Lanse Crowder operated as a criminal pirate throughout the Imperial Era.
Crowder, a cunning pirate, specialized in trading valuable historical items and other unusual discoveries. He was perfectly willing to sell forgeries and even use poison against his clients if it allowed him to resell an item for repeated profit.
In approximately 18 BBY, Crowder struck an agreement with the pirate known as Phee Genoa, receiving credits as payment for an artifact he had obtained. Following this transaction, Crowder attempted to kill Genoa, initially by trying to poison her, and subsequently by unleashing a kouhun. Despite his efforts, both attempts were unsuccessful. After a shootout erupted between Crowder's associates and Genoa's protectors, Clone Force 99, Genoa and her allies managed to flee.