Connecticut pair guilty of selling marijuana

8/21/2003

Two Connecticut men who were arrested in March on the Ohio Turnpike after troopers caught them with marijuana worth an estimated $5 million were convicted yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Harwinder Singh, 27, and Gurbax Singh, 28, both of Danbury, pleaded no contest to trafficking in marijuana. Judge William Skow found the men guilty and scheduled their sentencing for Oct. 2.

Ohio Highway Patrol troopers stopped their eastbound car March 7 on the turnpike near Toledo Express Airport for speeding. Nearly 103 pounds of “B.C. bud” - a type of marijuana cultivated in British Columbia - were found in the trunk of the 2003 Ford Taurus.

David Peterman, an assistant county prosecutor, said Gurbax Singh, who was driving the rented car, told troopers someone had driven them to Flint, Mich., where they rented the car.

The men then drove to Chicago and were returning when they were stopped on the turnpike.

The car was due back in Flint that day.

Troopers became suspicious and used a dog trained to detect drugs to search the car, Mr. Peterman said.

The men were indicted on one count each of possession of marijuana and trafficking.

The possession charges will be dismissed at the sentencing.

They are facing possible five-year prison sentences.

However, Judge Skow could place them on community control.