Drug trafficker handed three-and-a-half year sentence

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on April 30, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

It was pretty obvious that many people who frequently visited a southside residence over the course of several days in May 2020 weren’t there to buy Tupperware.
In fact, while police kept an eye on the residence in the 1600 block of 23 St. S., they clearly saw what they believed to be drug trafficking, and when they searched the property on May 14, they found about 300 grams of fentanyl, $9,000 in cash and various drug paraphernalia, including scales, baggies and score sheets that listed drug transactions and debts.
Andres Joseph Connors, who appeared in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday, pleaded guilty to a charge of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
Federal Crown Prosecutor Mark Klassen told court officers received a tip from the owner of the property who had leased the property to a woman. He said, however, the woman was never seen at the residence, while two unknown men were, and he saw a number of people visiting the residence for short periods of time.
Police watched the residence between May 9 and May 13 and identified two men, including Connors, who were living at the residence. They also saw people known to be involved in the drug culture meeting with Connors, and followed him around the city on several occasions while he met with a number of people involved in drug activity.
On May 14 police searched the home and found 295 grams of fentanyl inside an unlocked safe in a hallway closet, and 4.7 grams of fentanyl on a computer desk in the living room. The cash was also found on the computer desk.
“Mr. Connors admits that he was in possession of those drugs and that he possessed those drugs, the fentanyl, for the purpose of selling them,” Klassen said.
He pointed out that even though Connors has a criminal record, he doesn’t have any convictions for drug possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Calgary lawyer Steve Virk said his 33-year-old client, Connors, who now lives in Calgary with his father, has a drug addiction but has been on a methadone program since he was arrested and hopes to do better after he is released from custody.
“He just wants to go in, fix his life, and come back out; a clean slate, so to speak,” Virk said. “He simply wants this matter dealt with and a new life beginning once his sentence is served.”
Connors told the judge while his addiction to drugs has been “horrible,” he’s ready to work and become a valuable member of society.
“I’m sure you’re capable of providing great value to society,” Judge John Maher agreed. “I encourage you to do whatever you can to improve yourself while you’re in custody so that you can make those contributions.”
In addition to his 42-month sentence, Connors is also prohibited from possessing certain weapons for 10 years and others for life.
A co-accused, Robert Forest Watt, was also expected to be in court Thursday but he was not on the docket. Court was told a warrant for his arrest had been issued March 31 when he failed to attend court, and the matter was adjourned to see if his lawyer, who had previously asked to get off the record, could contact him.

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