Chicago Man Sentenced to 3 Years Probation and Fined $3,500 for Transportation of Hazardous Materials
On December 9, 2008, Lawrence Gonsalves was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Chicago, Illinois, to 36 months probation and fined $3,500, stemming from his July 18, 2008, guilty plea of conspiracy to transport hazardous materials. In early 2006, Mr. Gonsalves was contacted by an associate to purchase 30 pounds of cyanide as well as other illicit items. Mr. Gonsalves asked the supplier to purchase the cyanide and transport it to Chicago, Illinois. All labels were removed from the cyanide containers prior to being transported in the back of an unplacarded van without any shipping papers. Mr. Gonsalves also paid a portion of $2,000 for the transportation of the cyanide. Our investigation was conducted jointly with the Drug Enforcement Agency.