Woman caught dealing fentanyl gets penitentiary term

A local woman has been imprisoned for three years for "very serious" drug offences, involving fentanyl, crystal meth and cocaine.

Cynthia Jones, 40, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in August and was in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom Friday for sentencing.

"The gravity of the offences is significant," Superior Court Justice Annalisa Rasaiah said when she imposed the penitentiary term.

"The harm these types of drugs, especially fentanyl, have caused in our local community has been devastating."

Fentanyl, even small amounts of it, is killing people, the judge said. "This is a public health crisis."

Federal prosecutor Lindsay Marshall called for a three-year sentence during a sentencing hearing in December.

Fentanyl "is an extremely dangerous, highly addictive" drug that is killing people at an alarming rate across the province and even more in this community, she said.

Defence lawyer Ken Walker argued a conditional sentence of two years less a day, to be served in the community, followed by probation, is appropriate.

He told the court Jones, a Garden River First Nation woman, has turned her life around, undergone treatment for her long-time addiction following her arrest, is involved in her culture, and is working full-time.

On Friday, the judge said she is unable to conclude that sentence is within the appropriate range in these circumstances.

"In my assessment, denunciation and deterrence objectives figure most prominently."

Jones's conduct and role in the offences wasn't minimal, Rasaiah said.

She was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking "hard drugs, in not insignificant quantities."

The trafficking included "one of the most serious dangerous drugs, a drug that was destined for vulnerable members of our community which is still struggling and in crisis because of it – a community that has suffered many deaths because of this drug, at a rate much higher than most areas in all of Ontario."

Jones was charged March 3, 2020 when police executed a warrant at her residence after receiving information that she was selling drugs from her home.

Officers seized 17.3 grams of fentanyl, 55.96 grams of cocaine and 17.98 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

As well, they located three digital scales, packaging materials, $730 in cash, cell phones, a tablet and an expandable baton.

In addition to the drug offences, Jones also was convicted of possession of a prohibited weapon (the baton) and possession of the proceeds of crime (the cash) under S5,000.

Rasaiah said her decision wasn't easy to reach.

"I truly admire and respect the steps" you have taken, changes you have made and rehabilitation efforts sustained in the last year, the judge told Jones and her family members, who were in court to support her.

She also noted Jones's "consistent expression of remorse"  and "seemingly enlightened understanding of her actions."

As well, Rasaiah indicated she understands imposing a sentence of more than two years in custody will pull Jones from her current environment.

But based on the unique circumstances of this case and the offender, the judge said she was imposing three years, the lowest end of the three-to-five year range for the offences.

She also imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and ordered Jones to provide a DNA sample.