A Vancouver Provincial Court judge has sentenced a man she called a mid-level drug trafficker peddling various narcotics to six years in prison.
Russell Joseph Brown was initially charged with eight counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking as well as firearm and mischief offences.
Judge Kathryn Denhoff said Aug. 22 Brown was found with 52 grams of fentanyl, 13.2 grams of methamphetamine and nine rocks of crack cocaine, with a street value of $16,000, on Sept. 15, 2021.
“The amount of drugs seized was significant,” Denhoff said.
She said he also had scales, two knives and a claw hammer as well as bear spray.
Denhoff said the weapons are typical of those used by drug traffickers.
The court heard Brown was caught on May 19, 2022, near Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital, with 105.5 grams of fentanyl and 51.8 grams of cocaine with a street value of $27,000.
He was also found with various firearms, cartridges, ammunition and two knives.
The judge said Brown grew up in a chaotic environment and was using crack cocaine by age 15.
“Clearly, Mr. Brown suffered many of the disadvantages suffered by Indigenous people,” she said.
The judge said Brown has made efforts to improve his life and has been accepted into an addiction recovery program.
“I am impressed with the steps Mr. Brown has taken to rehabilitate himself,” she said. “He is now clean of all drugs. Mr. Brown should be applauded for his willingness to tackle his addiction.”
Brown got credit for time already served in custody for 1,229 days, leaving 964 days or 2.6 years left to serve.
Stays of proceedings were entered on one trafficking charge and other mischief, weapons and break-in tools charges.
