Clayton Roueche, leader of the notoriously violent United Nations Gang, which has figured in much of the deadly gun play on Vancouver-area streets

Clayton Roueche, leader of the notoriously violent United Nations Gang, which has figured in much of the deadly gun play on Vancouver-area streets this year, faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.But U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan, chief prosecutor for western Washington, indicated he'll ask for much more and demand Roueche serve all of his time in a U.S. federal penitentiary instead of being transferred to a Canadian prison.Roueche, who appeared Tuesday before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik, accepted a plea agreement, admitting he conspired to import more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana into the United States and bring more than five kilos of cocaine into Canada from 2005 until his arrest last year.The 33-year-old also pleaded guilty to laundering money from the drug sales. Two lesser counts were dropped.The charges stem from an investigation called Operation Frozen Timber, which uncovered the smuggling of tonnes of marijuana into the Washington state using small planes and helicopters.U.S. agents arrested 40 people in 2006 and seized more than three tonnes of pot and 360 kilos of cocaine, three aircraft and US$1.5 million in cash.
Roueche's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18.The two drug convictions carry sentences of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to US$4 million. The money-laundering charge carries a 20-year maximum and fines ranging from US$250,000 up to twice the amount of the laundered money.Under U.S. rules, Roueche would have to serve at least 85 per cent of his prison term before being eligible for parole.Canadians convicted in U.S. courts are eligible to serve their time in Canadian prisons - and be released sooner - under a bilateral treaty."We have made it clear to Mr. Roueche and his attorney that we will vigorously oppose a treaty transfer," said Sullivan. "It's my position that he do his sentence in America and not be returned to Canada to complete his sentence."Todd Maybrown, Roueche's lawyer, said that won't be up to the judge who will sentence Roueche.That decision is made jointly by the U.S. State Department and Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, he said.Maybrown wouldn't comment on the plea deal, nor how Roueche is facing the prospect of prison."He's fine," Maybrown said.Sullivan said Roueche likely will get some consideration for agreeing to plead guilty but the prosecution believes the guideline is 30 years to life in prison."We believe that his role as the leader of the UN Gang and the fact that this is a violent criminal organization is important to the court in deciding what an appropriate sentence is," said SullivanCanadian investigators played no significant role in assembling the U.S. case against Roueche but evidence of his organized-crime activities here will play a part in sentencing, said Supt. Pat Fogarty of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.Police in the Vancouver region say the UN Gang has been in a deadly war with the Red Scorpions that they believe is linked to many of the 21 confirmed shooting deaths so far this year.Police say they have arrested some of the top gang leaders of both the UN Gang - so named because it's not limited to any one ethnic group - and the Red Scorpions in a series of recent arrests.Roueche, a founder of the UN Gang 12 years ago, avoided entering the United States for fear of arrest.But last May he decided to attend a wedding in Mexico, where authorities refused him entry at the request of Canadian and U.S. police.Roueche was put on a plane back to Canada that landed first in Dallas, Texas, where U.S. authorities were waiting to arrest him based on a then-sealed indictment.Sullivan said that while Roueche's conviction is a major blow to the UN Gang and the Pacific Coast drug trade, it's unrealistic to believe trafficking will be impaired for long."To the extent that we can disrupt and dismantle that drug organization, I think it'll slow it down," he said. "Unfortunately there's so much money involved in drug trafficking, we slow it but we don't seriously disrupt it."