A man who was at the highest echelons of our justice system has been arrested on drug and weapons charges following an RCMP investigation that involved the International Mail Processing Centre in Mississauga, border agents and a house in St. John’s.
The RCMP’s Atlantic Serious and Organized Crime unit says a package from an international shipper destined for St. John’s was intercepted in Mississauga. Police say the package, which contained a device prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada, was being sent to 38-year-old Lee Ballett of St. John’s.
(RCMP)
Police raided his home and found firearms, prohibited devices, knife-like weapons, brass knuckles and drugs.
Ballett faces numerous charges, including smuggling.
The suspect was working as a Crown prosecutor in St. John’s up until last fall. He has since been suspended by the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Ballett faces the following charges:
• Unauthorized Importing or Exporting (Criminal Code)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Device – two counts (Criminal Code)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon – five counts (Criminal Code)
• Possession of a Substance – Schedule III (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act)
• Keeping, Acquiring or Disposing of Goods Illegally Imported (Customs Act)
• Smuggling into Canada (Customs Act)
