Canadian Man Pleads Guilty For His Role In International Marijuana Conspiracy

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Ranjodh Singh, 22, of Canada, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Misha A. Coulson, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant conspired with others, with others, including Amanpreet Gill, to distribute marijuana. In December 2020, Singh’s co-conspirators purchased and arranged for a shipment of marijuana from Canada to be delivered to Smartway Associates in Somerset, NJ. Unbeknownst to the defendant and his co-conspirators, on December 1, 2020, the shipment was intercepted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Peace Bridge Cargo Facility and was searched. Contained within the shipment was a large quantity of marijuana packaged in vacuum sealed bags.

Subsequently, investigators conducted a controlled delivery operation. A silver vehicle, driven by Singh, was observed following the shipment of marijuana and was observed at the two warehouses where the shipment was temporarily stored. After the shipment of marijuana reached its final destination and law enforcement secured the warehouse, the defendant arrived at the warehouse. Investigators seized a cell phone from the defendant which contained videos showing him identifying law enforcement personnel while he was driving around the warehouses.

Charges remain pending against defendant Gill. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti; and the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas E. Krantz.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.