Two Canadian citizens face life sentences after they were convicted at trial in federal court Wednesday in conspiracies involving tons of marijuana based in Cornwall, Ont. and smuggled onto the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation.

Michael C. Woods and Gaetan Dinelle were convicted of multiple federal felony drug charges following a six day jury trial, in which they were found guilty of membership in three separate but related conspiracies, each involving 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana destined for the United States.

The jury also found both defendants guilty of being leaders of a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE), an ongoing, structured organization distributing marijuana over a period of years generating substantial income.

The evidence at trial showed that Woods, assisted by Dinelle, ran the operation from Cornwall from at least 2005 until 2008. During the trial, 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, where it was temporarily stored at various locations in Northern New York on the Akwasasne Mohawk Indian Reservation. From there the marijuana was driven by couriers who were selected and supervised by Woods and Dinelle to buyers throughout the Eastern United States.

Between 2006 and February 2008, law enforcement seized approximately $2,000,000 in currency that was marijuana proceeds and approximately 400 kilograms of marijuana from couriers working for Woods and Dinelle, according to a press release from the office of United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.

Evidence during the trial included law enforcement estimates that the Woods organization distributed over 22,000 pounds of high-grade marijuana with gross wholesale receipts of $47,300,000 during the life of the conspiracy.

As a result of the CCE convictions, Woods and Dinelle each face the possibility of mandatory life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8 in Syracuse.