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Scarborough man sentenced for 2018 drug trafficking offences

Quwayne Miller, 26, was sentenced on Wednesday for two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Miller has been in custody at the Thunder Bay district jail since his arrest in November 2018.
Courthouse
Thunder Bay Courthouse

THUNDER BAY -  A Scarborough man who was arrested twice during different drug raids in roughly a two-month time frame in 2018 was sentenced to time served on Wednesday.

Quwayne Miller, 26, received the sentence in Thunder Bay after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking connected to two incidents in 2018.

Federal Crown prosecutor Arturo Acosta told the court on Wednesday, Aug. 5, that Miller was one of several people arrested after Thunder Bay police executed a drug search warrant at a Fulton Boulevard apartment.

The police service’s drug intelligence unit had received information from confidential informants that individuals were selling drugs from this residence, Acosta said. When the warrant was executed, Miller was arrested as well as four other men. 

Police located 120.2 grams of cocaine, 3.6 grams of heroin and more than $2,000 in cash on Miller, court heard.

Approximately two months later, police executed another search warrant at a Pacific Avenue residence on Nov. 12, 2018, after police were informed individuals were selling drugs from this residence. Miller was located with drugs including cocaine and fentanyl and more than $2,000 in cash.

Defence counsel Jennifer Myers who represented Miller during his sentencing hearing told the court he has plans to finish his education and continue pursuing a music career as a rap artist. Myers also said Miller has plans to reconnect with his family and his young daughter who he has been away from since his arrest in 2018.

Judge Peter Bishop accepted the joint sentence submission for Miller which took into account the lengthy-time he served in pre-sentence custody. Miller was sentenced to 12 months of jail time for the Aug. 30, 2018 offences which was enhanced to 18 months. Following his sentence, he will also be placed on a two-year probation order which will require him not to be within the district of Thunder Bay.

For the Nov. 12, 2018 offences Miller was sentenced to 632 days in custody which was enhanced to 948 days of custody which was served concurrently with the above sentence.

While sentencing Miller, Bishop acknowledged the conditions of the Thunder Bay District Jail where Miller served his sentence.

“You’ve spent a lot of time in pre-trial custody and that has weighed heavily on you,” Bishop said. “It isn’t a pleasant place to be but you have to stay away from drugs if you truly want to see your daughter and your family members.”

Miller spoke briefly to express remorse for his actions.

“I learned from this experience and I am ready to put this all behind me,” he said.

Once he is released from custody, Miller has 48 hours to leave the city.

He also received a 10-year weapons prohibition order and will be required to submit his DNA into a forensic DNA databank.



Karen Edwards

About the Author: Karen Edwards

Karen Edwards reports on court and crime under the Local Journalism initiative, which is funded by the Government of Canada.
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