• Print
  • Accessibility

Jail Sentences, Fines For Possession Of Unmarked Cigarettes

 

January 20, 2010 1:30 PM

Ontario's Tough Tobacco Tax Laws at Work

Six individuals were found guilty and fined $180,495, for possession of 890,800 unmarked cigarettes in the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall on January 7, 2010.

Each of the individuals was charged by the Ministry of Revenue's Special Investigations Branch in separate incidents during which the Ontario Provincial Police stopped vehicles and found unmarked cigarettes.

  • James Curotte and Kehly Horn, both of Kahnawake (Quebec), pleaded guilty to possession of a total of 160,000 unmarked cigarettes for the purpose of sale. Curotte received a sentence of 30 days in jail. Horn was fined $30,000 and must pay $7,500 to the Victims' Justice Fund.
  • Steven Hopps of Cornwall pleaded guilty to possession of 190,000 unmarked cigarettes for the purpose of sale and received a sentence of 21 days in jail.
  • Leland Herne of Cornwall pleaded guilty to possession of 150,800 unmarked cigarettes for the purpose of sale. He was fined $5,000 and must pay $1,250 to the Victims' Justice Fund. Herne was also placed on probation for 18 months and must perform 60 hours of community service.
  • Shannon Lazore of Hogansburg (New York) was convicted of possession of 200,000 unmarked cigarettes. She was fined $74,600 and must pay $18,650 to the Victims' Justice Fund.
  • Lee Lauder of Oka (Quebec) was convicted of possession of 190,000 unmarked cigarettes for the purpose of sale. He received a $70,895 fine and must pay $17,723 to the Victims' Justice Fund.

The seized illegal cigarettes were forfeited to the Ontario government.

QUICK FACTS

 
  • Over the past two years, approximately 67 million illegal cigarettes have been seized in Ontario by ministry investigators and inspectors.

CONTACTS

  • Public Inquiries
    1 866 668-8297
  • Scott Blodgett
    Media Inquiries Only
    416 325-0324



Ministry of Revenue
ontario.ca/revenue



	Close lightbox