A Canadian national has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for his involvement in a transnational drug trafficking organization, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jack Kasjaniuk, 35, who lived illegally in the Heights area of Houston, pleaded guilty on May 27. U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt ordered Kasjaniuk to serve 135 months in federal prison. During the sentencing hearing, additional evidence was presented that detailed Kasjaniuk’s role as an operator of a waypoint for hundreds of kilograms of cocaine moving from Mexico and South America with Canada as the final destination.
"Kasjaniuk came to the United States for the express purpose of receiving the shipments of cocaine, repackaging them and sending them on to the drug trafficking organization in Canada," according to information presented at trial. He managed this distribution point in Houston's Heights neighborhood for about two years.
Investigators found that during one three-month period alone, Kasjaniuk handled at least 620 kilograms of cocaine for the organization.
As he is not a U.S. citizen, Kasjaniuk is expected to face removal proceedings after serving his sentence. He remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with support from the Houston Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet prosecuted the case.
