December 18, 2007

CANADIAN ERIC YATES DETAINED FOR MARIJUANA SMUGGLING

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District
of Vermont announced that Eric Yates, 35, of Stanstead, Quebec, appeared today in United States District Court in Burlington following his arrest on a charge of importing marijuana into the United States. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Niedermeier ordered that Yates be held without bail pending a further hearing on December 21.

According to the criminal complaint, Yates was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of December 17, 2007 after he carried and dragged a bag containing about 25 pounds of marijuana through the woods and across the border into Holland, Vermont. At that location, he was picked up by another person driving a vehicle. When an alert Border Patrol agent noticed the footprints and drag marks in the fresh snow, he suspected a smuggling attempt was underway. The agent notified other officers, the truck was stopped, about 25 pounds of marijuana was recovered and Yates was taken into custody. Information gathered by investigating officers indicated that Yates had previously made 10-15 similar smuggling trips into Vermont.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the complaint is merely an accusation and that Yates is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.

Yates faces up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence in the event of conviction would be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.

Yates is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Mann. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.