TEREZAKIS GETS 11 1/2 YEARS FOR DRUGS, ASSAULTS

VANCOUVER -- Anthony (Big Tony) Terezakis was sentenced yesterday to
11 1/2 years in prison, after his convictions for running a downtown
Vancouver drug ring and a series of assaults captured on videotape.

Mr. Terezakis "capitalized on the misery of others," Madam Justice
Heather Holmes said during a lengthy sentencing ruling read out in
B.C. Supreme Court.

The defence put forward by Mr. Terezakis -- that the filmed assaults
of residents of two Downtown Eastside hotels were actually a staged
"reality-based" tribute to the area -- was "completely rejected" by
the jury, the judge said.

Mr. Terezakis, 45, was convicted last month of 11 of 12
assault-related charges after a two-month trial.

The only direct evidence of the assaults was the videotapes, which
were given to police in October of 2003 by his estranged wife.

On the eve of his trial, Mr. Terezakis pleaded guilty to three
drug-trafficking charges and admitted he ran a heroin and crack
cocaine ring out of the American hotel for several months in 2002.

The bulk of the sentence, 7 1/2 years, was imposed by Judge Holmes for
the drug offences.

An additional four years was given for the assaults.

In her ruling, Judge Holmes said Mr. Terezakis had made legitimate
attempts at rehabilitation during his 33 months in pretrial custody,
including the conducting of Bible study classes in jail.

As is customary, Mr. Terezakis was given the standard two-for-one
credit for pretrial custody, meaning he has six years remaining on his
sentence.

Judge Holmes described his drug ring as a "small, but high volume"
business.

Police surveillance indicated that about 10 sales of crack cocaine or
heroin would take place each hour in the bar of the hotel, for about
$10 per transaction.

"Employees" of Mr. Terezakis would be paid about $10 an hour to
oversee the drug sales.

After he was sentenced, Mr. Terezakis turned to six friends in the
courtroom and said:

"Thank you for coming guys. God bless you."