Joseph Pauze faces six years behind bars in a federal penitentiary for trafficking an "incredibly dangerous drug" that is having "a powerful and tragic impact" on communities.
Superior Court Justice Michael Varpio sentenced the 68-year-old local man to the prison term Wednesday, citing the need to send a clear message to people who traffic in fentanyl.
"Nothing short of a meaningful penitentiary sentence would be adequate in the circumstances," he said.
"Sault Ste. Marie is in the midst of an opioid crisis" and "the courts in this community are filled with cases involving fentanyl."
Pauze was convicted of possession of just over 20 grams of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking in September, and later simple possession of crystal methamphetamine.
Federal prosecutor Ben Pritchard had been seeking a federal penitentiary term of imprisonment in the four-to-eight year range for the fentanyl offence, and a further three-to-six-months consecutive for the crystal meth conviction.
Defence lawyer Ken Walker had called for a conditional sentence (house arrest) of two years less a day, which his client would serve in the community.
On Wednesday, when he imposed the prison time, the judge noted Pauze is in poor health, uses crystal meth, has had a leg amputated and clearly suffers from medical issues associated with his lifestyle.
He also has a lengthy criminal record, including eight convictions for simple possession of illegal substances, three possession for the purpose of trafficking offences, and a single count of production of banned substances.
Pauze's longest jail term was eight months in 2012.
His record then shows a 10-year gap until 2022 when he received a 60-day conditional sentence for assault causing bodily harm.
"It is abundantly clear that Mr. Pauze has been involved in the criminal and drug subcultures for some time," Varpio said in his seven-page written decision.
"His personal and health problems must be fuelled by his own addictions."
The quantity of fentanyl (20-odd grams) seized doesn't appear to constitute "street-level" trafficking, since Pauze conceded at his trial it was worth "big bucks."
Varpio concluded the accused was involved in a higher level of trafficking.
Whether he was a drug mule or performed some other function, the judge said he can only speculate about Pauze's role, and the actual level of trafficking, since he heard no expert evidence about where this amount of fentanyl fits in the illegal drug trade.
Referring to submissions made by the defence, he agreed with Walker that there are mitigating factors, but found "they are not particularly powerful considerations."
This isn't a case where the person is young, has no -- or even a shortish -- criminal record, makes an error and is being sentenced for the first time.
"This is the case of a veteran, albeit sympathetic offender, who is caught for offences similar to those that have brought him to court in the past," Varpio said.
"Rehabilitation is not a realistic consideration."
In addition to the six-year term for the fentanyl offence, he imposed a six-month concurrent sentence for the possession of methamphetamine charge.
Pauze also received a lifetime weapons prohibition and must provide a DNA sample for the national database.