Cheese smuggling decision expected Friday



By Tony Ricciuto, Niagara Falls Review


Niagara's large-scale cheese and chicken wings smuggling case has been concluded and the judge is expected to deliver his decision on Friday.

The trial of Niagara Regional Police Const. Scott Heron, which began on Monday in the Superior Court of Justice in Welland, wrapped up on Thursday with the Crown calling its final witness.

Heron, 42, of Fort Erie, has pleaded not guilty to six charges, three of which involve smuggling and non payment of duties under the Customs Act, and three breach of trust criminal counts that relate to his duties as a police officer.

The trial, which was conducted in front of Justice James Ramsay who was sitting alone without a jury, had been expected to last about five days.

Two witnesses, who were also charged as a result of this investigation and have already been dealt with by the courts, Bernie Pollino and retired NRP Sgt. Casey Langelaan, were not called to testify by the Crown.

Both Pollino and Langelaan were at the courthouse during portions of the trial, but most of their time was spent out of the courtroom because there was an exclusion of witnesses.

Defence lawyer Michael DelGobbo did not call any evidence.

Federal Crown prosecutor Amber Pashuk said this was a large-scale cheese and poultry smuggling operation, there was a conspiracy by individuals to bring the goods across the border, and Heron was a member of that conspiracy.

"The evidence showed he was part of the operation from beginning to end and he played an important role," said Pashuk.

Former NRP Const. Geoff Purdie, 42, was the Crown's main witness in this case.

Purdie, who was arrested at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie on April 5, 2012, for smuggling steroids, was also involved in smuggling the cheese and chicken wings across the border.

Purdie received a one year sentence in an American jail after being convicted in a Buffalo courtroom on a charge of conspiracy to smuggle steroids.

Part of his plea agreement with U.S. officials was that he would testify in court about the cheese smuggling operation.

Pashuk said Heron committed a breach of trust when he used the Canadian Police Information Centre, commonly known as CPIC, for a corrupt purpose. He ran his own name and the licence plate of the pickup truck that was being used to smuggle the cheese to try and find out if police or any other agency was conducting any type of investigation into his own criminal conduct.

Pashuk introduced documents, which included phone records and invoices, backed up what Purdie testified to on the witness stand. Heron would call in the cheese order and Purdie would bring it across the border.

"We have a clear picture of what was happening here. The duty was not being paid," said Pashuk.

Court heard most of the weekly invoices were for about $1,500 in product. A total of about $141,291 had been purchased, so the duties that were evaded amounted to $325,000.

"There was money to be made," said Pashuk, adding the police officers risked their careers for smuggling cheese.

DelGobbo said there is no evidence that his client ever brought cheese across the border. The invoices had no reference to Heron and he gained nothing when he used the CPIC system.

DelGobbo said Purdie's evidence is not reliable because he had "every reason in the world to lie" and was only trying to save his own skin.

"He had ever reason to shift the blame on to others," said DelGobbo, adding there were many gaps in the evidence that was presented, there was no evidence of wiretaps and there was no seizure of any evidence.

Smuggling cheese and chicken wangs! That actually made me laugh out loud

I know right . This has been in the news off and on for a few months now.

wonder if that Cheese was Emmenthaler?

Well Buffalo would be the place to do it. If you've ever been to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo (reputed home of the Buffalo chicken wing) you would know the addictive goodness of the humble wing.

Served with a frosty Genesee 12 Horse Ale, that my friend is Sunday football at the bar with your buds.

The cheese? Should have been blue to go with the wings. lol

Of course only in Canada would this be a 'show trial'. lol

shouldn't have tried to smuggle that smelly LIMBURGER Cheese!

String 'em up!

Bunch o' dirty cheese smugglers.

Scott Heron should have hired Speedy Gonzales to transport the cheese, because nobody can catch Speedy.