August 18, 2009

CANADIAN SENTENCED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Carl Provost, 25, of Montreal, Quebec, was sentenced on August 17, 2009 before United States District Court Chief Judge William K. Sessions III, for distribution of marijuana. Provost was sentenced to a prison term of time served, amounting to just over seven months, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. Provost had been detained since his arrest on January 10, 2009.

On April 6, 2009 Provost pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Court documents allege that Provost entered the United States from Canada on the morning of January 10, 2009 at the Alburg, Vermont Port of Entry. Once in the United States, Provost headed west on a dirt road known as the Line Road, which runs east-west just south of the border. Provost then stopped along the road and a man came running out of the tree line to the north of the road, came to the stopped vehicle and then ran back north. Provost’s vehicle then drove off at high speed. Border Patrol Agents soon stopped the vehicle. A drug dog alerted on the vehicle and a search of the trunk revealed two hockey type bags. A search of the bags disclosed approximately 57 pounds of marijuana. Records also alleged that in December, 2008, Provost had entered the United States at the same place and driven the same route, meeting a person who walked down from the north and had been carrying two large bags. Provost did not encounter law enforcement within the United States on that occasion.

The case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Provost is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Michael L. Desautels and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Gelber.