ALBANY, NEW YORK - Abraham C. Lazore, age 37, of Hogansburg, New York, was sentenced today to serve 16 months in prison for his obstruction of a vessel boarding.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
As part of his guilty plea, Lazore admitted that on Sept. 3, 2016, as Border Patrol Marine Unit agents were attempting to board his vessel for an inspection, he engaged the throttle of his boat while a bowline from his boat became wrapped around an agent’s arm, which could have dragged that agent overboard. Another agent was able to stop Lazore from driving away, and no one was injured.
“You could’ve killed one or more federal agents. I take it seriously when federal agents are exposed to this conduct," U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino told Lazore before issuing the sentence, which also included 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release.
Agents stopped Lazore because they had observed him enter U.S. waters from Canada on the St. Lawrence River at approximately 12:25 a.m. without any navigation lights.
This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
