THUNDER BAY -- John Tsekouras, convicted of trafficking cocaine and marijuana earlier this month, has been released on bail pending an appeal.
Tsekouras, 41, was released Saturday on restrictive bail conditions that included $1.7 million in sureties.
He was sentenced on March 6 to 11.5 years in jail, but given two years credit for time served and charter breaches related to a seized Blackberry, for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and marijuana and trafficking cocaine and marijuana.
At the time of the sentencing, defence lawyer Joseph Wilkinson said he would be filing a notice of appeal based on pre-trial rulings made by the trial judge and that the process could take up to a year.
The cocaine-related charges stem from the sale and transport of two kilograms of the narcotic in June 2011 between Tsekouras and another male, who has yet to have his case go before the court.
The marijuana charges are connected to the transport and possession of a box containing 18 one-pound packages of marijuana that was found on June 16, 2011.
Tsekouras is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and kidnap; that case has yet to go to trial.
