TEEN SENTENCED FOR TRAFFICKING

A Saskatoon teenager received a one-year sentence in provincial court
Wednesday for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring.

The youth, now 18, cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of
the offence last fall.

The youth told Judge Barry Singer that recent news of his impending
fatherhood has served as a turning point and he intends to turn away
from the criminal lifestyle.

"As soon as I'm done (serving the sentence), I will get out and be
positive. I want to change my life around for me and for my unborn
child," he said.

Singer then said to the youth, "I wish your father had said that,
too." Singer was referring to the evidence the youth's father was the
leader of the cocaine ring, which brought in an estimated $37,000 per
month.

Singer agreed with the joint submission by the defence and Crown. The
youth will serve six months in closed custody, followed by two months
in open custody and four months of supervision. However, since the
youth is now 18, the provincial director of corrections will decide if
that will be spent in a youth facility or the provincial jail. Singer
said he's not inclined to recommend the youth facility, as his
recommendation may not have any impact. The youth is also 18 years old
and quite mature anyway, he said.

Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle said his client intends to get his high
school diploma and get a job. He said the youth "feels very fortunate."

The youth previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine and
possession of the proceeds of crime.

From Oct. 26 to Dec. 24, police intercepted numerous phone calls among
various members of the cocaine ring, said Crown prosecutor Craig
Neely, reading the facts of the case in court.

The youth's father was the boss and "operated a very active cocaine
trafficking operation here (in Saskatoon), Neely said.

He had two "lieutenants" who delegated to "street level
dealers."

The youth was involved in selling and delivering cocaine and cash
among various parties for his father. Neely said the operation sold an
average of two ounces of cocaine daily, or roughly 20 kilograms a year.

Neely said the sentence gives the youth the opportunity "to decide for
himself what his adult life will look like."