An Edmonton man who sold up to $15,000 of crack cocaine a week as a SA国际影视传媒減rimary operatorSA国际影视传媒� in Todd Dube's dial-a-dope drug ring was convicted in NWT Supreme Court.
Yohannes Seyoume, 21, spoke softly in court on Monday, answering to Judge Shannon Smallwood after she convicted him on one count of trafficking in cocaine. Seyoume pleaded guilty to the charge in November, following his arrest in April, 2016.
Through an agreed statement of facts read by Crown prosecutor Duane Praught, the court heard Seyoume was one of four SA国际影视传媒減rimary operatorsSA国际影视传媒� of a SA国际影视传媒渄ial-a-dopeSA国际影视传媒� phone, selling crack in Yellowknife under the direction of Dube from Feb.25, 2016 to April 4, 2016.
Dube, labeled by prosecutors as the SA国际影视传媒渒ing pinSA国际影视传媒� of a sophisticated drug operation, was sentenced to nine years in jail in October.
SA国际影视传媒淧roject Green Manalishi,SA国际影视传媒漚n SA国际影视传媒淕SA国际影视传媒� Division Federal Investigation Unit-led probe aimed at dismantling high level drug trafficking networks in the city and NWT, began monitoring Dube's texts and phone calls in February 2016, leading police to uncover Seyoume's active involvement in drug trafficking, the court heard.
Seyoume, along with three others, shared SA国际影视传媒渄ial-a-dopeSA国际影视传媒� duties, taking turns covering 12-hour shifts with the phone. As an operator, Seyoume would take calls from drug users, arrange meeting places, and take the drugs SA国际影视传媒� crack cocaine SA国际影视传媒� to sell to the callers at the agreed upon spot. The crack, the court heard, was supplied by Dube, who would either SA国际影视传媒渇rontSA国际影视传媒� or sell an ounce of crack cocaine to each of the four phone operators, including Seyoume, for about $2,300.
Each ounce would usually be divvied into 50 to 55 SA国际影视传媒渟treet gramsSA国际影视传媒漇A国际影视传媒� weighing 0.5 grams each SA国际影视传媒� to be sold for $80 to $100. Each SA国际影视传媒渄ial-a-dopeSA国际影视传媒漮perator kept the profits made from the marked up street product, the statement of facts read.
pulled the plug on Dube's phone-fuelled operation, carrying out several search warrants and making multiple arrests on April 4, 2016. Police searched a Yellowknife residence where Seyoume and Dube both lived, seizing 181 grams of marijuana, $57,487, seven cell phones, cash counters, scales and a blender that later tested positive for cocaine. Seyoume SA国际影视传媒� carrying $325 and three cell phones SA国际影视传媒� and Dube were arrested outside of a city restaurant on the same day.
During his submissions for sentencing, prosecutor Praught, highlighting the fact the SA国际影视传媒渄ial-a-dopeSA国际影视传媒� phone line was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, stressed the organized, commercial level of drug trafficking Seyoume was involved in.
SA国际影视传媒淭his was a full time job,SA国际影视传媒� Praught said of Seyoume's past role. A job, he contended, that hurt an already vulnerable community.
Praught said Seyoume preyed on the city's drug addicts, trafficking a drug he called more dangerous and addictive than cocaine. Mitigating factors, including the defendant's lack of past criminal convictions, were submitted by Praught.
Praught is asking for a sentence of 30 to 36 months minus a credit of 1.5 days for time already served.
Seyoume's lawyer, Peter Harte, acknowledged the seriousness of the conviction, but argued a message of deterrence to other offenders shouldn't be sent SA国际影视传媒渙n the backSA国际影视传媒� of his client.
Harte also expressed concern that a sentence of over six months in jail would likely result in Seyoume being deported back to Kenya, where he would have to start from scratch.
Harte is requesting a sentence of two years less a day.
Seyoume was in custody from the time of his arrest until Aug. 4, 2016, when he was released on recognizance.
Seyoume is due back in NWT Supreme Court on Thursday, when Judge Smallwood will make a sentencing decision.
