No freedom for lotto winner

$5-million jackpot lost to drugs and people who took advantage of man now going to jail

At the age of 24, Daniel Carley became a millionaire by winning $5 million on a scratch ticket. Now 35, Carley is broke. And on Wednesday the former millionaire was sentenced to jail for two and a half years after being convicted of trafficking in crack cocaine.

Defence lawyer Ron Charlebois said winning the lottery was the worst thing that could of happened to his client because he got into drugs, including cocaine and heroin, and he became an addict.

“He has lost everything primarily from people taking advantage of him. He sold drugs to support his habit,” Charlebois told Judge Richard Lococo at a sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Superior Court of Justice in St. Catharines.

On Nov. 6, 2013, Carley was one of more than two dozen people who were arrested after a nine-month investigation into biker gang activity in the Niagara area.

That investigation — dubbed Project Resurgence — involved more than 220 police officers from a number of different police services that began investigating the activities of the Outlaws and Black Pistons motorcycle gangs.

Police uncovered evidence of narcotics trafficking, including heroin, cocaine and marijuana, along with evidence of weapons trafficking, break and enter, assault, extortion and participating in a criminal organization.

Some of the items seized included $70,000 in cash, $150,000 worth of vehicles, marijuana with a potential street value of $18 million, $30,000 in heroin and a variety of weapons.

A number of individuals who were arrested in connection with Project Resurgence have already had their cases dealt with by the courts, but a few are still before the courts.

Federal prosecutor Niall Gilks said the two-and-a half-year jail sentence proposed was a joint submission that fell within an acceptable range for this type of an offence.

During the police investigation, Carley was heard on wire taps conducting a number of drug transactions with individuals calling him to purchase drugs.

The Crown said Carley, who had no previous criminal record, was dealing at the lower end involving an ounce or less of crack cocaine. He noted a considerable amount of court time was saved because Carley had entered a guilty plea.

Court heard Carley is separated, but helps to support a sevenyear-old child. He has completed his high school education and since his arrest has tried to rehabilitate himself.

The Crown withdrew some other charges that were still before the courts.

One issue that still needs to be resolved involves the property at 80 Page St., in St. Catharines, which served as the clubhouse for the Black Pistons. That property, which is owned by Carley through a numbered company, had been secured with metal bars on the windows and doors and was also equipped with closed circuit video television.