Feb 20, 2007

(Alexandria, Ontario) On February 12th, 2007 Jason Poirier of Cornwall, Ontario appeared at the Alexandria Provincial Court where he entered a guilty plea to one count of Section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001 and one count of Section 29(1)(b) of the Tobacco Tax Act for being in possession of 250,000 unstamped cigarettes. The court was advised that the minimum fine pursuant to the Excise Act was $40,000 and the minimum fine under the Tobacco Tax Act was $92,828.60. After submissions by the Crown and the Defense the Judge imposed the $40,000 fine with 12 months to pay under the Excise Act. On the Tobacco Tax Act charge the court invoked Section 59 of the Provincial Offences Act and imposed a much lower fine of $5,000 plus a 25 percent victim fine surcharge with 6 months to pay.

The sentencing is related to March 24th, 2006 incident where members of the Ontario Provincial Police were conducting a RIDE check point on County Road 43 at County Road 15 in the Village of Avonmore in the North Stormont Township. At which point Jason Poirier approached officers at the checkpoint driving a silver Ford F150 pick-up truck that was a rental from a Cornwall Rental agency.

Officers observed several boxes they believed to be contraband cigarettes in the extended cab portion of the pick-up truck. When questioned concerning the contents of the boxes, Jason Poirier suddenly sped away from the check point eastbound on County Road 43. Police initiated a police pursuit of the silver Ford F150. The fleeing motor vehicle attained speeds of approximately 165 kilometres per hour and drove erratically in both lanes of County Rd. 43. The fleeing vehicle nearly collided with a Chevrolet pick-up truck that was attempting to turn in to a residence on County Road 43. The officers were able to perform a stop of the vehicle east of Tolmies Corners Road. Subsequently officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment seized the 250,000 contraband cigarettes. Investigation followed by RCMP officers and officers from the Ontario Ministry of Finance. These agencies continue to work jointly on contraband smuggling investigations.

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Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613)937-2831
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment