THUNDER BAY -- Four years after an undercover joint police operation codenamed Project Dolphin seized a multi-million-dollar drug cache and arrested seven people, the Thunder Bay Police Service announced six new arrests on Monday, including a former border guard.
The six men face charges of possession, trafficking, importation and conspiracy of controlled substances for the benefit of a criminal organization related to 15 local warrants carried out on June 16, 2011, which seized $2.1-million cocaine and marijuana as well as $500,000 in cash.
The new arrests come as a result of information garnered from computers and cell phones seized from those who were charged in the first wave of what the police say is an organized crime ring.
“It did take a while to get all that information and then, of course, for investigators to comb through it,” said Thunder Bay Police Service spokesman Chris Adams.
“Bear in mind it’s not unusual for a complex investigation -- especially into an intricate drug-trafficking network like this -- to take a substantial amount of time to come to these kinds of conclusions.”
Among those charged is 34-year-old Jason Stokaluk, who was serving as a Canadian Border Service Agency officer at the time drugs are alleged to have been crossing the Canada-U.S. border. Stokaluk is facing a Breach of Trust charge on top of charges he conspired to possess, import and traffic drugs for the benefit of a criminal organization.
“The actual importation was a bit of a complex process. It involved a number of people,” Adams said.
“The border guard is alleged to be an integral part of getting that illicit product across the border.”
Police claim 41-year-old John Harry Tsekouras to be the ringleader of the organization. Tsekouras was found guilty on all eight charges brought against him in March and sentenced to 11.5 years in prison for his role. Four of those charges were stayed and the sentence was reduced two years for time served.
New charges are as follows:
Fortunato COLISTRO - 43 years old
. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
. Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance
. Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Trafficking a Controlled Substance
. Importing a Controlled Substance
. Committing an offence for the benefit of a Criminal Organization
Alain GALLANT Jr. - 34 years old
. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
. Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance
. Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Trafficking a Controlled Substance
. Importing a Controlled Substance
. Committing an offence for the benefit of a Criminal Organization
Travis Garth GORDON - 31 years old
. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
. Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance
. Committing an offence for the benefit of a Criminal Organization
Rory Jacob PELLETIER - 44 years old
. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
. Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance
. Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Trafficking a Controlled Substance
. Importing a Controlled Substance
. Committing an offence for the benefit of a Criminal Organization
Keith John RITCHIE - 32 years old
. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
. Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance
. Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Trafficking a Controlled Substance
. Importing a Controlled Substance
. Committing an offence for the benefit of a Criminal Organization
Jason Stokaluk - 34 years old
. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
. Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance
. Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
. Trafficking a Controlled Substance
. Importing a Controlled Substance
. Committing an offence for the benefit of a Criminal Organization
. Breach of Trust
(All have been released. Pellieier's next court date is January 20, 2016. All others listed here are January 29, 2016)
