Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Role in meth ring nets 4 years
City businessman key player in cross-border smuggling to drug labs
A Winnipeg businessman has pleaded guilty to his role in an elaborate international drug-smuggling case, deemed one of the largest ever uncovered in Canada.
David Sokalski, 39, was sentenced to four years in prison Monday and ordered to forfeit nearly $4 million in cash and property deemed the proceeds of crime. Crown and defence lawyers made a joint sentencing recommendation, which was accepted by the judge.
Sokalski admits he was a key player in a cross-border conspiracy that saw barrels of raw ephedrine smuggled into the United States to methamphetamine labs run by the Mexican Mafia.
"He realizes what he did was wrong and unlawful," defence lawyer Sheldon Pinx told court. He said the former owner of a local cleaning company got caught up in the ability to make quick, easy cash after being approached by others about helping out.
More than 80 people were indicted in the case in Canada, California and Mexico after more than 250 police officers conducted 34 raids in September 2004.
RCMP in Winnipeg held a news conference the day after, saying they seized 9,000 kilograms of ephedrine, worth an estimated $14.5 million on the street as meth, along with $3.5 million cash. A total of 10 Manitobans were arrested.
It was alleged the ephedrine was legally imported into Canada through a Thunder Bay, Ont., company, but was soon diverted to the black market. Ephedrine is a prime ingredient in methamphetamine. It's banned in the United States. Health Canada regulates its sale in this country.
Crown attorney Brian Clark told court Monday that Sokalski was the main business associate of Rodger Bruneau, the Lac du Bonnet-based ringleader of the organization. Bruneau died of a heart attack following his arrest. Another accused was later shot to death in Winnipeg in a killing that remains unsolved.
"(Sokalski) held a very lucrative position in the distribution chain," Clark said.
Sokalski stashed much of his drug profits in properties, vehicles and businesses he purchased for himself and family members, court was told. There are now numerous forfeiture orders against these items.
"David Sokalski generated an enormous amount of proceeds of crime," Clark said.
As an example, he barely blinked when an ex-girlfriend ran off with $450,000 and moved to Thunder Bay.
"It was halfway to seven figures, but it didn't affect me financially," Sokalski was overheard telling a friend during a telephone call police intercepted.
The case against the Canadian accused has dragged through the legal system while lawyers debated how mountains of RCMP evidence should be disclosed to the accused. Three separate trials are set to begin this fall in Winnipeg for those still before the courts.
www.mikeoncrime.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 23, 2010 B1
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