9,279 grams of cannabis bud were seized as part of the 2019 Project Norse investigation. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Drug Trafficking

Project Norse results in guilty pleas

Jan 14, 2021 | 5:21 PM

Guilty pleas have been entered by three more people charged in connection to a massive drug bust, involving nearly 600 grams of cocaine and over 11,000 grams of cannabis.

Alexander Fietz, 29, Destiny Gunnville, 20, and Miranda Parenteau, 24, appeared by phone Thursday afternoon at Prince Albert Provincial Court, and all entered pleas related to trafficking.

Sentencing dates were spread out between Feb. 11 and March 16.

The seven month long investigation, beginning in the summer of 2019, and nicknamed “Project Norse”, was a combined effort between police in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, as well as the RCMP, and was focused on the activities of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, specifically the group known as the Freewheelers.

Police determined that three full patch members of the motorcycle gang were involved in the illegal trafficking of drugs in Prince Albert and the surrounding area.

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Numerous other gang members with connections to Prince Albert and Saskatoon were determined to be working in conjunction with the FreeWheelers members to illegally distribute drugs around the community.

At a press conference in mid-January, 2020, Prince Albert Police Inspector Craig Mushka unveiled the results of Project Norse. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

In addition to several guns and six vehicles, over $300,000 worth of cash and drugs were seized including 33 cannabis plants, over 9,000 grams of cannabis bud, 2,141 individually packaged cannabis byproducts, and nearly 600 grams of cocaine which amounted to an estimated 1,200 personal uses.

The investigation also revealed the marijuana was being grown under a valid Health Canada medical licence and then was diverted onto the black market for re-sale.

The seizure of the drugs included needles, and vape cigarettes containing various amounts of cocaine and cannabis. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Over a dozen homes were searched as a result of the police investigation concluding, resulting in 11 people being charged. In addition to the three spoken to on Thursday, five others still have outstanding matters before the courts.

Tyler Korte and Danny Glover have pre-trial hearings on March 17; Warren Krieger and Josh Herron are scheduled to face trial April 19; and Brody Markowski’s charges will be dealt with on Feb. 12.

The Crown has stayed the charges for both Rhonda Brown and Kaitlyn Schinold, based on the willingness of others to enter guilty pleas. Curtis Brown, 51, was sentenced last October after entering guilty pleas related to the possession and distribution of cannabis in excess of 30 grams. He received a six month conditional order, to be followed by an 18 month probationary period. He must also abide by a 10 year firearm prohibition order.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell