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Prosecutors say conspiracy was tied to Hells Angels
SEATTLE (NEWS1130) - Seven British Columbians have been sentenced in a Washington State court for their part in smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana between Canada and the United States.
The conspiracy, which prosecutors say was tied to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, saw marijuana shipped south in PVC pipe, hollowed out logs, wood chips, and hidden compartments in tractor-trailer trucks.
In sentencing 36-year-old Jody York, Chief US District Judge Robert Lasnik said the smuggling operation had a terrible impact on British Columbia and part of the US; he also said it's the children who suffer when communities are riddled with violence.
York and Edward Russell were considered the managers of the drug group and were both given more than four-and-a-half years in prison. Five other men were given sentences ranging from one year in jail to probation.
The case involved a three-year investigation in which 54 people were charged, thousands of kilograms of marijuana, and cocaine seized along with millions in cash.
Forty-eight people have been convicted -- including the ring leader, Rob Shannon of Langley -- who was given a 20-year jail term.
