Pubdate: Thu, 19 Sep 2002
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Lisa Lisle

PUB DRUG DEALER DEALT 3-YEAR TERM

A 45-year-old former pub owner was handed a three-year prison sentence 
yesterday for selling cocaine out of his bar.

Jacques LaPlante, who owned the now-defunct Club Polo Pub and Club Polo 
Lounge, pleaded guilty in April to five counts of drug trafficking and one 
count each of possession of proceeds of crime, money laundering and tax 
evasion.

He was arrested in April 2001 at the end of a 14-month investigation, which 
included an undercover officer visiting the bar and having candid 
conversations with LaPlante.

LaPlante told Sgt. David Spicer he laundered drug proceeds partly by 
drawing an annual salary from the club.

It's estimated LaPlante failed to report about $450,000 in income and is on 
the hook for $116,742 in taxes.

ADVICE

LaPlante was fined the full amount but given no time to pay since he was 
forced to hand over about $250,000 in assets after his plea. He was handed 
a six-month concurrent jail sentence as a result of the non-payment.

LaPlante also told Spicer he had been dealing drugs for about at least 
eight years. He gave Spicer advice on how to get started in the 
drug-dealing business.

LaPlante's criminal record has one related offence on it, which stemmed 
from selling drugs to Spicer in 1995.

This more recent investigation was initiated after police received a tip in 
February 2000 that drugs were being dealt at the club.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart