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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2008

Canadian Citizen Admits Involvement In Marijuana Trafficking Ring

MAY 2 -- June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that GEORGE TSELLOS, also known as “Marco,” 38, of Saint Laurent, Quebec, last residing in Norwalk, Connecticut, pleaded guilty yesterday, May 1, before United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and one count of conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash out of the United States.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, TSELLOS is a member of a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for arranging shipments of high-quality hydroponic marijuana from Canada to others for redistribution around southwestern Connecticut. The investigation revealed that TSELLOS assisted in the trafficking of approximately 30 pounds of marijuana per month at a wholesale cost of approximately $4,000 per pound, and routed the proceeds of the marijuana distribution back to Canada or to other points.

TSELLOS is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2008, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and a fine of up to $2,250,000. TSELLOS has been detained since his arrest on November 9, 2007.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy commended the investigation of this matter that was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Greenwich, Stratford, Stamford, Norwalk, and Naugatuck Police Departments.