THUNDER BAY -- The leader of a local trafficking ring has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Francesco Muzzi was originally facing nearly 25 charges after being caught up in Project Dolphin, a major undercover police operation in 2011 that netted nearly $1 million in narcotics.
On Wednesday, Muzzi pleaded guilty to trafficking Oxycodone, cocaine, conspiring to commit an offence and being a member of a criminal organization.
He was also charged with assault that occurred during his time in custody.
The court heard that Muzzi was the head of a three-member group that had an organized trafficking ring in the city, even using encrypted cell phones.
The group sold drugs to undercover officers seven times and a fourth member of the organization ended up being a police agent.
Muzzi was given nine years for the charges but because of time served will end up facing just less than seven.
The sentence was a joint recommendation by the defense and Crown.
In her sentencing, Justice Diane Pettit Baig said that the crimes were serious and the time considerable.
He was given 1.5 credit for time served, and has been in custody since June of 2011. The credit was given because of the harsh conditions at the Thunder Bay District Jail, Pettit Baig said.
Still, the drugs he trafficked have ruined countless lives in the community.
“You made lots of money off of other people’s pain and suffering,” she said.
