A member of a Canadian-based drug trafficking organization that moved large amounts of narcotics throughout North America was convicted at trial on the afternoon of October 16, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
David Joner, 58, a known trafficker from Fall City, Washington, was found guilty on October 16, 2026, of one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to export cocaine.
Joner was one of 16 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury in 2019 as part of Operation “Dying Declaration,” a joint FBI and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigation which targeted a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) which was based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
According to the indictment, the DTO, which was led by defendant Tenny Guon Lim, a convicted Canadian drug trafficker also known as “The Goat” and “Max Power,” sent multi-kilogram quantities of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as “ecstasy” or “molly,” to the United States in exchange for multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, which was obtained by U.S.-based associates in Mexico. Lim is currently in Canada pending extradition to the U.S. Through the investigation, agents learned that the DTO used encrypted digital devices to communicate.
The cocaine obtained in Mexico was exchanged for MDMA in the Los Angeles area. The cocaine and MDMA were transported between Los Angeles and Canada either directly or through Washington state, with the help of Washington-based associates of the DTO. The DTO transported cocaine and methamphetamine from the Los Angeles area to Canada for resale in exchange for bulk quantities of MDMA or for currency. Joner worked for the Washington cell of the DTO and trafficked numerous multi-kilogram sized loads of cocaine from the Los Angeles area to Canada.
Seven defendants charged in the case have been convicted. Nine defendants are pending prosecution.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the LAPD. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.