August 28, 2007

RONALD TARNOWSKI SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING $134,900 INTO CANADA

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Ronald Tarnowski, 62, of Mansonville, Quebec, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to time served following his guilty plea to a charge that he made false statements to federal law enforcement officials. Chief Judge William K. Sessions III ordered that Tarnowski serve two years of supervised release once he is released from prison. Tarnowski has been incarcerated on this case and a related matter in New Jersey since October 2005.

On October 13, 2005, a federal grand jury in Burlington returned a two-count indictment charging Tarnowski with money laundering and making false statements to agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. According to the indictment, on July 8, 2004, Tarnowski transported about $134,900 in U.S. currency and about $4000 in Canadian currency from Vermont into Canada. The currency was seized by Canadian law enforcement authorities who stopped Tarnowski after he entered Canada via a back road. The indictment alleged that Tarnowski moved the money with the intention of promoting drug-dealing. The indictment further alleged that on July 26, 2004, Tarnowski lied to federal agents when questioned about the circumstances of his taking the money into Canada.

Tarnowski was arrested in New Jersey in October 2005 on a state marijuana possession charge and is awaiting sentencing following his guilty plea in state court. He was taken into federal custody in September 2006.

Tarnowski is represented by Maryanne Kampmann. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.