BUFFALO, N.Y. – Lawrence Hong, 21, of Canada, is facing up to a decade in federal prison after admitting to possessing a firearm while battling a heroin addiction. Hong pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, a case Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today.
The bust went down January 21, 2017, at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. Hong, driving a 2016 Volkswagen with Ontario plates, claimed he was just popping into Buffalo for some mall shopping. But Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers weren’t buying it. His story quickly unraveled when he couldn’t explain why he had his dog with him – or what he planned to do with the animal while he browsed the stores.
A narcotics K-9 unit flagged Hong’s vehicle for a secondary inspection, and that’s when things went south. CBP officers discovered a 9mm handgun stashed inside the driver’s side door. The search didn’t stop there. They also found $1,122.00 in cash, Xanax pills, hypodermic needles, and elastic bands – the tools of a user, and likely, a dealer.
Hong’s lies continued to pile up. He confessed to planning a trip to Ohio to buy another firearm, and admitted the gun found in his car had been illegally smuggled from the U.S. into Canada. He also revealed a dark truth: he’s a heroin addict undergoing methadone treatment. A shopping trip, indeed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Felicetta, handling the case, built a solid case based on the evidence seized at the border and Hong’s own admissions. The investigation was spearheaded by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
Hong is scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is a stark reminder that attempting to skirt the law while armed and addicted will land you behind bars.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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