Six charged following RCMP tobacco investigation

(Cornwall, Ontario - Tuesday, January 20th, 2009) – Six people have been charged with various offences after an RCMP contraband tobacco investigation.  On July 30th, 2008, members of the Cornwall RCMP Detachment with the assistance from a Canada Border Services Agency officer followed a 1999 Mercury Sable from Akwesasne, Ontario to a residence located in Ingleside, Ontario where officers observed the vehicle park beside a 1989 GMC pick-up truck.  Police seized 500 resealable bags of contraband cigarettes as well as the Mercury Sable and arrested the driver, 23 year old Donald Joseph Giasson, a resident from Rooseveltown, New York.  The driver of the pick-up truck, Carson Mitton, a 59 year old resident from Denbigh, Ontario along with the passenger, 23 year old Mary Ann Woodcock from Scarborough, Ontario were also arrested as a party to the offence.  Officers seized the pick-up truck, $17,840 located inside the truck and a small quantity of a controlled substance.

Further investigation revealed that Carson Mitton and Mary Ann Woodcock were previously investigated by the OPP and Belleville Police Service in a Joint Forces initiative named Project Fortitude and had been arrested by the RCMP in the Moncton, New Brunswick region on July 6th, 2008 for possession of 10,800 resealable bags of contraband cigarettes.  Project Fortune identified a group responsible for moving contraband tobacco from Akwesasne, Ontario to the New Brunswick area. This investigation linked Carson Mitton with 40 year old Yvan Leclair from Shannonville, Ontario, 33 year old Jason Lincoln Knight and 51 year old Hubert Aurele Dore, both residents from Cornwall, Ontario.

The information gathered during Project Fortitude was shared with officers from the Cornwall RCMP Detachment.  The matter was further investigated with the assistance of officers from the Kingston RCMP Proceeds of Crime Section and the RCMP Customs and Excise Unit in New Brunswick.  The investigation resulted in the following charges being laid:

1. Yvan Leclair charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence and Perjury

2. Carson Mitton charged with Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession of a Tobacco Product not Properly Stamped and Possession of a Controlled Substance

3. Mary Ann Woodcock charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession of a Tobacco Product not Properly Stamped

4. Hubert Aurele Dore charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence

5. Jason Lincoln Knight charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence

6. Donald Joseph Giasson charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence and Possession of a Tobacco Product Not Properly Stamped

Yvan Leclair remains in custody on charges stemming from Project Fortitude and the remainder of those charged by the RCMP appeared at the Cornwall court on January 15th, 2009.