U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office work together to stop illegal drugs from entering the United States. Interagency cooperation led to three arrests this winter at the U.S. – Canada Pigeon River Port of Entry in Grand Portage.
Kerry Giulio Disano, 49, Yellowknife, Canada, made a wrong turn on his way to Winnipeg, Canada and entered the United States at the Pigeon River Port of Entry on December 23, 2012. U.S. Customs agents detected an odor of alcohol and conducted a secondary inspection, which resulted in Disano’s arrest on drug charges.
Disano was found to be in possession of a round ball (about the size of a quarter) of a brown substance, identified as hash, a resinous form of marijuana; a bag of leafy green marijuana; two metal grinders used to break up marijuana before smoking it and rolling papers. Also found in the vehicle was a “one-hitter,” a device used for smoking marijuana. The items were tested by Customs and Border Patrol agents and the presence of marijuana was confirmed. The items were also weighed and determined to be 9.7 grams of hash and 14.5 grams of marijuana.
The maximum penalty possible for possession of the hash, a felony, is five years and/ or $10,000. The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle is 90 days and/or $1,000. The possession of drug paraphernalia, a petty misdemeanor could mean a $300 fine.
At a court appearance on January 2, 2013, the charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were dismissed. For the felony charge, Disano was placed on unsupervised probation for two years, to be monitored by the Cook County District Court, with the condition that he complete alcohol assessment, have no alcohol or controlled substance use, and have no same or similar offenses. He was also fined $1,500.
On January 9, 2013, Robert John Klein, 33, Plover, Wisconsin, was stopped by U.S. Customs and his vehicle, a silver Mercury Sable, was searched. U.S. Customs agents found an expired prescription bottle containing 8 – 12 hydrocodone pills that reportedly belonged to Klein’s grandmother. Customs agents found no evidence that the pills had been properly prescribed for Klein and additional search revealed a pipe with marijuana residue.
Customs agents contacted Cook County Law Enforcement and a Cook County Deputy headed to the border to take Klein into custody. He was charged with felony 5th degree possession of a controlled substance and petty misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. The maximum penalty for the felony charge is five years or $10,000 fine.
Klein appeared in court on January 23, 2013. The misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge was dismissed. Klein was fined $1,000 and placed on probation for two years, to be monitored by Cook County District Court. Successful completion of probation will result in a dismissal of the charge.
Etienne Belanger, 23, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, was arrested after attempting to enter the United States on March 5. Belanger’s vehicle was searched and he was found to be in possession of 14 dosage units of “Ecstasy,” 6.5 grams of marijuana and a drug pipe. Ecstasy is a slang name for methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine also known as “MDMA.” The drugs were positively identified by a field test by U.S. Customs agents.
The maximum penalty for the felony possession of 10 or more doses of a hallucinogen such as the Ecstasy is 15 years and $100,000 for a first violation.
Belanger was sentenced in Cook County court on March 7, 2013. The charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were dismissed and Belanger was placed on probation for two years on the condition that he complete chemical assessment from a licensed provider in Canada and submit proof of that assessment within six months. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,000.
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