LONG ROAD TO GET TO FINAL OPERATION JACKPOT SENTENCE

MIRAMICHI - Four years after the drug bust that brought down an
elaborate marijuana grow operation in Miramichi, the final court
proceeding wrapped up last week.

On April 19, 2005 policing agencies from across New Brunswick used
search warrants to enter more than a dozen homes and businesses and
uncovered "super" marijuana plants in various states of growth.

The investigation leading up to the takedown involved bugging phones
and homes, businesses and cars. Thousands of wiretap conversations
were recorded and it helped lead to convictions of the major
conspirators.

Sgt. Al Farrah of the Moncton RCMP drug unit said he's pleased with
the results even though the length of the court proceedings were at
times frustrating.

"I'm pleased we dismantled a complex, sophisticated criminal
organization that was operating at a commercial level ... Operation
Jackpot proved to be a shining example of what we could do in
partnership together," he said of the RCMP and Miramichi Police Force
working together on the investigation.

"I'm also pleased with how the prosecution in the case went...It was
an exercise in patience and also in perseverance both on the part of
the police and the Crown. Both sides never lost focus on what we
needed to do. There were some very good decisions made from different
levels of the bench and for us it bodes well for future operations.
The Crown was successful in winning every motion to allow the
[wiretaps to be used in trial]....Jackpot will serve as a good
foundation to build on for future cases of this nature."

Judge Steven M. Hutchinson,who was responsible for sentencing David
Black and his mother Josephine for laundering money earned through the
trafficking, described the crime as a "distasteful" moment in
Miramichi history.

Miramichi Police Force Chief Earle Campbell agreed with those
sentiments, saying although it was a long and expensive endeavour, the
outcome of the investigation was well worth ridding the area of such a
large operation.

"When crime is happening in your community you have to make every
effort to stop the crime. There was a lot of time and effort and
resources that went into this without question - a lot of intelligence
- - but it is worthwhile and the community is safer by doing this. I'm
glad this is over and we can move onto a new chapter."

"On behalf of members of our organization's criminal investigation
division, the drug section deserves a pat on the back for their
efforts. They lived and slept this from the start to the finish."

The following is a look back at the court proceeding and sentences of
some of the major players and most recent to be convicted.

Matt Amos

Matt Amos, 33, formerly of Ste. Marie de Kent was the first to stand
trial. He had originally been charged jointly with Paul Black but was
later tried separately.

Amos was found guilty on four of six charges of conspiracy to traffic
cocaine, ecstasy, oxycodone and methamphetamine, and of producing and
trafficking in marijuana.

Justice McNally sentenced him to six years in Federal
prison.

David Black

David Black was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail, found
guilty on conspiracy to produce and traffic marijuana and launder drug
money.

He's been in jail since April when he was sentenced for conspiracy to
produce and traffic marijuana and illegal possession of firearms.
Judge Leslie Jackson called David one of the "bosses" in the operation.

Last week he received two more years for money laundering and must
forfeit all property, including his home, located on Route 11 in Lower
Newcastle, purchased with the drug funds.

A third party, Seized Property Management Directorate, part of Public
Works, has been managing the items authorities confiscated from the
Blacks. SPMD is responsible for the sale of these items once they are
officially forfeited.

Moveable assets such as the snowmobile and vehicles will likely be
sold at public auctions.

The properties, including David's home could be sold using the Public
Works and Government Services Canada Realty Service or a private
sector realty broker.

The money made back from these sales will be shared with the involved
jurisdictions.

Black has appealed both convictions.

In January 2008 Black's 78-year-old mother, Josephine, filed a motion
to have her money laundering charges severed from her co-accused, her
son David Black, 45. That motion was denied. She was found guilty
along with her son and received one year house arrest.

Since the sentencing Black family members have been spotted on the
premises of David's home on Highway 11. Federal Crown prosecutor Ann
Marie Simmons said the forfeiture of the home will not be officially
made until the 30 day time frame for appeal is up.

Paul Black

Paul Black, 55, plead guilty in Feb. 2009 to four charges of
conspiracy to traffic drugs.

He was to have pled guilty the month before but changed his mind,
fired his lawyer and obtained new counsel through legal aid. He was
represented at his sentence hearing by Douglas Smith.

In the end Justice Zoel Dionne gave him the same sentence that
co-conspirator Matt Amos received - six years. He is currently in
jail. Black plead guilty to conspiring with Amos to traffic in
cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and oxycodone in Miramichi, Moncton and
elsewhere in New Brunswick as well as British Columbia.

He supplied Amos with marijuana on a weekly basis, totalling at least
60 pounds, and dealt in cocaine in the Miramichi, getting the drugs
from a supplier in B.C. on a weekly basis.

Federal Crown prosecutor Christian Libotte withdrew the other charges
laid against Black - one charge of conspiracy to traffic
methamphetamine and one for exporting oxycontin and producing marijuana.

Kevin Black

After a two-week trial in the Court of Queen's Bench a jury found
Kevin, 45, guilty of conspiracy to produce and traffic marijuana. He
was sentenced on June 26, 2008 to three years and four months in
prison. Justice Stephen McNally identified him as a "ring-leader" in
the operation.

A month later his lawyer Randy Maillet filed a notice of appeal citing
errors made by the trial judge.

On Dec. 8, 2008 Kevin appeared in the Court of Appeal in Fredericton
on a motion of release pending appeal. Justice Richard Bell of the
Court of Appeal, denied his release at that time. Kevin was released
on parole earlier this year but continues to pursue an appeal.

Robin Charest

The Crown made a motion in late 2007 to sever Paul Black's charges
from Charest and Kevin Black and try him alone. Shortly after, in
March, Charest pled guilty. Court of Queen's Bench Justice George
Rideout sentenced Robin Charest to two years of federal jail time.

During sentencing Charest, a businessman, was said to have acted as a
runner and courier of the marijuana and also oversaw production.

McCrae and LeBreton

Couple Thomas McCrae and Andrea LeBreton left the province before
their trial. They failed to return for a scheduled trial date and were
also charged with failing to appear in court. They were living in Red
Deer, Alberta and were arrested earlier this spring. Following the
arrest, the pair were returned to New Brunswick to face their charges
of growing marijuana. Both pled guilty and were sentenced to one year
in jail.

The judge remarked at the time the two were farmers in the operation
and did not believe they were involved in the control of the conspiracy.

A number of other people, termed as farmers by police investigators,
pled guilty to charges of marijuana production. All were given jail
sentences with the exception of one person who was given house arrest.
Another was found not guilty after taking the matter to trial.