Pa. man charged with cash smuggling

BANGOR – A Pennsylvania man who allegedly was going to Canada to buy drugs appeared Wednesday in U.S. District Court on charges of bulk cash smuggling.

Alfred Saulnier Jr., 33, of Carlisle, Pa., was arrested about 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Calais border crossing with $12,785 in $100s and $50s hidden in his boots.

He told agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of Homeland Security that he was going to buy crack cocaine in Canada, according to court documents.

Saulnier claims to have dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada.

A hearing to determine whether Saulnier will be released on bail is scheduled to be held Friday in federal court in Bangor.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Border crossing agents referred Saulnier for a secondary inspection because he claimed to be visiting Canada for a week but had very little luggage with him, according to court documents.

Saulnier also had a wire mesh sponge, commonly used for cooking crack cocaine, in his front pocket, according to court documents. He allegedly told agents that he had been going across the border since April 19 to buy cocaine to distribute in Pennsylvania.

It could not be determined Wednesday if the case is related to the recent drug arrests in Canada.