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Prison awaits for weapons smuggler

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 05/3/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

A man who has helped arm criminals in Winnipeg is headed to prison.

Adrian Lemay pleaded guilty to numerous weapons and trafficking charges this week for his role in a gun-smuggling operation.

Crown and defence lawyers made a joint recommendation for an 11-year prison sentence. Provincial court Judge Ted Lismer reserved his decision until May 23.

Lemay and a co-accused, Robert Finlayson, were arrested in July 2010 following a police investigation into firearms.

Finlayson pleaded guilty last year and was given an eight-year sentence. He admitted to taking advantage of his job at a warehouse, Inland Pacific -- which ships guns across the country -- to steal and sell the weapons in order to feed his drug addiction.

Lemay admitted he would purchase the guns, which would be sold again once the serial numbers were removed.

Crown attorney Mike Desautels told court Tuesday as many as 40 firearms vanished from the warehouse between 2009 and 2010. Many of them remain unaccounted for.

Lemay pleaded guilty to his involvement in the theft of nine guns, including a high-powered assault rifle, several handguns and five long guns. He also admitted to having ecstasy and cocaine at the time of his arrest.

"There is a premium on the streets for these types of guns," Desautels said.

Finlayson admitted to being involved in smuggling 16 weapons, at least three of which were tracked to local crimes, including a North End shooting last year.

"I find this to be absolutely frightening," provincial court Judge Janice LeMaistre said during Finlayson's sentencing. "It causes me significant concern for every citizen of this country."

Most of the guns were being grabbed by Finlayson out of shipments bound for other cities, including Edmonton and Montreal, then swapped with Lemay in exchange for cocaine.

Winnipeg police started an investigation after receiving reports of guns missing from orders placed with Inland Pacific. They initially focused on a city courier, who had picked up two orders that were tampered with. Further investigation led to Finlayson, who confessed upon his arrest. He told police he was paid between $100 and $200 per gun, along with some crack cocaine. He also named Lemay, court was told.

Gun violence has been a major issue in recent years, with several shootings and slayings making headlines while gang members attempt to settle personal scores and battle over drug profits. And while there have been sporadic arrests, police have struggled to cut off the source of many of the firearms that find their way into the hands of criminals.

Two years ago, two Winnipeg men admitted to their roles in an international smuggling operation that saw at least 22 guns brought into Winnipeg from North Dakota in exchange for drugs. It was one of the first cases of its kind in Manitoba. Only three are believed to have been recovered -- all from local criminals.

Police said the true cost of the crimes may not be known for years.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 3, 2012 B3

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