Canadian Man Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute “molly”

Defendant Caught Smuggling Over 128 Pounds MDMA into the United States from Canada ALBANY, NEW YORK – JOEL CUNNINGHAM, age 30, of Ottawa, Canada, pled guilty today in Albany before United States District Court Judge Glen T. Suddaby to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge James Spero. CUNNINGHAM faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and is being detained pending his sentencing.

During the plea proceeding, CUNNINGHAM admitted that, on April 9, 2013, he loaded a sport utility vehicle with 58,183 grams of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Hydrochloride (commonly known as “Molly”) and then drove the sport utility vehicle from Canada into the United States through an unmanned border, intending to take the “Molly” to New York City for redistribution.

CUNNINGHAM was observed entering the United States from Canada through an unmanned border crossing in the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation. Members of the Border Enforcement Security Task Force in Massena, New York followed CUNNINGHAM and later stopped him. Law enforcement officers searched the sport utility vehicle and found the “Molly,” as well as over $140K in U.S. currency, in hidden compartments and duffel bags.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in Albany. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wayne Myers.