TC Levies Heavy Fine

Longtimer · Post by **Longtimer** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:24 am

No. P 002/07
For release May 7, 2007

TRANSPORT CANADA FINES HARRISON LAKE MARINA CORPORATION AND DARYL DESJARDINS
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Transport Canada today announced Harrison Lake Marina Corporation, of Harrison Lake, B.C., and Mr. Daryl Desjardins, of Rosedale, B.C., were fined $225,000 and $17,000 respectively, for violating the Canadian Aviation Regulations by flying: without an appropriate pilot license, with improper maintenance, without insurance, without journey log entries and without filing of flight plans. In total, the company and the pilot were charged with 14 violations of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

This aviation enforcement action was taken following a RCMP investigation of the company and pilot's activities. The investigation revealed that the helicopter was used in the exporting and trafficking of marijuana from British Columbia into Washington State.

The level of fines assessed by Transport Canada reflects the seriousness of the offences, the potential danger to public and use of a helicopter in criminal activities. The violations took place during April and May, 2006.

Harrison Lake Marina Corporation, which owns a Bell 206 helicopter, is based at Harrison Lake, British Columbia.

Both Harrison Lake Marina Corporation and Mr. Desjardins have the right to appeal Transport Canada's enforcement action to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada.

- 30 -

Contact:
Rod Nelson
Communications
Transport Canada
604-666-1675

Transport Canada is online at http://www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:33 am

"Oh hey Darryl, got any change in your pocket?" Good thing I get to keep the helicopter...

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:43 am

Trafficker hit for chopper infraction
The Province
Published: Tuesday, May 08, 2007

A convicted marijuana trafficker who once ran a high-end restaurant in Harrison Hot Springs has been fined by Transport Canada for flying a helicopter without a licence.

Daryl Desjardins, 44, of Rosedale pleaded guilty last August to exporting and trafficking marijuana and possession of restricted weapons. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Transport Canada fined Desjardins $17,000 for flying without an appropriate licence, not keeping journey-log entries and flying without a flight plan.

Harrison Lake Marina Corp., which owned the helicopter used in a number of cross-border drug runs into Washington state, was fined $225,000 at the same time.

At sentencing, the judge branded Desjardins as "not a mere courier, but rather the organizational facilitator in a drug-distribution chain." Desjardins was one of 46 people arrested in the U.S. and Canada a year ago following a two-year, cross-border police investigation.

Three aircraft, more than 3.6 tonnes of marijuana, 800 kilograms of cocaine and more than $1.5 million US were seized in the larger investigation. Out of that haul, Desjardins pleaded guilty to trafficking 155 kg of marijuana worth $1.2 million.

Desjardins, who ran the beachfront Breakwater restaurant on Harrison Lake, was previously ordered to pay $5.4 million in civil penalties by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which convicted him in a multimillion-dollar stock scam.

Transport Canada spokesman Rod Nelson said the aviation infractions were Desjardins' first offence in that category, "but because of the type of offence that it was, that's the maximum [fine]." Nelson added: "Certainly, there does seem to be an increase [in the number of drug dealers flying helicopters into Washington state without a licence]."

© The Vancouver Province 2007

The Province

2R · Post by 2R » Tue May 08, 2007 9:03 am

The cost of doing business .
Small change in a six billion dollar industry
Get caught with 1.2 million in product and fined less than 1/3 that is a better deal than most legal lawabiding hardworking taxpayers get.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:10 am

Yeh, but this takes some of the fun out of it.

He was sentenced to four years in prison.

golden hawk · Post by **golden hawk** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:50 am

Cat Driver wrote:Yeh, but this takes some of the fun out of it.

He was sentenced to four years in prison.

He better get ready for some back course approaches!

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:18 am

With an extra $255,000 in its pockets, that means TC can forgive oh, umm, 4600 pilots from paying their medical fee! Isn't that terrific?

The Other Kind · Post by **The Other Kind** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:54 pm

Quote:
He was sentenced to four years in prison.

He better get ready for some back course approaches!

Please...this is Canada we're talking about.

He's probably already released 'for good behavior' and enjoying a nice meal and bottle of wine that most of us couldn't even dream of affording.

express · Post by **express** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:14 pm

CAR's reg's violated: OK slap their p.p's ...the pot stuff...what a waste of government resources on something that without a doubt should be legal. I don't touch the stuff, but I certainly don't think it should be illegal.

86583 · Post by **86583** » Wed May 09, 2007 7:49 am

don't forget enforcement always seems to settle for 50% of the amount levied if you agree to the charges....also if he's a model prisoner the time will peobably be served in victoria at club fed (william head) were he can join the drama club, tend his flowers, have 3 squares a day and get a good nights sleep......who knows maybe he qualifies for free legal aid as a prisoner to fight his enforcement action with the tribunal, don't you just love our system........

