N.B. man jailed for smuggling

SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick — A 38-year-old Rothesay man whose smuggling ring brought more than $200,000 worth of tobacco and alcohol into the Saint John area from Maine was sentenced Friday to 10 months in jail, a $10,000 fine and a $1,500 victim surcharge.

Kevin Slattery and three associates were charged with conspiracy to smuggle tobacco and alcohol into Canada from the United States in September and October 1992.

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation that involved surveillance, wire-tapping and statements from informants began in the summer of 1992 and culminated in the charges.

Judge Alfred Brien compared the crime to income tax evasion and said he had no doubt Slattery made a healthy profit from smuggling.

“The penalty should bring home the point that this is a serious crime and not just social misbehavior,” he said.

The three others involved in the case have received fines. Michael McClay, 22, was fined $12,500; Jeremiah Maenhout, 19, was fined $9500; and Deborah Simmons was fined $20,000 dollars and spent two days in jail.