FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 18, 2007
DANIEL TICAN SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on October 18, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, DANIEL TICAN, a 25-year-old resident of Canada, appeared for sentencing. TICAN was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 33 months
- Special Assessment: $200
- Supervised Release: 5 years
TICAN was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to import marijuana and conspiracy to export cocaine.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In February of 2006, Terry Holt was stopped by the Montana Highway Patrol for speeding. After arousing the officer's suspicions, Holt agreed to a search of his car. Inside the officer found approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, as well as other drugs. Holt ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment.
Law enforcement agents searched Holt's phone and obtained records for it. On the phone they found a number of saved text messages, as well other numbers, many originating in Canada. U.S. authorities contacted Canadian authorities, and the two countries began cooperating in an investigation of those Holt had contacted. The text messages indicated Holt was in contact with the pilot of an aircraft before he was stopped in the United States. Authorities learned that TICAN was the pilot, and from TICAN'S phone - including its text messages - learned that Graham Owen and another individual were involved with TICAN in some capacity.
Law enforcement agents in Canada set up surveillance of all three, and remained in contact with law enforcement agents in the United States. On a number of occasions, Canadian authorities observed TICAN board Owen's plane and fly toward the United States. They notified law enforcement agents in the United States, who made attempts to track the plane. On at least one of the flights officers were able to follow one of the loads that was dropped off and stopped the vehicle. A search revealed the vehicle to be loaded with what was later tested and found to be marijuana.
When questioned, Owen confirmed that TICAN had piloted loads of marijuana to the United States for Owen, and cocaine back to Canada for another individual.
Owen pled guilty to federal charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that TICAN will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, TICAN does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Van de Wetering prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Highway Patrol, the Calgary Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana National Guard.