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:43 am

AAhhh yes 86583 and don't forget that $225,000 dollars can go toward paying our friends at TC their " Performance Bonuses " that they receive regardless of their quality of performance..

Remember the screwing they gave a couple of their Inspectors in the Victoria office a few years ago where in their zeal to really screw them over they were found to have falsfied documents among other stuff?

Guess what even after losing their appeal on the falsifying of documents I understand the good o'l boy in charge at 800 Burrard still got his performance bonus.

You gotta love this system.....unless of course you are a tax payer.

snaproll20 · Post by **snaproll20** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:01 am

HOORAY, HOORAY.......They got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

OOps, no, wait a minute.......It was for criminal smuggling activities, not being a BAD operator.

Damn!!!

snaproll20 · Post by **snaproll20** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:01 am

HOORAY, HOORAY.......They got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

OOps, no, wait a minute.......It was for criminal smuggling activities, not being a BAD operator.

Damn!!!

snaproll20 · Post by **snaproll20** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:01 am

HOORAY, HOORAY.......They got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

OOps, no, wait a minute.......It was for criminal smuggling activities, not being a BAD operator.

Damn!!!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:05 am

Wait...Wait...Wait...who got one, the RCMP or TC?

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:52 pm

No doubt buddy's biggest problem will be explaining and making amends for his @#$! up to the owners of the other 3.6 tonnes/800 kilos/$1.5 million...

Jail and fines will be easy in comparison...

86583 · Post by **86583** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:25 pm

would be interesting to see more details, I.E. I'm assuming he didn"t have an OC....therefore was he charging a customer for the transportation of BC's finest and conducting a commercial air service, therefore did he need a commercial licence or did he just not have a helicopter endorsement.....if the product was his then he was flying personal property and therefore not in violation of the cars...as far as insurance and maintenance I'm sure there's a perfectly good explaination....hmmmm I think this guy needs help and guidance for an appeal to the tribunal, you feeling up to the challange ....

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:35 pm

hmmmm I think this guy needs help and guidance for an appeal to the tribunal, you feeling up to the challange ....

I have no experience with the tribunal 86583 they wouldn't have anything to do with my case as it involved corrupt, dishonest TC management and there is no way the system will examine their own.

As far as I am concerned the tribunal is just another group of good old boys who protect their own.

As far as the guy smuggling dope is concerned he is just a common criminal who got caught and is now going to be punished, whereas the corrupt management at TC are protected by the system.....

...just go back and read my comments about our friend over at 800 Burrard being found guilty of falsifying documents screwing two of his own inspectors.

In any other occupation he would dealt with by the system and at least turfed out of his job, but not these scum they get paid more.

Go figure.

I hope you are not angry with my expressing my opinion of the top dog at 800 Burrard are you 86583?

Toohot · Post by **Toohot** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:26 pm

[quote]No doubt buddy's biggest problem will be explaining and making amends for his @#$! up to the owners of the other 3.6 tonnes/800 kilos/$1.5 million...

Acually it is usually regarded as a cost of doing business. Snitches are one thing but to get pinched is a known hazard. Its a risk that people in the industry accept. When he gets out his contacts will ask him if he can go back to work again.

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:33 pm

Remember the screwing they gave a couple of their Inspectors in the Victoria office a few years ago where in their zeal to really screw them over they were found to have falsfied documents among other stuff?

Not doubting you, ., but do you have a reference or a link, please? I'd love to read more...

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:35 am

Not doubting you, ., but do you have a reference or a link, please? I'd love to read more...

My link went to electronic heaven when I had a computer problem.

I am hesitant to post names on this one as it is not directly linked to my own issue with TCCA except that it involves the same people who screwed me over in the same manner.

The investigation and it's results can be found in some department in Ottawa that handles internal TC personnel disputes.

I do remember the first line of the appeal by the TC managers regarding the screwing over of two of their underlings, the appeal decision said:

" Misters xxx and xxx were denied due process by misters xxx and xxx by the falsification, changing and witholding of documents. "

How many jobs in society do you know of where this type of dishonesty would be tolerated and ignored?

Maybe CD can find the transcripts on this one.

I can subpoena the inspectors if needed in my case, however I am hesitant to go any further here except the above.

Remember I am trying to get repaid for damages caused by TCCA top management by using dishonesty and manuplating of rules plus ignoring rules and regulations by top TCCA managers, so I do not make any statements that are untrue.