A massive cocaine bust in Ohio has led to a significant sentence for a Canadian national. David Ayotte, 46, of Maribel, Canada, was sentenced to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The crime was committed on March 29, 2017.
Columbus, Ohio, was the scene of the crime, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations officials detected an aircraft that had diverted from its intended destination of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The plane was found to have approximately 132 kilograms, or 290 pounds, of cocaine on board.
Ayotte and Sylvain Desjardins, 48, also of Maribel, Canada, pleaded guilty in May 2017 to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The two men intended to fly the cocaine to Canada for distribution, but their plane was experiencing mechanical issues.
The investigation involved a cooperative effort from various law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Ohio University Police Department, the Ohio University Airport, Athens County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Ohio National Guard Counter Drug Program, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Attaché Office Montreal, Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency, and Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman commended the law enforcement agencies involved in the case and praised Deputy Criminal Chief Michael J. Hunter for his representation of the United States.
Ayotte’s sentence is a significant blow to those involved in the cocaine trade. The exact amount of cocaine involved in the case is staggering, with 290 pounds seized by authorities. The sentence is a reminder of the consequences of engaging in such illicit activities.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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