Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge

   BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Daniel Hebert, 40, of New Brunswick, Canada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to importation of 100 kilograms or more of marijuana into the U.S. from Canada and failure to appear to attend required court proceedings. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that on November 5, 2005, the defendant entered the United States at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry driving a tractor trailer. During a secondary inspection, law enforcement officers seized multiple plastic baggies containing marijuana. Hebert told Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement that the marijuana was to be delivered to a man named "Brian" at Jim's Truck Plaza in Cheektowaga, N.Y. Law enforcement officers surveilled the defendant as he later met with co-defendants Brian Brady and Thomas Goodyer who were arrested along with Hebert.

On November 7, 2005, Hebert appeared before a federal Magistrate Judge who ordered the defendant released with various conditions, including that Hebert attend all court proceedings. The defendant was scheduled to appear on May 26, 2006 but failed to do so. On June 28, 2006, an arrest warrant was issued for the defendant.

Brian Brady was convicted of conspiracy to import 100 kilograms or more of marijuana into the U.S. from Canada and is awaiting sentencing. Charges are pending against Thomas Goodyer. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.