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Deal struck in massive drug bust

Accused to testify in U.S. against alleged leader

By: Mike McIntyre and James Turner

Posted: 01/8/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Christian Laurin (YELLOWSTONE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE )

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Alan Mulder (YELLOWSTONE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

Two Winnipeg men have struck a deal with American justice officials to plead guilty for their roles in a massive cross-border drug trafficking ring and become key witnesses against the alleged ringleader -- a fellow Winnipegger.

Alan Mulder and Christian Laurin admit they helped bring nearly 224,000 ecstasy pills -- which carry a street value of $5.5 million -- into Montana in February 2008. Drug enforcement officials have called the seizure one of the largest in the state's history.

The two men, who have no prior criminal record, were facing between 10 years to life in prison under U.S. sentencing guidelines for the charge of conspiracy to possess the drug for distribution.

They remain in custody and will be sentenced on April 8.

It's not immediately clear what impact their remorse and co-operation will have on their eventual punishment.

Mulder and Laurin, both 19, are expected back in court on Monday to testify against Winnipeg resident Timothy Morneau. The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty and opted for a jury trial, which is set for the week in Billings, Montana.

According to court documents obtained by the Free Press, Morneau allegedly recruited Laurin and Mulder to help him drive the ecstasy tablets across the Canadian-American border. Laurin and Mulder were not initially told where they were headed or what kind of drug was involved.

The trio first travelled from Winnipeg to Souris, where they stole a snowmobile Morneau allegedly used to bring the drugs into the U.S. without being detected by border guards.

Laurin and Mulder legally entered the country and allegedly met up with Morneau in Bismark, North Dakota, before carrying on south to Montana in Mulder's 2003 Volkswagen Golf.

Their journey was intercepted in eastern Montana by a state trooper who pulled over their vehicle on an Interstate highway for having a burned-out headlight.

Police have indicated in court documents suspicious behaviour and inconsistent statements given by the three accused led them to search the vehicle and find three duffel bags containing about 68 kilograms of the drug.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull rejected a motion from the accused to dismiss the case on the grounds their rights had been violated.

Defence lawyers argued items seized from the car were "inadmissible findings of an illegal search" that was unconstitutional. However, District Attorney James Seykora successfully argued conflicting statements given by the men to police caused the trooper's doubt to grow and that he simply took the required time to "ferret out his suspicions."

During the traffic stop, Laurin told police he and Mulder were on their way to visit a friend of Mulder's in Billings whom he had never met and couldn't name. He also claimed Morneau was a stranger they had picked up hitchhiking near a truck stop in Minot, North Dakota.

Morneau allegedly gave police the bogus name of Cliff Aymont. He told the officer his snowmobile had broken down in North Dakota and that he had hitched a ride from Mulder and Laurin. He admitted to bringing three bags along with him -- but said he had no idea what was inside of them.

Morneau eventually owned up to his real name and allegedly told police he was to be paid $5,000 to transport the bags into the U.S., and that Laurin and Mulder would each be paid $1,000 for their part in the scheme.

www.mikeoncrime.com james.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Morneau speaks out

Tim Morneau isn't going down without a fight.

In a handwritten letter sent to the Free Press last month from his Montana prison cell, Morneau claims much of what has been said and written about him are "lies."

"At least I know the truth about what happened and what is going on," he said, without elaborating further.

Morneau denied having any ties to the Hells Angels, despite what sources have previously told the Free Press. "I'm not associated with any club or gang," he said.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 8, 2009 A4

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