Two guilty pleas in drug raids
Men scheduled for sentencing, others awaiting trial while on bail
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Friday, May 2, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two suspects arrested in drug raids Dec. 6 have pleaded guilty to some of their charges and will be sentenced in the coming months.
Some of the items seized following drug raids on Dec. 6. Two men arrested in the raids have pleaded guilty. - NNSL file photo |
Stanislaus Cochrane, 50, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking cocaine April 11. He is scheduled to be sentenced by a territorial court judge July 23.
Matthew Jager, 30, pleaded guilty to possessing cash obtained by crime and a minor marijuana possession charge April 23. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29.
Both men were taken into RCMP custody following a series of raids across the city Dec. 6. RCMP seized more than $32,000 in cash, 226 grams of marijuana, 85 grams of crack-cocaine, numerous weapons and drug-trafficking paraphernalia.
Cochrane was released on $2,000 bail Dec. 12, a week after his arrest. Jager, however, has been in custody ever since.
His lawyer, Peter Harte, says he has made a charter application and will be requesting a reduced sentence based on the conditions of Jager's detention.
Of the eight others arrested in the raid, two have had their charges dropped. The rest have been released on bail and are awaiting trial.
Some of those charged are from lower mainland B.C. Police allege they are connected with the '856' gang - named after the phone prefix from the Aldergrove, B.C. area - which they say is operating in Yellowknife selling crack-cocaine.
Cochrane, the only Yellowknifer among those arrested, was also charged with laundering proceeds of crime and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Those charges are expected to be disposed of upon Cochrane's conviction.
RCMP say Jager is from Calgary, Alta. A third charge against him, of possessing an RCMP jacket obtained by crime, was withdrawn by the Crown.
