Clemency pleas for ‘ drug mule’ musician
Canadian jailed in Australia
Last Friday, Toronto electronic musicians Èbony released their latest single, the house- influenced Blue Star/ In the Valley. For Andre Edwards- Roderique, one half of the duo, the occasion was bittersweet. It came as an Australian judge prepared to decide the fate of EdwardsRoderique’s musical partner, Jordan Gardner.
The night before the single’s release, the National Post had revealed Gardner’s plight i n an exposé presenting allegations by Gardner’s lawyer that a former Vice Canada editor had recruited him as a drug mule.
“Jordan’s a good kid who was dealt an unfortunate hand and was forced into a situation he did not want to be a part of and couldn’t get out of for fear of danger coming to him and his family and loved ones,” said Edwards- Roderique. “I miss him. We miss him, and we know he doesn’t belong in jail.”
Gardner’s friends have l aunched a petition attesting to his good character and seeking leniency from the judge who will determine Gardner’s fate after he pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quality of a controlled drug. The signatures will be presented to his lawyer in Australia for consideration as part of Gardner’s sentencing hearing, originally scheduled to take place in Sydney on Thursday, now delayed pending the completion of a routine psychological evaluation.
The Post’s investigation revealed that a since-fired Vice editor had allegedly used the Canadian headquarters of the youth-focused publishing empire as a recruiting ground to draw young journalists and artists into a cocaine-smuggling ring.
Three current and former Vice journalists told the Post that Yaroslav Pastukhov, while working as Vice Canada’s music editor under the name Slava Pastuk, offered them $ 10,000 to take a trip to Australia carrying luggage with drugs hidden inside.
The allegations against Pastukhov have not been tested in court, and the Post is not aware of any charges against Pastukhov or any police investigation into his alleged actions. Pastukhov has not responded to the Post’s multiple requests for comment on the allegations. Vice Canada ended its relationship with Pastukhov last February after some employees raised concerns.
Gardner — Pastukhov’s roommate at the time, and an up- and- coming muscial artist whom Vice Canada had featured in a profile — said, through his lawyer in Australia, that Pastukhov had badgered him into making a smuggling trip in December, 2015, and that he had been threatened when he twice tried to back out of the deal.
According to Eidan Havas, Gardner’s counsel in Australia, when Gardner and his four travelling companions arrived from Toronto in Las Vegas, where they were to pick up the luggage to take to Australia, Gardner told the men who brought him the suitcases that he no longer wanted to participate.
“At that stage, one of the men pulled out a gun, held it to his head and said words to the effect of, ‘ If you don’t do this, we’re gonna get your girlfriend and your parents, we know where they live,’ ” Havas told the Post.
Havas alleged Pastukhov is part of a scheme to recruit young Canadians with no criminal record as drug mules: “They were lied to, they were all vulnerable or in vulnerable situations and they were taken advantage of.” Gardner, three other Canadians and one American were arrested on Dec. 22, 2015, when cocaine valued between US$ 5.1 million and US$6.6 million was discovered in the lining of their luggage. The Australian Federal Police described it as the work of “a transnational criminal syndicate.” He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison but, after pleading guilty, will likely receive a considerably lower sentence.
Kait Moffat, an IT professional involved in Toronto electronic music, said Gardner is “a favourite among those in the music scene as he was always kind, friendly, and incredibly talented.
“It’s just not who he is, it’s not something he would willingly do, and he does not belong in prison. He is charming, polite and would always greet me with a hug and genuine interest in what I’ ve been up to.” She described him as “a talented, caring young man.”
Maddie Ross, a Montreal DJ who performs as maddielonglegz, said Gardner worked hard to build up the music community between Toronto and Montreal.
“It’s important to emphasize that he got in this situation because of a moment’s lapse of judgment paired with an ultimatum placed on his parents and girlfriend. Something I think anyone with a heart, ( conscience) and gun to their head would do,” she said on Facebook.
Gardner’s f ri ends are also selling T- shirts to raise money for his legal fees.
Because Gardner’s evaluation is simply a procedural matter, Havas said, it should not be long before he is sent enced. The others who pleaded guilty are scheduled for hearings in the days ahead. Canadian Porscha Wade, 20, has pleaded not guilty and has a trial scheduled for September.