Pubdate: Tue, 16 Sep 2008
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 The Windsor Star
Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Doug Schmidt, Windsor Star
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

DRUG SMUGGLING JOCK JAILED

Western University Football Star Gets Three Years For Ecstasy, Gun

A budding football star has been forced to set aside any dreams of
going professional after a Windsor judge on Monday handed him a
three-year prison sentence for his role in a drug-smuggling operation.

Pulled over by Canadian border guards at the Ambassador Bridge on Nov.
15, 2007, Olusola Olumogba, 23, was arrested after ziplock baggies
containing 1,320 ecstasy pills were recovered from the trunk of his
rented Dodge Charger and US$105,015 was found in the spare tire.
Olumogba also carried an unloaded .25-calibre semi-automatic pistol in
his waistband and had another US$3,492 in a pocket.

Noting a very positive pre-sentence report, Ontario court Justice
Lloyd Dean said prior to sentencing that, other than his involvement
as an armed courier in this foiled smuggling scheme, Olumogba appeared
to have a bright future.

Defence lawyer John Sitter said his client, a former wide receiver
with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs football team, missed
trying out for the Montreal Alouettes this summer while sitting in
pre-sentence custody at Windsor Jail.

Olumogba, who also goes by the first name Richard, was handed a
two-year sentence on the drug importation conviction and another year
- -- the mandatory minimum under the Criminal Code -- consecutive for
the illegal firearm. Dean gave Olumogba the standard two-for-one
credit for five months spent in pre-sentence custody, meaning he has
another two years and two months in a federal prison.

The sentence "reflects the fact this gentleman made a terrible
decision," said Sitter. Given the circumstances and facts, however, he
added his client, who pleaded guilty in June, did relatively well in
sentencing.

As part of his punishment, Olumogba, a Brampton resident who most
recently held a partial football scholarship to a university in
Tennessee, forfeits to the Crown the $105,015 seized from the spare
tire, is prohibited for life from possessing firearms and other
restricted weapons and was ordered to submit a DNA sample to police.

"He was definitely part of a bigger operation," said federal Crown
attorney Richard Pollock, who had argued for a four-year sentence.

He said Olumogba had been "very co-operative" with
authorities.

The court heard that Olumogba told authorities at the time of his
arrest that he was "just trying to make a quick buck, $10,000. Times
are tough, you know."

The court also heard that the gun was purchased by a former classmate
of Olumogba in Tennessee and that the Tennessee man told U.S. federal
officers he'd bought guns for Olumogba before.

Olumogba took law and communication courses while studying and playing
at UWO.
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