SUMMERSIDE — A local man the prosecutor called "a major player in the local drug market" was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in federal prison Tuesday in P.E.I. Supreme Court.
Darren George Gamble, 39, of Miscouche pleaded guilty in May to three counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession.
After a year of surveillance, police determined Gamble was involved in supplying various drugs to street-level dealers.
In March 2009, officers raided Gamble's home on Lady Slipper Drive, along with a separate residence on the same street that was determined to be Gamble's stash house.
A safe located in the basement of the stash house contained a zippered bag filled with cocaine, Dilaudid, cannabis resin, methamphetamine tablets, Oxycontin, Percocet and Ecstasy tablets. More than $13,000 in cash was also found in the safe and $2,700 was seized from a plastic bag tucked into Gamble's waistband.
The total street value of the drugs seized was estimated to be more than $160,000.
At sentencing Tuesday, Crown attorney John Maynard recommended a six- to seven-year prison term, saying Gamble was in the business of "selling poison."
"Why is it that people like Mr. Gamble can't see what they're doing? (He) can't seem to empathize with the other people he's hurting," Maynard said. "You have to sentence for this community, and in this community, Mr. Gamble is a big fish."
Defence attorney Eric Aucoin recommended a sentence in the range of three to five years. Aucoin said he didn't see Gamble as "a big actor starring in this play," noting sentences should be more severe for people who traffic drugs between provinces.
Gamble also addressed the court to show remorse for his actions and apologize to those in the community he's hurt.
"I know I've been a thorn in a lot of people's sides in this community for a long time," he said. "I know I've done a lot of things wrong in my life and I have to be punished for it."
Justice Campbell didn't mince his words before passing sentence, citing Gamble's 1995 conviction on similar charges, along with more than 20 other unrelated offences.
"This was not a nickel and dime operation. This was big business," Campbell said. "Mr. Gamble was the directing mind of his enterprise and was a significant wholesaler in this community. Does this accused deserve a break? I don't think so."
In addition to the jail term, Gamble is also prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm and must submit a DNA sample for a national crime database.
