Drug trafficking lands Irvine man three years
By Peggy Revell on June 1, 2018.
Medicine Hat News A three-year sentence was handed down Thursday to a man alleged to have been trafficking drugs out of his house in Irvine. Due to time spent in custody, 27-year-old Justin Yaholnitsky was given eight months credit toward this sentence after entering guilty pleas to two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime. According to the agreed statement of facts, the investigation into the accused began when police received source information that he was trafficking drugs out of a residence in Irvine. This included transporting the drugs by minivan into Medicine Hat. Following surveillance, police were granted a warrant. Yaholnitsky was arrested and the residence searched. Inside, police found 89 grams of meth worth $8,900, 18.6 grams of cocaine worth $1,860, and Canadian currency to the value of $2,965. Defence counsel told the court that others have pled guilty to charges stemming from the investigation, and Yaholnitsky was not the sole person responsible for these drugs. The three-year sentence came as a joint submission between Crown and defence, while a lifetime weapons ban was also ordered. 10-9
