Thieves stole $18.7 million worth of Quebec maple syrup in 2012. The barrels left behind held water.
The barrels were supposed to be full of maple syrup. They were full of water. In July 2012, a routine inventory check at a warehouse belonging to the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers turned up an empty barrel, CBC News reported. Officials soon realized that dozens of barrels contained not syrup, but water. About 3,000 tonnes of syrup worth $18.7 million was gone.
Where it happened
The warehouse was in Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec, according to the Supreme Court of Canada. The federation controls the production of maple syrup in the province.
What was taken
- 3,000 tonnes of maple syrup, CBC News reported.
- $18.7 million was its value, according to CBC. The Supreme Court summary puts it at "over $18 million."
- Dozens of barrels had been emptied and refilled with water.
The ringleader
Richard Vallières was found guilty of fraud, trafficking and theft. CBC described him as one of the ringleaders. In April 2017, a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison and fined him more than $9 million.
At trial, the court summary says, he testified that he sold the syrup for $10 million and made a personal profit of about $1 million.
The fine that went to the Supreme Court
The Court of Appeal of Quebec cut the fine to about $1 million, his profit. The Crown appealed, and on March 31, 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada sided with the Crown in a unanimous decision.
- The Criminal Code says the fine must equal the value of stolen property that cannot be returned, the court explained.
- The fine is more than $9 million: the $10 million he sold the syrup for, minus what he owed the federation under a separate court order.
- He has 10 years to pay, or else he must serve six years in prison.
The rule is severe on purpose, the court summary says, because Parliament "wanted to send a clear message that 'crime does not pay.'"
What the sources do not agree on
CBC reported that the investigation led to 26 arrests. The Supreme Court summary says police arrested 16 people. We do not give a single number.
Sources
- CBC News (April 28, 2017): Ringleader in maple syrup heist gets 8 years in prison, $9.4M fine
- CBC News (November 12, 2016): Reputed ringleader in $18.7M maple syrup heist found guilty
- Supreme Court of Canada, Case in Brief: R. v. Vallières, 2022 SCC 10
