Hogansburg Man Pleads Guilty to Obstructing a Vessel Boarding

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Abraham C. Lazore, age 37, of Hogansburg, New York, pled guilty on Friday to obstructing the boarding of his vessel on the St. Lawrence River.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer.

Lazore admitted that on September 3, 2016, as Border Patrol Marine Unit agents were attempting to board his vessel for an inspection, he engaged the throttle of his boat while a bowline from his boat became wrapped around an agent’s arm, which could have dragged that agent overboard.  Another agent was able to stop Lazore from driving away, and no one was injured.

Agents stopped Lazore because they had observed him enter U.S. waters from Canada on the St. Lawrence River at approximately 12:25 a.m. without any navigation lights.

Lazore faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on February 3, 2017 by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.