THREE INDICTED FOR EFFORTS TO SMUGGLE MORE THAN $1 MILLION OF ECSTASY INTO U.S.
One Canadian and Two Americans Linked to Cache of 52,000 Tablets
JAMIE ALPHONSE LEO CADORETTE, 20, of Burnaby, British Columbia, BRIAN JOHN COLL, 29, of Los Angeles, California and ANTHONY DRAWHORN, 40, of Duncan, British Columbia, were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Seattle, Washington for Conspiracy to Import and Distribute MDMA (Ecstasy). CADORETTE was also indicted for Importation of MDMA and Possession with Intent to Distribute MDMA. COLL and DRAWHORN were indicted for Attempted Possession of MDMA with Intent to Distribute. The three men were involved in a scheme to bring more than $1 million worth of ecstasy into the U.S. hidden in a speaker box in CADORETTE’s car.
According to documents filed in the case, on November 24, 2007, CADORETTE attempted to enter the U.S. at the Blaine, Washington border crossing with ten bags of ecstasy hidden in a speaker box in the trunk of his car. Through further investigation U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were able to determine that COLL and DRAWHORN were supposed to get the speaker box and drugs from CADORETTE at a hotel in Seattle. On a ruse that CADORETTE’s car had broken down, agents got COLL and DRAWHORN to drive to Blaine where they were arrested when they attempted to take possession of the speaker box and drugs from CADORETTE’s car. COLL and DRAWHORN are U.S. citizens. CADORETTE is Canadian. DRAWHORN is a former Canadian Football League (CFL) player.
All three men will be arraigned on the indictment on Thursday, December 13, 2007. COLL and CADORETTE have been released pending trial. DRAWHORN is detained at the federal detention center at SeaTac. A trial date will be set at the arraignment.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted the defendants face up to 20 years in prison and $1 million fine.
The case was investigated by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (ICE)
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Diggs.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
