Man gets seven years in prison for fentanyl, weapons offences

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 12, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

A man found with nearly three kilos of fentanyl and a restricted shotgun in a car last winter by local police has been sentenced to spend seven more years in prison after a plea deal approved Tuesday in Medicine Hat Court of Justice.

Prosecutors believe John Michael Elford, 53, was transporting the majority of drugs, 2,972 grams of fentanyl worth about $500,000 and a smaller amount of methamphetamine, on behalf of a third party already in prison.

His trip through Medicine Hat, his defence attorney said, was an attempt to travel back to Eastern Canada after his move to find work in Alberta in late 2022 was derailed by his meth addiction.

“The police believe that while the volume of drugs is very high, there’s no indication that Mr. Elford, himself, is a sophisticated drug dealer,” said federal Crown prosecutor Alexander Watson.

The amount of drugs, the man’s criminal record for a number of assaults in five provinces and the presence of firearms were mitigating factors in sentencing, but “this is ‘wholesale levels of fentanyl … (and) it’s a very early plea,” said Watson.

Defence attorney Katherine Beyak briefly discussed the agreement, stating the cash was Elford’s – made from selling his tools before a move out of Alberta.

A defence in court could challenge the warrantless search of the vehicle, as well as apparent confessions made during police interviews when Elford was under the influence of drugs, she said.

“Elford expressed right away, on that night, that ‘it’s time to change my life,'” she said, adding her client is motivated to control his drug addiction via programs in prison and has supportive relatives.

Elford told the court he was too nervous to make a statement.

Medicine Hat police engaged Elford in February during the early morning in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant near a highway entrance to the city. His vehicle, a white Crown Victoria, was parked across a handicapped stall and over a parking barrier. When Elford produced a suspended Nova Scotia drivers licence he was arrested and searched.

It turned up about $3,200 in cash and 30 grams of methamphetamine on his person. Drug paraphernalia and a NRCAN kit were strewn throughout the cabin and a toiletry bag on the front seat contained 53 grams of meth.

A duffle bag in the trunk contained a variety of bags containing varying large amounts of fentanyl, a bullet-proof vest, ammunition, two rifles and a “Typhoon” brand semi-automatic shotgun, which is a restricted firearm.

“It’s a serious offence,” said Justice Kristine Ailsby. “That amount of fentanyl, it’s spectacularly dangerous for our community. I’m satisfied this is a fit and proper sentence.”

Elford was sentenced to five years in prison on the drug charge and 30 months on the weapons offence that will begin following drug sentence.

Watson stated the consecutive sentencing guideline is a measure to deter drug dealers from involving guns in their trade.