Yellowknife grandmother sentenced to 8 months for trafficking cocaine

A Yellowknife grandmother found guilty of trafficking cocaine has been sentenced to eight months in custody and one year probation.

Serenus Charlene Bryan, 52, was among more than a dozen people arrested two years ago following an RCMP investigation called Green Manalishi.

Justice KaranShanerdelivered the sentence in N.W.T. Supreme Court on Tuesday, during which Bryan cried occasionally and took deep breaths.

Shaner said there was no physical evidence against Bryan; the case centred around a wiretap warrant that allowed police tosecretly listen to conversations she had withTodd Dube, the drug ring kingpin, and others.

The court heard 22 recordings thatpolice alleged were conversations between Dube and Bryan, where Bryan was attempting to pay down a drug debt.

Addicted to cocaine, opioids

Shaner said Bryan faced a number of challenges in her life, including depression, cocaine and opioid addiction, and lupus. Since her arrest, Bryan has taken steps to battle her drug addiction, including taking part in an opioid replacement program.

The judge also considered the harm caused by trafficking cocaine.

"Cocaine is highly addictive. It hurts all of us... It puts family at risk," said Shaner.

Ms. Bryan's story is indeed a tragic one, but she broke the law.- Justice Karan Shaner

"Ms. Bryan's story is indeed a tragic one, but she broke the law."

While waiting for her sentencing, Bryan hadbeen out on bail withseveral restrictions: she surrendered her passport, she couldn't have a cellphone, she couldn't leave the territory, and she had a curfew between7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The defence argued that she should have been sentenced to credit for time served on bail which isat the discretion of the judge. The prosecution called for an eight-month sentence and one year on probation.

Shaner said she did not find the parameters of Bryan's bail particularly onerous. Therefore, Shaner gave no credit for time spent on bail.

She said the sentence proposed by the defence was "too low."

"I appreciate and recognize that [Bryan] has taken steps to deal with her underlying issue," said Shaner. But "those who sell cocaine, regardless of motivation, have to know that's it's a crime."

Shaner said the sentence is effective immediately.