Fentanyl dealer faces sentencing
After pleading guilty to what is believed to be one of the largest seizures of fentanyl powder in the province, 20-year-old Jill Gignac seemed to be on the verge of tears several times Friday as the sentencing hearing that will determine her future began.
Gignac pleaded guilty July 13 to one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and four counts of breaching her recognizance. She has been held at the Southwest Regional Detention Centre since April 11.
Gignac was initially charged with possessing over 100 combined fentanyl capsules and oxycodone pills and some fentanyl patches after a search by Windsor police of her apartment in the 1600 block of Ouellette Avenue on April 5.
A few days later, LaSalle police received a tip that some fentanyl powder had been moved to a home on Todd Lane. Officers found 109.4 grams of fentanyl powder, 201.6 grams of cannabis, several fentanyl patches and 130 fentanyl capsules and three digital scales.
The street value of the fentanyl powder was estimated at just over $43,000 while the capsules are worth over $9,000.
The large quantity of fentanyl powder in Gignac’s possession prompted the prosecution to bring in an expert witness from the Waterloo Regional Police Force to testify Friday to the potential danger of the drugs in Gignac’s possession.
“It’s not common,” Det. Ian Young said of the powdered substance. “It’s not widely used, more in hospital settings.”
Though he couldn’t comment on the source of this seized drug, Young said fentanyl powder generally is imported from China and eastern Europe making it dangerous because of its unpredictable composition.
Young told the hearing that the powerful drug is typically purchased in amounts of 0.1 grams and users generally consume it in smaller doses because of the potential for overdosing.
Federal prosecutors Christine Malott and Sue Szasz clashed with defence lawyer Laura Joy over a community impact statement by LaSalle police, which outlined the fallout from a fentanyl crisis.
Ontario Court Justice Ronald Marion backed Joy’s request that the prosecution better document the claims referred to in the statement and resubmit it when the hearing resumes Nov. 9.
Joy also argued that Gignac, as an addict and first-time offender, should not be used to send a message. She said Gignac was selling the drug to finance her own addiction and suffered from severe depression. She suffered from an intestinal tract issue and had been the victim of some abusive relationships with boyfriends, the hearing was told.
“This wasn’t a sophisticated drug scheme, even though we’re talking about a serious drug in significant quantities,” Joy said.
“There was no violence, no guns and no previous record.”
Joy said Gignac is now clean and has taken every support program offered during her detention.
“She’s very remorseful,” Joy said. “She showed that in pleading guilty quickly.
“She understands she’s going to receive a sizable sentence. The sentence imposed should be the shortest sentence to achieve the relevant objective.”