A LaSalle mother of three is going to jail for two years less one day for smuggling guns into Canada.
Prior to being sentenced, 38-year-old Michelle Downey, through tears, begged the judge to allow her to serve her sentence at home but Justice Scott Campbell felt a term of house arrest was not appropriate.
In April 2013, Downey was referred to secondary inspection at the Ambassador Bridge where Canada Border Services Agency officers found three loaded guns, magazines and ammunition in garbage bags behind the glove box of her vehicle.
After being sentenced, Downey began to cry along with her children who were in court.
As she was led away, she turned to them and said "I love you guys."
The court heard she committed the crime for financial gain.
Assistant Crown Brian Manarin had asked for three to four years in prison and admits hearing Downey beg for a house arrest was tough.
"It is awful," he said. "I mean I don't take any pleasure in that, she is a person who otherwise for her worst day of her life making the worst decision of her life is probably living a pro social life style."
Defence lawyer Pat Ducharme says Downey is having a tough time. "She is emotionally upset mainly about her children, she wants to be with her children."
Justice Campbell said smuggling these weapons undermines the safety of the community and the guns were "loaded and ready to go"
Downey claimed she thought she was bringing in cash.
She was found guilty of 22 counts of smuggling-related offences but some of those offences were stayed.