Press Release
BOAT CAPTAIN SENTENCED FOR MASSIVE DRUG CONSPIRACY
March 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced that defendant John Thomas Bolen of Palm Bay, Florida was sentenced on March 5, 2007 by United States District Court Judge K. Michael Moore to life imprisonment.
On November 2, 2006, a Ft. Pierce Grand Jury returned a Second Superseding Indictment charging Bolen with conspiracy to import over five kilograms of cocaine, importation of over five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952(a), 960(a)(1), 960(b)(1), 841(a)(1), 963, and 846.
During the course of the conspiracy which began in June 2004, Bolen was responsible for importing nearly a half ton of cocaine from the Bahamas into the United States. Bolen, a boat captain, imported two loads of cocaine in 2004. He later allowed his vessel to be used for additional importations. On July 28, 2006, Bolen's vessel was encountered by the United States Coast Guard during a routine inspection. The two Bahamians on board the vessel were found to be in possession of 164 kilograms of cocaine, the largest drug seizure on the Treasure Coast in nearly fifteen years. Although Bolen was not on board the vessel, evidence developed indicated that Bolen hired the two Bahamians to import the cocaine into the United States. In December 2006, a Ft. Pierce jury found Bolen guilty as charged on all counts.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rinku Talwar.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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