CANADIAN TRUCKER PLEADS GUILTY FOR ROLE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING SCHEME
BC Man Owns Trucking Company, was Caught Smuggling more than 100 Kilos of BC Bud
RICHARD JANSEN, 33, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana. JANSEN, the owner of Scorpion Transport Services, faces a mandatory minimum five years in prison, up to forty years in prison when he is sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik on April 10, 2009. JANSEN was arrested in June 2008, following a three year investigation of a drug smuggling ring led by Robert J. Shannon, 38, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia and Devron D. Quast, 38, of Abbotsford, British Columbia. JANSEN’s role was to assist the organization by driving his trucks across the border to facilitate future smuggling.
According to his plea agreement, JANSEN admits that on June 5, 2008, he transported more than 158 kilos of BC Bud marijuana across the border between the U.S. and Canada. This was just one load of more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine, 7,000 pounds of BC Bud and about $3.5 million that have been seized and tied to the drug smuggling ring. According to records filed in the case, drugs were hidden inside hollowed out logs on trucks, within the false walls of cargo containers and vehicles, within loads of commercial lumber and beauty bark, inside large PVC pipes, and within the interior of a propane tanker. Some loads were carried on foot across the international border between the United States and Canada.
Both Devron Quast and Robert Shannon have pleaded guilty. Quast will be sentenced on March 6, 2009, and Shannon will be sentenced on March 13, 2009.
Other defendants who have entered guilty pleas include:
Phillip W. Stone, 45, Abbotsford, British Columbia, who obtained containers and trailers to transport BC Bud into the U.S. pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana on November 17, 2008, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2009;
John H. Fairweather pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana on October 16, 2008, and is scheduled to be sentenced March 27, 2009.
Chance Gerrior, 42, Arlington, Washington, allowed his property to be used to store marijuana. Gerrior pleaded guilty October 9, 2008, to Misprision of a Felony and is scheduled to be sentenced January 9, 2009.
Jesse Holmes, 64, Blaine, Washington, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana on November 21, 2008 and will be sentenced on March 6, 2009.
Todd Gabriel, 41, Everett, Washington pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana on December 12, 2008, and will be sentenced March 20, 2009.
