PROCEEDS OF CRIME CASE HEADING TO TRIAL

COUNTY - Some details emerged last week surrounding allegations that a
Blockhouse man made more than $127,000 from illegal drug activity.

Brian Gregory Langille was back in a Bridgewater courtroom June 15 for
a preliminary hearing on proceeds of crime charges.

Federal prosecutor Josh Bryson began by withdrawing one of the
allegations involving $136,361.93, but told the court he was
proceeding with the other two charges. Those allege that Mr. Langille
had $127,033.99 obtained by crime and that he concealed his ill-gotten
gains between January 2002 and the end of February 2007.

That's when Mounties descended on Mr. Langille's property on the
Northwest Road and used a 26-foot rental truck to remove electronics,
tools, sporting goods and household items.

Mounties also seized a large quantity of marijuana, $10,000 worth of
cocaine, cash and firearms.

In November 2007, Mr. Langille was sentenced to serve 34 months after
pleading guilty to six trafficking and weapons charges. He is
currently on parole and living in a halfway house in the Halifax area.

The 62 year old sat quietly in court last Monday following along as
the forensic accountant who probed his financials explained his report.

Hugh Avery is a certified anti-money-laundering specialist and holds a
diploma in forensic accounting. He testified that he studied Mr.
Langille's finances in 2007, comparing known sources of income and how
much money he used.

He discovered that Mr. Langille's total income from known sources over
the five years was about $1,131,000 from an Aliant pension and various
investments. However, his spending was about $1,258,000, leaving a
difference of $127,000 and change.

Mr. Avery said he also found it unusual that Mr. Langille made so many
deposits, both at banks and ATM machines, when most of his known
income sources were deposited directly into his accounts. The forensic
accountant noted 783 deposits made by Mr. Langille over the five years.

"That seems a bit excessive," he testified. "It seems very odd that
you would make that number of deposits."

He was unable to trace much of Mr. Langille's spending, since many
transactions were paid for by credit card or line of credit. However,
he testified he gave the Blockhouse man the benefit of the doubt for
$136,000 in cash withdrawals which he couldn't track.

Under cross-examination, defence lawyer Alan Ferrier offered a number
of financial scenarios and questioned how they might impact Mr.
Avery's report. He suggested his client may have been receiving
regular monetary gifts from his father which would reduce the amount
of unknown income.

Mr. Ferrier also suggested his client repaired cars for people at his
home, did snow removal and property maintenance work, cashed
paycheques for other people, loaned friends money and frequently
bought liquor for young people.

Over the course of the five years, Mr. Langille made more than 900
credit card purchases at the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission totalling
almost $32,000. Mr. Ferrier suggested his client doesn't drink, but
instead helped people out by buying for them.

At the end of the hearing, following a recess, Mr. Ferrier opted to
re-elect Mr. Langille's method of trial and keep the case before the
provincial court. He had previously opted for trial by a Supreme Court
judge.

He entered not guilty pleas, but asked Judge Anne Crawford to adjourn
the case until July 8 so he and Mr. Bryson can determine how much
trial time will be needed.

Mr. Ferrier said the trial will likely take between two and three
weeks. As many as 13 Crown witnesses could testify, he indicated,
along with "a number" for the defence.