BY PAUL CHERRY, GAZETTE CRIME REPORTER JUNE 25, 2014
MONTREAL — A Quebec man who is awaiting his sentence in a case in the U.S. where he pleaded guilty to trafficking in massive amounts of marijuana has support from a pretty heavy hitter.

Jimmy Cournoyer, 34, who has been dubbed The King of Pot by some of the media that have covered his federal case in New York, recently filed his position on his upcoming sentence and it includes a letter of support from UFC champion Georges St-Pierre.

Cournoyer was supposed to be sentenced Friday but the prosecution recently filed for, and was granted, a delay that will push the sentence date back to August. As part of his guilty plea, Cournoyer admitted to taking part in a conspiracy that began in 1998 and continued until his arrest in 2012. During that time, he trafficked in at least 100,000 kilograms of marijuana that was grown in Quebec and smuggled into the U.S. He also dealt in at least 83 kilograms of cocaine and admitted to taking part in money laundering. The prosecution alleged Cournoyer was a well-connected drug dealer who knew several Montreal underworld figures, including Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto (now deceased) and several members of the Matticks clan who have acted as leaders of the West End Gang.

Cournoyer’s lawyer, Gerald McMahon, filed the defence’s position statement recently and asked the judge to sentence him to no more than the 20-year mandatory minimum the case calls for. The prosecution has yet to complete its position statement.

McMahon’s position statement, filed in a U.S. District Court in New York, includes several letters of support from Cournoyer’s family and friends. They describe him as someone whose life was disrupted by his parents’ breakup while he was a teenager. His brother’s letter expresses resentment over what he describes as the media’s exaggerated description of Jimmy Cournoyer’s supposed wealth and celebrity lifestyle in New York before his arrest. The brother asserts that most of Cournoyer’s drug trafficking was done on credit and that he was never “a badass Mafia superhero.”

St-Pierre was reported by New York media as having ties to Cournoyer when his case grabbed attention in the U.S. several months ago. The letter included in the defence’s statement suggests they are close friends.

The letter begins: “My name is Georges St-Pierre, world UFC champion. I am writing this letter regarding my really good friend Jimmy Cournoyer.”

St-Pierre goes on to state that the two first met at a restaurant in 2009 and later travelled together to Ibiza, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, for a couple of days.

“We had the time of our life. Jimmy became like a brother to me. We travelled together, we trained together, we were going to restaurants, clubs and having a lot of fun. Jimmy is a very loyal friend who I respect very much.”

“I’ve never judged Jimmy. Actually, what he was doing (with) his life wasn’t any of my business. We have a very human relationship; we share the same passions, which is sport fitness and martial arts.”

The letter goes on to mention that St-Pierre has visited Cournoyer twice in jail since his arrest.

“His mental toughness will help him go through this very hard ordeal in his life. Jimmy is a very positive and strong person and I am sure he will learn huge lessons about all that. I am giving a lot of support to Jimmy because he deserves it. I told him last time I visited him that when he comes out of jail, I will have a place for him in my surrounding(s),” St-Pierre wrote.

pcherry@montrealgazette.com

© Copyright (c) GAZETTE crime reporter

Chapel Sonnen was released from Fox and the UFC.


Sad day

Seems like if you're a UFC fighter and you do anything remotely wrong then UFC will not have your back.

They ha e to separate themselves from PEDs

I suppose if ever there was a time he would get into pro wrestling it would be now.

Where can I get some PEDs? I need to increase my TPWW performance.

Posting Enhancing Drugs

I've watched maybe 20 seconds of MMA in my life but I wanted to point out that this thread had 59,999 views before I heroically entered it for it's 60,000th view. Good day.

UFC signs Holly Holms

Tim Kennedy believes most UFC fighters are on PEDs

Cat Zingano will return to action in September

So will Cat or Holm be next for Rousey? Zingano has been out too long already she has 0 chance.

I think Cat will be facing another girl in September while Rousey will have surgery on her hand and maybe knee so I think she'll be out for a while. Holly will probably have her first fight against someone other than Rousey and if Zingano wins her fight she'll probably have first crack at Rousey since she won the chance after beating Tate but as you know she got injured and had personal problems.

No way is she ready for Rousey lol. Put her against Zingano

But I think Dana will go all in and make Rousey/Carano December match.

