Story Archive

Sitting on a Goldmine

Leston Lawrence worked for the Royal Canadian Mint in the capital city of Ottawa, and smuggled out 22 solid gold “pucks” weighing 192 to 264 grams (6.8 to 9.3 oz) each, investigators say. He “laundered” 17 of them before being caught, netting him about C$130,000 (US$99,338), a significant discount from their C$190,000 value. And “laundered” is the right word: he smuggled them out of the mint in his rectum, investigators say. Lawrence has been found guilty of possession of property obtained by crime, conveying gold out of the mint, and breach of trust by a public official. His lawyer argued for a lenient sentence, saying “lax security measures” made the crime too easy — and after all, he’s been fired. The judge in that case didn’t buy it: he sentenced Lawrence to 30 months in prison, plus an additional 30 months if he doesn’t pay a C$190,000 fine within three years after his release from prison. The judge: Ontario Court Justice Peter Doody. (RC/CBC) ...It’s a dirty job, but someone had to do it.