Drug dealer from Charlottetown gets four-year prison sentence
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Charlottetown man who mentioned he received again into drug dealing as a result of he did not have the funds for saved for retirement has been sentenced to 4 years in federal jail.
The offender – Boyd J. MacKay, 62 – defined in P.E.I. Supreme Court docket on April 11 that he realized just a few years in the past that he did not have a lot by way of a pension.
“I might presumably stay for one more 20 to 30 years, which drove me to need extra money for extra safety,” mentioned MacKay.
MacKay beforehand pleaded responsible to a few fees of drug possession for trafficking functions – two involving hydromorphone and the opposite cost involving cocaine.
Federal Crown lawyer Scott Millar requested the four-year sentence that was imposed by Justice John Mitchell. MacKay requested a shorter sentence of not more than three years.
With credit score for time already served in pre-sentence custody, that request would have allowed MacKay to serve his sentence on the provincial jail.
MacKay added that if federal time was going to be imposed, he needed 41 months.
MacKay has 48 prison convictions since 1997, together with 9 prior drug convictions. In P.E.I. provincial courtroom in 2012, MacKay was sentenced to 41 months in jail for drug possession for trafficking functions.
Moreover promoting medication, MacKay was working as a meals supply driver on the time of the offences.
He mentioned he bumped into monetary difficulties because of a nasty funding, enjoying on-line poker and playing on sports activities. Shedding cash was how his need, and “greed,” to amass extra money developed, he mentioned.
“Promoting medication turned an dependancy for me. The simple cash and the approach to life was very interesting for me. As I later realized, that way of life comes at a really excessive price,” mentioned MacKay.
Three drug offences
Based on an agreed assertion of details, MacKay and co-accused Kelly Marie Leclair, 43, have been arrested throughout a visitors cease for the primary drug offence involving cocaine on July 14, 2021.
MacKay’s driver’s licence was suspended, so Leclair drove the pair round in his car.
Police searched MacKay’s car and residential, and seized 23 hydromorphone capsules, 9.95 grams of cocaine divided into 12 small luggage, $13,620 in money, two digital scales and rating sheets. MacKay was launched from police custody on an enterprise.
MacKay’s driver’s licence was not suspended when he was arrested and charged with possessing 42 hydromorphone capsules for trafficking functions on Aug. 17, 2021.
This time, he was driving Leclair’s car.
MacKay had a present trigger listening to in provincial courtroom and was launched on situations.
However whereas he was launched from custody, MacKay was arrested and charged for a 3rd drug offence on Could 17, 2022.
On that date, MacKay was a passenger in Leclair’s car when police discovered objects associated to drug trafficking and unidentified capsules.
Police additionally searched MacKay’s house and located 46 hydromorphone capsules and one crushed hydromorphone capsule taped behind a household picture in MacKay’s bed room.
MacKay’s cell telephones have been analyzed after every arrest and textual content messages with prospects confirmed that he was concerned in drug dealing.
Leclair sat at the back of the courtroom at MacKay’s sentencing to listen to the drug cost towards her from July 14, 2021, withdrawn by Millar. MacKay apologized in courtroom for promoting medication to individuals and the injury he prompted locally.
Freeman of the land
As the fees proceeded in courtroom, MacKay and Leclair adopted a “freeman of the land” place and refused to enter pleas or elections.
The courtroom entered not responsible pleas on their behalf and elections to P.E.I. Supreme Court docket so the issues might transfer ahead.
The pair additionally filed an utility in P.E.I. Supreme Court docket difficult the legitimacy and standing of the federal Crown to prosecute the issues. Nevertheless, on April 21, 2022, the courtroom dismissed their utility.
At sentencing, MacKay defined that he acquired some unhealthy recommendation about beating the fees from a freeman of the land activist he is aware of.
Along with custody, MacKay was additionally sentenced to a weapons ban and ordered to supply a pattern of his DNA to authorities.
MacKay was given just below 17 months (or 504 days) of enhanced credit score for time already served.
