Sentencing decision following jury convictions for conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and two proceeds-of-crime counts arising from a large-scale wiretap investigation.
The court found the offender occupied a relatively high position in the cocaine distribution hierarchy, had trafficked at least 4.5 kilograms over a short period, and possessed substantial quantities of cocaine and nearly $41,000 in cash.
Although the offender had positive rehabilitative features, family support, remorse, and a gambling addiction said to motivate the offences, denunciation and deterrence predominated.
An eight-year global sentence was imposed, reduced by credit for pre-trial custody and restrictive bail conditions to a net effective sentence of seven years.
