The accused, a 39-year-old American citizen with no prior criminal record, was convicted by a jury of importing approximately 4.5 kilograms of cocaine into Canada.
The court considered the aggravating factor of the large quantity of cocaine and mitigating factors including the accused's background of poverty and systemic anti-Black racism, as well as harsh pre-trial custody conditions.
The court rejected the defence argument that the accused's status as a foreign national who would likely face a removal order and be ineligible for day parole warranted a sentence below the established range.
The accused was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment, less credit for pre-sentence custody.
