(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Drug bust

Drug trafficker sentenced to five years took selfies with large stacks of cash, court hears

May 14, 2020 | 8:00 AM

One of four people charged in connection to a drug bust in Prince Albert last year, received a five-year prison sentence for his role.

Larry Dominique, 30, appeared via video Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. At a separate hearing last January, Dominique entered guilty pleas to a number of weapons-related charges, as well as possession of proceeds of crime.

The case itself dates back to July last year, when after a month of surveillance, police searched several homes in the city and seized small amounts of cocaine, meth, and marijuana, as well a number of cellphones, a handgun, and over $44,000 in cash.

A photo of the items seized by police. (Prince Albert Police Service)

According to the statement of facts read in court Wednesday by Crown prosecutor Brent Slobodian, one of the cellphones belonging to Dominique was tossed into a cat litter box. From the phones, police recovered text messages and photos detailing various drug transactions.

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“He also took a number of selfies showing him with large stack of cash,” Slobodian said.

Last month, co-accused Steven Geisler received a 26-month sentence. Explaining the difference in sentences, Dominique’s lawyer George Coombs said Geisler’s criminal record was much shorter than Dominique’s. He added Geisler’s involvement related more to the drug trafficking and not the possession of the weapon, or the proceeds of crime.

Jessie Naytowhow has a trial pending at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench, and the charges against Nicole Auger were dropped.

Dominique also received a one-year sentence for his breach of court conditions last February, which he will serve consecutive to the five-year sentence.

In that case, police received information that Dominique left Prince Albert without permission to go to Saskatoon. Upon his return, police located him and a search of his vehicle turned up over 29 grams of cocaine.

The six-year global sentence represented a joint submission from the Crown and defence lawyers. In his closing remarks, Judge Hugh Harradence acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, given the significant amount of proceeds of crime.

“I hope he can get to work on his rehabilitation and turn this around,” Harradence said.

In addition to his jail sentence, Dominique has also been ordered to submit a DNA sample, and will be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm for life. Dominique was granted 239 days credit for time spent in remand, leaving 1,951 days to be served.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell