Gregory Matthew Corriveau

The offender, an airport baggage handler, was found guilty by a jury of importing and possessing for the purpose of trafficking nine kilograms of cocaine and importing cannabis.

The Crown sought a 10-year sentence due to the significant breach of trust, while the defence sought a conditional sentence or six to seven years, citing the offender's experience of anti-Black racism and collateral immigration consequences.

The court found that the offender's status as a 'corrupt insider' warranted a sentence above the usual range for couriers.

After weighing the mitigating factors, including the offender's good character and the connection between his offending and anti-Black racism, the court imposed a global sentence of nine years' imprisonment.

The court sentenced Shadrack Oppong-Kyereme for importing 12.2 kilograms of heroin into Canada, contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The sentencing reasons review the circumstances of the offence and the offender, the aggravating and mitigating factors, and the applicable sentencing principles.

The court considered the impact of systemic anti-Black racism on the offender’s moral responsibility, but found only a modest reduction in culpability.

After reviewing comparable case law, the court imposed a sentence of 15 years, with ancillary orders including a DNA order, weapons prohibition, and forfeiture.

The defendant, Cassandra Gordon, was sentenced after being found guilty by a jury of importing cocaine from Aruba into Canada.

The offence involved a significant aggravating factor, as the defendant used her twelve-year-old son to help carry the drugs.

The court considered the defendant's highly vulnerable background, which was detailed in an enhanced pre-sentence report and included experiences of childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and systemic anti-Black racism.

Balancing the need for deterrence and denunciation with the principle of rehabilitation, the sentencing judge departed from the standard sentencing range and imposed a sentence of three and a half years of incarceration.

The defendant, Samuel Osei-Tutu, was convicted by a jury of importing cocaine (2.8899 kg) and was before the court for sentencing.

The Crown sought a seven-year sentence, while the defence proposed 4.5 years (net 4 years) due to mitigating factors.

The court considered aggravating factors such as the quantity and commercial nature of the drug, and mitigating factors including the defendant's lack of a criminal record, strong community support, and prospects for rehabilitation.

The court also considered the impact of anti-Black racism on sentencing, as per R. v. Morris.

A sentence of 5.5 years (net 5 years after pre-trial credit) was imposed, along with ancillary orders.

During a jury trial for importing cocaine, the accused raised the defence of duress, testifying she and her son were forced at gunpoint to carry the drugs.

In cross-examination, the Crown suggested an alternate theory that the accused initially agreed to carry the drugs voluntarily but was only coerced when the perpetrators forced her son to participate.

The accused denied this.

The court ruled that the Crown could not advance this alternate theory to the jury, finding it lacked an air of reality and was purely speculative, as there was no direct or circumstantial evidence to support it.