A Chicago man was sentenced after pleading guilty for conspiracy to transport hazardous materials, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General announced. Lawrence Gonsalves was sentenced Dec. 9 in U.S. District Court in Chicago to 36 months probation and fined $3,500 stemming from his July 18 guilty plea, according to DOT-OIG.
In early 2006, Gonsalves was contacted by an associate to purchase 30 pounds of cyanide as well as other illicit items, DOT-OIG said; Gonsalves asked a supplier to purchase the cyanide and transport it to Chicago, and all labels were removed from the cyanide containers prior to being transported in the back of an unplacarded van without any shipping papers.
Gonsalves also paid a portion of $2,000 for transportation of the cyanide, according to DOT-OIG, which conducted its investigation jointly with the Drug Enforcement Agency.
