Canadian man pleads guilty to marijuana smuggling ring

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Canadian man who fought extradition to Iowa for three years has pleaded guilty in federal court to a marijuana trafficking conspiracy charge.

Jason Boyachek, 42, of British Columbia, Canada, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) or more of marijuana from 2005 through May 2007.

During the plea hearing in U.S. District Court on Monday, Boyachek admitted to participating in the marijuana conspiracy, which involved smuggling marijuana from Canada to locations in the United States and then transporting large quantities of currency back to Canada.

The Customs and Border Patrol seized 600 pounds of marijuana hidden in a truck as it entered the United States near Pembina, N.D., on May 14, 2007, according to court documents. The shipment was destined for a rural location in Delaware County, Iowa.

According to extradition documents involving Boyachek, the marijuana investigation spanned three years, and federal authorities arrested 38 people and seized 7,000 pounds of marijuana, 1,300 pounds of cocaine and more than $3.5 million in cash.

Jeff Kopp, a former Marion chiropractor, was involved the ring and convicted in 2008, according to court documents.

Boyachek, charged in 2009, fought extradition from 2010 to 2014. He claimed, according to extradition documents, that Iowa federal prosecutors abused the process, which justified a stay in extradition, according to Canadian court officials.

Boyachek also argued that the main witness in his case recanted his claims against Boyachek, according to the documents. However, Boyachek eventually gave up and surrendered to U.S. authorities in April.

Boyachek faces a mandatory 10 years and up to life in prison and a $4 million fine.