United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - On January 30, 2014, United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, James J. Hunt, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) announced that Allan Peters was found guilty after a four day jury trial in Syracuse, New York before United States District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby.

On August 14, 2013, Peters was indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.  Peters was subsequently arrested on September 4, 2013.  On September 12, 2013, United States Magistrate Judge Larry A. Kudrle ordered Peters remanded pending trial.

During trial, the government offered evidence that from at least 2005 until 2011, Peters, Alan Forget, Cheryl Lobdell and many others participated in a large scale scheme to smuggle thousands of pounds of marijuana into the United States and send millions of dollars in drug proceeds back into Canada.  The organization utilized property located in Syne, Quebec, Canada on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation, and controlled by Peters, as a staging area for their smuggling activities.  The organization routinely shipped hockey bags of marijuana, at least 100 to 200 pounds per trip, to this property, where couriers would load the bags into vehicles and transport them into the United States.  During trial, the United States presented evidence of the following events associated with this organization:

1. On May 8, 2009, members of the United States Border Patrol seized approximately 250 pounds of marijuana from Cheryl Lobdell in North Hudson, New York.

2. On September 15, 2010, members of the Tribal Police Services and the New State Police seized approximately 240 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle operated by Alan Forget, after Forget led law enforcement on a high speed chase from the Reservation to Malone, New York.

3. On February 25, 2011, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration seized sixteen handguns in Syracuse, New York that the organization was attempting to smuggle into Canada.

4. On March 1, 2011, members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services and the United States Border Patrol seized approximately 100 pounds of marijuana from Cheryl Lobdell in Hogansburg, New York.

Peters is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2014.  His conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life and a fine up to $10,000,000.

The investigation and prosecution of Peters was the result of a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement (DEA), Homeland Security (HSI), the United States Border (USBP), Air and Marine (AMO), the New York State Police, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police (SRMTPD) the Akwasasne Mohawk Police (AMPS), the District Attorneys of Franklin and Clinton Counties and the National (Analysts).