 33 ziplock bags containing multi-colored pills concealed in a bodysuit that the defendant was wearing. 

A forensic analysis determined there were approximately 32,767 tablets containing methamphetamine, 3,4 methylene-dioxymethamphetamine, and benzylpiperazine, all controlled substances.

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

Sentencing is scheduled for February 25, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
Updated November 19, 2014