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An interesting cast. I don't like the drama that TUF or any reality show likes to create for the viewing audience but I think I'll watch just to see if any of them are good or have any potential. The UFC women's division doesn't look good if the only thing people talk about is Rousey vs X, Rousey vs Z, Rousey vs etc.

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In other news: War Machine beat the living shit outta Christy Mack and someone else, and is now on the run.

Tito and Jenna and now those two. Porn stars + MMA fighters = Kaboom.

Jon Jones out fight rescheduled until January 3rd

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Official: Jon Jones injured, Daniel Cormier fight moved to Jan. 3.</p>&mdash; Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) <a href="https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/statuses/499314553977860096">August 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Ugh fucks sake

Ridiculous.

Meant to post this in the other thread

A loveable humble monster.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/guibear">@guibear</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/dc_mma">@dc_mma</a> consider challenging <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshLBarnett">@JoshLBarnett</a> for hw title at metamoris?&quot; He would smash me. Not even close match bro</p>&mdash; Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) <a href="https://twitter.com/dc_mma/statuses/499714970569822208">August 14, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Did any wrestler acknowledge Ronda during the show? The Four Horsewomen thing is dumb though since Ronda is the only one who wins.

Eddie Alvarez released from Bellator

http://m.espn.go.com/extra/mma/story...Fr%2Fmma%22%7D

Just Steph who did the four horseman hand sign as she passed them at ringside.

http://giant.gfycat.com/DigitalHeave...canbulldog.gif

Also:

http://giant.gfycat.com/UntidyWiltedIggypops.gif

Nice

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Saw Jones on <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmykimmel">@jimmykimmel</a> clowning me for 4th in the OLYMPICS. This morning I can across this little nugget :) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dummy?src=hash">#dummy</a> <a href="http://t.co/ukWigHeYLj">pic.twitter.com/ukWigHeYLj</a></p>&mdash; Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) <a href="https://twitter.com/dc_mma/statuses/502135235505442817">August 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Cain on TUF Latin America

http://i.imgur.com/PEfzs9P.jpg

Stefan Bonnar signed for Bellator.

:lol:

He was on a pretty good run before he lost to Anderson, dunno why I lold.

I wonder if Zuffa will remove him from the UFC HOF

I was on my way into this thread over the weekend to say 'I think Mitrione is drunk", then he beat the fuck out of that guy

I like Meathead alot. He is crazy and hilarious. Have high hopes for Black Beast but he needs more fights before a step up in comp this big.

Bonnar should have never been in the Hall of Fame.

It was only for the TUF 1 finale, which is the most significant fight in the history of the UFC

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Anyone see Bigfoot get his brain pounded in?

I like Arlovski yelling fuck you at the crowd when they booed him

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Cung Le tests positive for HGH, receives nine-month ban from UFC

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https://38.media.tumblr.com/05a25e43...1rm7o1_400.gif

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Calderwood has a nice accent.

Rose reminds me of a mini Ronda.

I think it's a combination of her voice and the way that she talks that makes the accent so love-able.

Nacho Beristain: 'I don't want to see a 'Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao 5'

I would consider it a shallow victory for Marquez since he lost the first three fights, was losing and could have lost the 4th fight and refused a fifth fight because he was scared of being knocked out and also Manny gave him 3 chances but Marquez won't return the favor.

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MMA Fighter Mayhem Miller Live Tweets His Standoff With Police

http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyM.../OCPD-SWAT.jpg

He is a joke

Hacker claims to have Miesha Tate nudes and selling them for $350.

Saw a Ronda Rousey nip slip today

Mayweather planning to promote MMA due to 'unfair treatment of fighters'

I think UFC fighters are paid well it's just that they have trainers and managers that take a share of that money and that's hard on the lower tier fighters. The total payout of a UFC card is usually 1 million plus and the company takes in a lot more than that per event so I do think they have wiggle room in the fighter budget.

Whaaat

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Lol

http://www.bjpenn.com/video-behind-t...am-must-watch/

https://usatmmajunkie.files.wordpres...een.jpg?w=1000

Dana White costume

Joe Silva is great too

If they find away to rob Jouban here, I'll be livid.

I saw The Man of Tai Chi today, directed by Keanu Reeves. Good movie.

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KP. You post an awful lot for someone who doesent know much about MMA

Clerk, you talk to me like I give a fuck what you have to say

Dont be mad. I can teach you

Good episode of TUF 20 today. And the post show interview between Randa and Carla was the goods.

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Lettus, are you doing 'Kickboxer'?