Living Rich

"By 2009, Cournoyer was sending at least 1,000 pounds of marijuana to New York per week, and making plans to expand his business to send 5,000 pounds of marijuana per week.
"Cournoyer also arranged for multiple firearms and ammunition to be smuggled into Canada from the United States for use by Cournoyer and members of his drug organization."
Steven L. Tiscione, prosecutor, U.S. Attorney's Office

Jimmy Cournoyer, all of 33 years of age, lived in Laval, Quebec. His family is well connected with construction and real estate holdings. He had different ideas for his livelihood, however. Although the construction industry in Quebec is well known to be infiltrated by corruption and graft with the Mafia having a huge pecuniary interest therein, young Mr. Cournoyer went for drug trafficking.

Variously code-named Cosmo and Superman, he was arrested in Mexico, accused of being in league with the Mafia, Hells Angels and a Mexican cartel, in trafficking potent drugs across borders for huge profit. Profit that earned him a lifestyle he truly appreciated. Like the $2-million Bugatti Veyron, said to be among the world's most elite (certainly costly) sport cars, capable of zipping around in excess of 400-km/h.


He was arrested while making a trip to Mexico and forwarded on to the United States where an outstanding warrant for his arrest made him a very welcome visitor. He was charged with running a massive drug ring. But he pleaded not guilty. Goodbye jet-set lifestyle. His enterprise, though backed by the Montreal-based Rizzuto family crime group, was in termination mode.

He is accused of moving hydroponically B.C.-grown marijuana, to Quebec, where it was stored in warehouses. Hells Angels Motorcycle Club associates helped move it across the border well hidden. Some taken to Akwesasne straddling the Canada-U.S. border, by boat across the St. Lawrence River; by snowmobile when the river freezes over in winter.

From there driven into the U.S. It was estimated that enough marijuana was being moved into the U.S. to supply the whole of the eastern U.S. With the profits earned, cocaine was bought from the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, then brought through California and eventually into Canada.

End of story.