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December 23, 2009

Drug-network kingpin gets 18 years

Franklin County man moved pot in family drug network

By DENISE A. RAYMO

MALONE — A major player in a family-run drug-trafficking ring that used hollowed-out tailgates and fuel tanks to smuggle pot downstate will spend nearly 18 years in federal prison.

Danny Theriault, 36, of North Bangor was sentenced recently in U.S. District Court to 17½ years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 220 pounds of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Theriault and his mother, Jackaleen Theriault, 59, of Malone, were convicted in March of moving more than $4 million worth of pot through the region in 16 months.

They bought it for $1,800 to $2,400 a pound and sold it in Albany for $3,000 and $4,000 a pound.

Judge Gary Sharpe also ordered Danny to be on supervised release for the rest of his life once he is out of prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

His mother was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for conspiracy and 10 years of post-release supervision. She was fined $15,000 and ordered to forfeit $129,000 in cash seized during the investigation.

Each was also ordered to pay a $1,540,000 judgment.

Denny Theriault, Mrs. Theriault's youngest son, was sentenced to time served and five years of supervision.

Two others under federal indictment are already serving time.

Joshua Spaulding, 25, of Constable was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and four years of post-release supervision.

Jared Callahan, 31, of Schenectady was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison with eight years of supervision.

More than 100 telephone conversations, gleaned from wiretaps used between January and April 2007, revealed information about the far-reaching network of dealers and couriers used to further the smuggling operation, running from the North Country to Albany.

Investigators say Danny and his mother used violence and threats to run their conspiracy.

Callahan testified that Danny severely beat his brother, Denny, for losing $104,900 when a hidden compartment in the tailgate was found by police during a vehicle search.

Callahan said the cash was from a 44-pound buy he made from Denny and Spaulding that had been coordinated by Danny.

Evidence was also presented of repeated beatings and threats of violence from Danny to others in the operation.

STOLE MARIJUANA
Callahan said he ended his own involvement when he stole 13 pounds of pot from Mrs. Theriault, worth about $30,000.

When she found out, Callahan said, she vandalized the car he had been using that night and set it on fire.

Wiretaps picked up calls where Danny threatened to kill Callahan if and when he found him and offered a $5,000 customized all-terrain vehicle as a reward for information on his whereabouts.

ARRESTS
A home on Bird Road in Westville, a motor home, two boats, a handgun, numerous vehicles, stainless-steel appliances, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and $130,000 in cash were seized in the early morning raids.

Mrs. Theriault and Danny were indicted for conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States, conspiracy to aid and abet the importation of pot and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and the distribution of more than 100 kilograms of high-grade marijuana.

Some of the other nine people arrested in the April 2007 sweep were also accused of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamines and Ecstasy.

Others arrested were Chad Fellers and Thomas Nesbitt, both of Constable; Wade A. Cayea, Matthew LaBrake, Ann Founier and Michael Benware, all of Malone; and Kevin Welch, Seth Lodge and Samantha Ryan, all of Schenectady.

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com

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