KELOWNA – A former gangster was sentenced Thursday in Kelowna for his cocaine trafficking activities.
Quentin Michael James said he was sorry for his drug dealing and claims he’s a changed man who shouldn’t have to spend any time behind bars.
Provincial Court judge, Jane Cartwright, disagreed saying: “Mr. James was not a street level dealer or a dial-a-dope seller. He was re-packaging and cutting cocaine and distributing it. Cocaine is a hard drug responsible for ruining countless lives.”
In late 2013, police had James under surveillance as they investigated the drug trafficking activities of the Kingpin Crew, a now disbanded Kelowna gang which RCMP said had ties to the Hells Angels.
Officers secretly watched, as several times James visited a West Kelowna storage locker, and then headed off to a postal station to mail packages.
When arrested, James was sending three ounces of cocaine to a Calgary address.
A search of the storage locker and James’ home turned up more cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and ecstacy worth about $170,000.
RCMP also seized a bulletproof vest, ammunition, brass knuckles and about $100,000 in cash.
James pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
His lawyer argued for a suspended sentence and probation, meaning no jail time at all.
The prosecutor sought a custodial sentence of 16 months and the judge agreed, saying that sentence is required to serve the purposes of denunciation and deterrence.
“Mr. James was a mid-level dealer,” said Cartwright. “He was not an addict. He was doing this for profit. He had other skills and abilities and resources that he could have used to make a living.”
James, 39, was also banned for life from possessing guns or ammunition and must submit a DNA sample for police data banks.