Reputed ringleader in $18.7M maple syrup heist found guilty

A man described as one of the ringleaders in the 2012theft of$18.7-million worth of maplesyrup has been found guilty by a jury inTrois-Rivires, Que.

The Great Maple Syrup Robbery made headlines around the world four years ago. The elaborate caper saw 3,000tonnesof syrup go missing froma warehouse belonging to the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers the regulatory body that controls andmanages the syrup trade.

The heist was only discovered when a routine inventory check in July 2012 turned up an empty barrel that was supposed to befull of syrup. Officials with the federation quickly realized that dozens of its barrels contained not the sweet stuff, but water.

The resulting investigation by Quebec provincial police led to the arrests of 26 people.

On Saturday, RichardVallires was found guilty of theft,fraud and trafficking stolen goods. During his trial in Quebec Superior Court, he said that he had filled the barrels with water.

But he also insisted that he hadn't wanted to. He testified that he was forced to buy syrup stolen from the federation, and replace it with water, by a man who carried a gun.

Vallires said the man told him, "I know where you live." Valliresalso said the man led himto believe he had links to the Mafia.

But witnesses called by the Crown painted him as one of the ringleaders of the heist.

• Alleged ringleader in $18.7M maple syrup theft testifies he faced death threats

The New Brunswick Connection

Vallireswas standing trial along with father,RaymondVallires, andtienneSt-Pierre, a maplesyrup buyer fromKedgwick, N.B.

According to evidence presented by the Crown,Valliressold the stolen syrup toSt-Pierre. The syrup was then re-branded and made to appear as if it wasfrom New Brunswick, not Quebec.

"You can't prove what tree the syrup came from," St-Pierre told the jury.

St-Pierre also admitted he had long been an opponent of theFederation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, and resented their control of the market.

The Crown produced evidence suggesting St-Pierre considered the federation to be akin to the Mafia.

• Maple syrup worth up to $30M stolen in Quebec

Dealing withValliresallowed him to get his hands on syrup, without having to go through the federation.

Vallirestold the court that, in the industry, he's known as a"barrel roller," someone who buys and sells syrup directly from producers in Quebec, bypassing the federation.

St-Pierrewas found guilty Saturdayof fraud andtrafficking stolen goods.RaymondVallireswas found guilty of possession of stolen goods and of fraud with the intention to traffic.

A fourth man,Jean Lord, was acquittedon charges ofpossession of stolen goods andfraud with intention to traffic.

"The Crown is very satisfied withthe verdicts, given the amount and force of the evidence against the accused,"JulienBeauchamp-Lalibert, the leadCrown prosecutor for the case, told CBC News.

Sentencing arguments arescheduledfor Jan. 27.

Of the 26 people arrested in connection to the heist, some pleaded guilty, charges were dropped against others, and more trials are coming.

Another five accused will stand trial in January.