Man, 22, receives four-year prison sentence for drug trafficking

 

Were it not for the efforts of his defence lawyer, Curtis James Kotyk could have been facing more than the four-year sentence he received for his part in a large-scale cocaine operation, a Crown prosecutor said earlier this week. Kotyk, 22, had no previous criminal record when he pleaded guilty last month to drug trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of crime proceeds and participation in a criminal organization. He returned to court earlier this week for sentencing, at which time Judge Linton Smith agreed to impose the four-year prison term jointly suggested by Crown and defence lawyers. But federal Crown agent Alan McIntyre said were it not for efforts by defence lawyer Brad Tilling, the Crown likely would have asked for significantly more time. Two higher-ups in the organization - Christopher Stettner and Trevor Deitz- received seven-year terms when they pleaded guilty last summer to their charges. More than a dozen people were charged in relation to the police investigation that began in 2009. Several have already received prison sentences for their roles while others remain before the court. During Kotyk's sentencing earlier this week, court heard police learned in 2009 about an operation that was importing a large amount of cocaine from British Columbia into Regina, with as much as two kilograms being delivered each week. Court heard that, at that time, cocaine was selling for as much as $40,000 per kilogram. Police were eventually, in June of 2010, able to intercept communications between participants, during which they learned details of the drug operation. Kotyk was one of several people working as a drug messenger, court heard. "This was a robust cocaine distribution network that was distributing large amounts of cocaine," McIntyre told court. During the investigation, police were able to seize drugs, cash and a number of luxury vehicles. Despite the seriousness of the crime, McIntyre said Kotyk's young age and his lack of previous record suggest he stands a good chance at turning his life around. Smith didn't ask for additional details from Tilling - including why Kotyk became involved in the operation - prior to accepting the joint submission on sentence. In addition to the prison term, Kotyk was handed a 10-year firearms ban and was ordered to forfeit a number of cellphones police seized from him at the time of his arrest.