Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Import Ecstasy

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Richard Dixon, 35, of Toronto, Ontario, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to import Ecstasy pills containing 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, commonly referred to as “Bath Salts,” and N-Benzylpiperazine [BZP] into the United States from Canada. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that on September 17, 2012, Dixon was observed by Customs and Border Protection officers wandering around the CBP administration building at the Lewiston Bridge Port of Entry in Lewiston, N.Y. toward the I-190 Northbound. During the subsequent investigation, law enforcement officers found seven duct-taped bundles wrapped in clothing which contained approximately 34,000 Ecstasy pills. The pills, which were found inside a bag belonging to the defendant, were  destined for the Atlanta, Georgia area.

            The plea is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of James Engleman, Director of Field Operations.