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Man who smuggled gold in rectum from Canadian mint gets jail time, fine

Report: Man stole 22 solid gold 'pucks'
Posted 6:55 PM, Feb 02, 2017
and last updated 11:46 AM, Feb 03, 2017

The phrase "sitting on a gold mine" has never been taken so literally.

Leston Lawrence, a 35-year-old former employee of the Royal Canadian Mint, was ordered to serve more than 2 years in prison and pay a $190,000 fine for a gold-smuggling scheme.

According to CBC, Lawrence stole 22 solid gold pieces from the mint by smuggling them in his rectum. The gold "pucks," as CBC referred to them, weighed about a half-pound each.

 

 

Lawrence successfully sold 17 of the gold pieces, making about $130,000, according to CBC. His plan went down the toilet in November 2016, when police seized the 18th gold piece he was attempting to sell.

Clint Davis covers entertainment and trending news topics for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.