Pubdate: Tue, 21 Nov 2000
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2000 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~edmonton
Author: Gordon Kent, Legal Affairs Writer

COCAINE-RING LEADERS JAILED

Four major players in a cocaine-trafficking ring broken up by police last
summer pleaded guilty Monday to drug and conspiracy charges.

The four -- Kencle Owen Johnson, Lynden Christopher Burrell, Samuel
Nathaniel Bailey and Marlon Anthony Miller -- accepted prison sentences in a
deal that saw dozens of other charges against them dropped.

Charges against fellow accused Steadman David Broderick and Ivan Lloyd
Johnson were stayed, or essentially dropped.

"Over a protracted time period, (the four) conspired to traffic substantial
quantities of cocaine," Crown prosecutor Larry Ackerl said. "As with
law-abiding Canadians, you can judge a person by the company they keep ...
drug traffickers are no different."

They were in one of two or three related gangs police allege were dealing in
wholesale amounts of cocaine in Edmonton, Toronto and British Columbia.

A joint RCMP-city police task force arrested or put out warrants for 26
people on July 28, following early morning raids at 13 homes and at least
five businesses across Edmonton.

Private residences in Penticton and Burnaby, B.C., and two in Toronto were
also searched.

In all, police seized 5.5 kilograms of cocaine and $648,000 in cash, not all
connected to the four men who pleaded guilty Monday.

The investigation, named Project Calcium, began in 1999. Last Feb. 16,
officers seized 1.5 kg of cocaine and $157,000 from a drug "stash house" in
a suite at 9620 174th St., Ackerl said.

On May 10, police took $73,000 from Bailey's suitcase at Edmonton
International Airport, which they suspect Kencle Johnson, leader of the
drug-distribution end, paid him for two kg of cocaine.

Bailey called Johnson later that day, complaining "the bag was dry, dry,
dry, dry."

Two months later, a search of another stash house at 5520 144A Ave. turned
up 500 grams of cocaine and $242,000 cash. The suite was registered in
Johnson's name.

On July 25, Ivan Johnson and Burrell, described as the other key player in
the group, were picked up at the Edmonton airport flying in from Jamaica.

Burrell was carrying several packets containing $46,000, and Johnson had
$40,000 cash strapped to his chest.

Some of the money seized by police has been returned. About $600,000 will go
to the government or be used for defence legal bills.

THE CASE FILE

- - All four men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. Burrell
and Johnson also pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime and
possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, while Bailey pleaded
guilty to money laundering.

- - Johnson, 29, was sentenced to seven years, nine months in prison; Bailey,
33, and Burrell, 23, were sentenced to six years, three months, and Miller,
25, was sentenced to one year in addition to 41/2 years he's already serving
for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

- - The four have already spent the equivalent of eight months in custody.
Some face possible deportation to their native Jamaica at the end of their
sentences.
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