Accused cocaine trafficker targeted by major N.S. RCMP investigation found guilty
A man from the Halifax area, Gary (Boo) Boudreau, has been convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering, and possession of proceeds of crime charges after a lengthy RCMP surveillance operation. Boudreau, along with 13 others, was arrested as part of a major police investigation that involved covert surveillance, wiretapping, and financial record reviews.
During the trial, evidence revealed that Boudreau used money gained from cocaine and illicit cannabis trafficking to build a luxurious lakeside home with amenities such as an in-ground pool and a kitchen with expensive stone finishes. The prosecution detailed how Boudreau used nominees, including his elderly grandfather and girlfriend, to make purchases and hide his illicit gains.
One striking instance involved a listening probe in Boudreau’s car recording a conversation about hiring workers for an illegal cannabis grow-op, while another saw officers seizing cash, including money found in a Louis Vuitton handbag in his kitchen. The prosecution argued that Boudreau’s legitimate income from his drywalling and insulation company could not account for his lavish lifestyle and unexplained expenses.
Despite being acquitted of organized crime charges, Boudreau was found guilty of cocaine-related trafficking charges, firearms charges, money laundering, and possession of proceeds of crime. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cannabis and is set to be sentenced in January. The prosecution may seek the forfeiture of his lakeside home and boat.
Several others involved in the case have been convicted, including Cameron Mombourquette, who led police on a high-speed chase before being apprehended. Mombourquette, who has since turned his life around and become an electrician, was sentenced to 3½ years in prison for drug, gun, and proceeds of crime offences.
The intricate details of the investigation, the elaborate scheme of money laundering, and the luxury lifestyle built on crime proceeds make Boudreau’s case a compelling narrative of criminal activity and its consequences.
