SYRACUSE -- A Cornwall, Ont. man was sentenced to life imprisonment in federal court Thursday following his conviction on charges of running what authorities called “a vast international marijuana operation” from Cornwall, just across the border from Massena.

The organization run by Michael C. “Mickey” Woods is alleged to have made more than $10 million in a single year smuggling pot into the U.S. for distribution in the Eastern U.S.

Between 2006 and February 2008, law enforcement officers seized approximately $2 million dollars in currency representing proceeds of marijuana trafficking and approximately 400 kilograms -- nearly 1,000 pounds -- of marijuana from couriers working for Woods and Dinelle. Evidence during the trial included law enforcement estimates that the Woods organization distributed more than 22,000 pounds of high-grade marijuana with gross wholesale receipts of $47.3 million, according to the sentencing announcement from federal court in Syracuse.

Woods and co-defendant Gaetan Dinelle were convicted following a six-day jury trial in July 2015, which was presided over by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue. Mordue is scheduled to sentence Dinelle Jan. 21.

According to the court statement, the evidence at trial proved that Woods, assisted by Dinelle, operated from about 2005 until 2008. Witnesses testified that Woods procured large quantities of marijuana from his sources in Canada, and with Dinelle, arranged for it to be smuggled across the border into the United States. Couriers selected and supervised by Woods and Dinelle delivered the marijuana to buyers throughout the Eastern United States.

The prosecution of Woods, which began with an indictment in November 2008, involved the extradition of 15 people from Canada, including Woods and Dinelle, in one of the largest uses of the extradition treaty between the two countries in a single case.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl G. Eurenius. The announcement credited the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs Acting Associate Director, Lisa Roberts, and former International Affairs Specialist Benjamin Kurland, with providing significant assistance during the extradition stage of the prosecution.