Four men have received jail sentences and fines totaling more than $300,000 after being convicted earlier this month on smuggling charges.
Leland Herne, 47, was found guilty of possessing 400,000 unmarked cigarettes after the Ontario Provincial Police stopped his vehicle on Highway 401 on July 26, 2007.
Herne, who is from Cornwall, was sentenced to four months in jail and was fined $148,700.
Thomas Quinn of Alexandria pleaded guilty to possessing 299,000 unmarked cigarettes and received a six-month sentence. Quinn was arrested on June 3, 2008 after trying to escape from the OPP, according to the Ministry of Revenue's Special Investigations Branch. The 26-year-old was also fined $60,000.
Two men from Lasalle, Que. were each sentenced to three months in jail in connection with a cigarette seizure on Highway 401 on Nov. 14, 2007.
Jamie Chase, 27, and Brian Goolab, 23, were also fined $93,125. All the convictions happened on Dec. 11.
Two other men pleaded guilty Dec. 18 and received fines totaling more than $90,000.
Mohamad Awada, 56, of Toronto was arrested in September 2007 after the OPP pulled over a transport truck trailer carrying 300 kilograms of tobacco and 10,000 unmarked cigarettes. Awada was fined $44,205 and sentenced to 12 months probation. He must also perform 40 hours of community service.
Stephane Brunet of L'Orignal was arrested in May 2008 after Cornwall police found 800,000 illegal smokes in his car. The 39-year-old was fined $50,000 and sentenced to 12 months probation. He must also perform 75 hours of community service.