January
19, 2005
BRITISH
COLUMBIAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR IMPORTING ECSTASY
INTO THE UNITED STATES
LAKHVIR SINGH LALLY,28, of Delta, British Columbia, was sentenced today
by United States District Judge James L. Robart to 108 months (9 years)
in federal prison for importing over 22 kilograms of Ecstasy into the
United States.
According to Court records:
a. On May 1, 2004, LALLY entered the United States from Canada at the
Pacific Highway Port of Entry at Blaine, Washington, driving a commercial
tractor and trailer bearing a British Columbia license plate.
b. Customs and Border Protection Officers searched LALLY'S truck. During
the search, the officers discovered a small cardboard box inside of
the engine compartment of the tractor. The cardboard box was pressed
against the firewall above the frame of the commercial tractor. A bumper
guard on the commercial tractor prevented the hood from being fully
opened.
c. The cardboard box contained approximately 100,000 multi-colored
pills, which weighed approximately 22 kilograms. The pills contained
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and d-methamphetamine, commonly
known as "Ecstasy." The illegal load was worth approximately
USD$2 million, based on a street value of $20 per tablet.
The federal sentencing system in the United States has abolished parole;
thus LALLY'S sentence of 108 months represents the actual time he will
serve in the prison, less any credit that he earns while on "good
behavior" in prison. Judge Robart also ordered LALLY to pay a fine
in the amount of $10,000, as well as a mandatory special assessment
of $100 that will be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund.
After LALLY serves his sentence, he likely will be deported to Canada,
after which time he will be prohibited from re-entering the United States
for any purpose.
United States Attorney John McKay stated "it's not worth the risk
to smuggle drugs into the United States. Sooner or later you will get
caught and you will spend time in jail."
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Department of Homeland
Security, Customs Enforcement Division.
For further information, please contact Janet Freeman at (206) 553-7729,
or Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney's
Office, at (206) 553-4110.
