In 2011, Avik Caron stole over 3,000 tons of maple syrup from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. He carried out the robbery over the course of one year, stealing $18.7 million worth of maple syrup and landing himself in a very sticky situation.
On Friday, he was sentenced to a five-year prison term and a fine of $1.2 million.
When he heard his sentence, Caron became outraged and had to be restrained, according to Le Nouvelliste. He said that he had been misadvised by his defence attorney to plead guilty, and demanded a trial. Court Judge Jacques Lacoursière denied the request, noting that the theft effected 10,000 maple syrup producers who depend on the federation to store and sell their product.
Caron’s accomplices, including Richard Vallières who sold the stolen syrup outside of Quebec, will be sentenced on April 27th.
As the world’s largest producer of maple syrup, Quebec has seen quite a few of these maple syrup heists, but none with this price tag. They don’t call it “liquid gold” for nothing!