Connect with us

Breaking

Godfather of Grass deported from Canada to face pot charges in the U.S.

Published

on

A man known as the Godfather of Grass, who escaped the grasp of U.S. federal agents almost a decade ago, was deported from Canada on Wednesday and was being held in a Vermont prison pending his return to Kentucky to face marijuana charges. (Photo: Katheirne Hitt/ Flickr)

A man known as the Godfather of Grass, who escaped the grasp of U.S. federal agents almost a decade ago, was deported from Canada on Wednesday and was being held in a Vermont prison pending his return to Kentucky to face marijuana charges. (Photo: Katheirne Hitt/ Flickr)

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A man known as the Godfather of Grass, who escaped the grasp of U.S. federal agents almost a decade ago, was deported from Canada on Wednesday and was being held in a Vermont prison pending his return to Kentucky to face marijuana charges.

John Robert (Johnny) Boone was turned over to U.S. authorities by Canadian officials at the Highgate Springs port of entry. He was then taken to federal court in Burlington, Vt., where he was ordered held until he can be returned to his home state, Deputy U.S. Marshal John Curtis said.

Boone, 73, was convicted in the 1980s and spent a decade in prison for what prosecutors called the ‘‘largest domestic marijuana syndicate in American history.’‘ They said he was the head of the Cornbread Mafia, which had 29 farms in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin.

Eventually, 70 Kentucky residents were charged with growing 165 tonnes of marijuana.

During Boone’s 1988 federal court sentencing hearing, he invoked the hardships of the area where he lived southeast of Louisville, Ky.

‘‘With the poverty at home, marijuana is sometimes one of the things that puts bread on the table,’‘ Boone said. ‘‘We were working with our hands on earth God gave us.’‘

Boone — who was featured on the TV show ‘‘America’s Most Wanted’‘ and sparked a Facebook page called Run, Johnny, Run — has been described as a tattooed Santa Claus. Federal authorities who searched for him said that proved as difficult as ‘‘trying to catch a ghost.’‘

Also known as the King of Pot, he fled to Canada after a 2008 indictment on more federal marijuana charges in Kentucky. He was arrested by Montreal police at a shopping centre days before Christmas.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest

Entertainment6 hours ago

Max Collins, Luis Hontiveros banner “Recipes of Love’’ this Sunday

Max Collins and Luis Hontiveros are set to headline the next story of “Recipes of Love” airing this Sunday (May...

Entertainment6 hours ago

Jessica Soho honored at the Global Filipino Icon Awards

Jessica Soho – widely regarded as the Philippines’ most awarded broadcast journalist – adds another feather in her cap after being...

OpenAI OpenAI
Technology6 hours ago

What OpenAI’s deal with News Corp means for journalism (and for you)

OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, and News Corp, the international media conglomerate, have signed a deal that will let OpenAI...

emergency sign on a hospital emergency sign on a hospital
Health6 hours ago

What is a virtual emergency department? And when should you ‘visit’ one?

For many Australians the emergency department (ED) is the physical and emblematic front door to accessing urgent health-care services. But...

Canada News6 hours ago

U of T issues trespass notice to pro-Palestinian encampment

Demonstrators have now been given until Monday at 8 a.m. to leave As it said it would, the University of...

Business and Economy6 hours ago

Alcohol sales coming to Ontario corner stores by September

Accelerated plan includes $225M payment to The Beer Store from province Ontario is introducing sales of beer, wine and ready-made...

Loblaws supermarket Loblaws supermarket
Business and Economy6 hours ago

Loblaws, Sobeys owners under investigation by Competition Bureau for alleged anticompetitive conduct

Commissioner claims grocery giants’ lease agreements designed to restrict other potential tenants Canada’s Competition Bureau has launched investigations into the...

Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak
News6 hours ago

Why the Conservative MPs standing down at this election are a huge electoral threat to Rishi Sunak

At the last count, 118 MPs have announced they will not contest July’s general election. The vast majority – more...

Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak Former British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak
Business and Economy6 hours ago

What the economic data told Rishi Sunak about the best date for a general election

The announcement of July 4 for the UK general election took many by surprise. A key question is why it...

fighting fighting
Health6 hours ago

Does ‘whining’ really make you happier? A therapist gives his verdict

A problem shared is a problem halved. Research by Age UK shows that only 29% of adults share their worries,...

WordPress Ads