WHAT IS THE WARRIOR INVOLVEMENT IN CIGARETTE SMUGGLING?

In the last 25 years, hundreds of Mohawks have been arrested and convicted for smuggling everything from home heating oil to drugs. The Warrior Society denies that smuggling untaxed cigarettes into Canada is not smuggling, because such actions are "legal" within the Mohawk Nation. They claim that they are not criminals because Canadian and American law does not apply to them. Yet, they know perfectly well that they move cigarettes through their territory, back into Canada to circumvent Canadian tax laws. While the leading warriors operate within their territory, they have created an underground business in smuggling for the sole purpose of evading taxes. This business fuels their political agenda. "Cigarettes is a vehicle for future, other economic development," said Paul Delaronde.

In 1988, the RCMP raided Kahnawake and seized $450,000 (CDN) in cigarettes being sold without Quebec taxation at 32 outlets. 17 Mohawks were arrested. The warriors blockaded the Mercier Bridge for 29 hours to protest the action. Four pleaded guilty and were fined $18,550. Charges against four other were dropped. Selma Delisle and her daughter, Sherry, refused to go to court and stayed on the reserves to avoid prosecution.

The primary warrior leaders have been involved in the development of the international smuggling network. They would legally import tax-free cigarette into the U.S., destined for Smokin' Joe Anderson at Tuscarora. The cigarettes were then trucked to warehouse son the U.S. Side of Akwesasne, taken across to Cornwall Island, then trucked to Kahnawake, were they were sold without charging Canadian taxes, or sold to other retailers in Quebec, Ontario, or elsewhere. These activities have resulted in over one hundred and fifty arrests, including:

June 25, 1990 - Loran Thompson, the primary Warrior spokesperson at Oka and Kahnawake, was arrested in Mansonville, near the Vermont border, transporting illegal cigarettes in a van, valued at $60,000 (CDN).

Jan 19, 1993 - An F.B.I. investigation leads to 21 count indictment against Francis T. Boots, Dewey A. Lazore, Ellwyn Cook (all Mohawks) and Anthony Stanley (Passamaquoddy of Maine) for smuggling un-taxed cigarettes from Akwesasne to Maine, across to New Brunswick. They attempted to bribe Point Pleasant Tribal Chief Frederick Moore to remain silent about their 1992 operation. Jake Boots (Mohawk) and Beverly Pierro were charged with failure to report cash smuggled back into the U.S.

1992 - John W. "Chic" Fountain, former state trooper sells cigarettes through Hollis White (Akwesasne Mohawk), whose brother, Dean White, is an official for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and his father, Lincoln White, was the former tribal councilor. Fountain operates a stamping operation and buys cigarettes from Canada and Mohawk distributors, places the federal stamp on the cigarettes and sends them back to the reservation. He also owns Fountain Security Services which handles cash deliveries for the Mohawk Tribal Council

Fountain was a principle investor in Billy Sears Bingo Hall. Fountain's warehouse was built on land leased from Sears, and Sears paid for the stamping equipment. In 1997, Fountain, as owner of Fountain Financial Security Services, is arrested and charged with conspiracy to smuggle and money laundering as federal police in the U.S. and Canada break the largest smuggling network in history. Dozens are arrested included warrior Loran Thompson in the crackdown on the liquor and cigarette smuggling network through Akwesasne.