Canadian sentenced for selling encrypted phones to criminals
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A Canadian man who sold encrypted Blackberry smartphones to criminals worldwide has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
The San Diego Union-Tribune says Vincent Ramos was sentenced Tuesday in San Diego for helping clients including the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico and Hells Angels in Australia.
Prosecutors say another client was a global drug-trafficking organization run by former University of Southern California football player Owen Hanson.
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Authorities say it's the first conviction of its kind in the U.S.
The phones sent encrypted text messages through a closed network based in Hong Kong and Panama.
Ramos, who lives in the Vancouver area, made millions. He pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy. In a letter, Ramos told the judge he turned a blind eye to the drug trade's use of his phones.