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PA TWO ARRESTED AND INDICTED FROM CANADA ON CFC CHARGES
Release Date: 05/05/97
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FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MAY 5, 1997
TWO ARRESTED AND INDICTED FROM CANADA ON CFC CHARGES
Larry Joseph LeBlanc and Ann Marie LeBlanc of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, were arrested in Rockport, Maine, on April 28, after they had entered the United States. They were taken into custody by EPA and other U.S. Customs agents on charges of conspiracy and illegally importing chlorofluorcarbon (CFC) refrigerants into the United States from Canada. Both LeBlancs and Larry LeBlanc's company, City Sales Ltd., also of Fredericton, were subsequently indicted on April 29 on 21 counts of violating the federal Clean Air Act and U.S. Customs laws in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine. According to the indictment, Larry LeBlanc owned and managed City Sales, where Ann LeBlanc was also employed. The LeBlancs and City Sales allegedly shipped 85 tons CFCs, for use in automobile air conditioners, to a number of automotive shops in the United States on eight separate occasions between September 1993 and July 1994. This activity allegedly took place after Environment Canada had determined that City Sales did not possess the required CFC export "consumption allowances" and had prohibited City Sales from exporting CFCs to the United States. CFC's cause depletion of the earth's ozone layer, which protects people from high levels of ultraviolet radiation that can cause cataracts and skin cancer. If convicted on all counts, the LeBlancs could receive maximum of up to 85 years imprisonment and/or fines of up to $5.25 million. If convicted, City Sales could be fined up to $10.5 million. The case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Customs Service and Environment Canada.
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