No one who was arrested in a drug investigation in early 2016 that turned up more than $50,000 in fentanyl, cocaine and ecstasy will be convicted of trafficking the drugs.
An Okotoks man pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to a $2,850 fine in Okotoks court Nov. 18. He will also pay an $840 victim fine surcharge.
Devin Thompson pleaded guilty to possessing 43 grams of cocaine and $1,200 found in a safe in his bedroom.
Thompson was the sole occupant of a Cimarron home when police enacted a search warrant Jan. 15.
Federal Crown prosecutor Nicole Dumarsque said Thompson asked police to retrieve some clothes from his bedroom. In that bedroom the officers found a safe with the cash and $4,000 worth of cocaine.
Defence lawyer Maggie O’Shaughnessy said Thompson’s roommates were to blame.
“He was in with the wrong people in communal living,” she said. No one else was charged in the raid.
O’Shaughnessy said Thompson is 23-years-old and his parents are aware of the charges and are supportive of their son. He also had two letters of reference.
Three counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking were withdrawn. Dumaresque said there were issues with prosecuting the case.
Following the raid on the Cimarron house, the police investigation turned to the Calgary storage locker, where they found $45,000 worth of fentanyl, cocaine and ecstasy. Drug paraphernalia, including a grinder, weigh scales and plastic baggies were also found.
William Prince was charged with three counts of possession of an illegal substance for the purpose of trafficking. Prince killed himself in April and the charges were withdrawn.
