Ex-gang boss gambled away drug money, court hears

If not for a joint submission from the Crown and defence, a Queen’s Bench judge says he would have imposed a longer sentence on a Saskatoon man who pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine over two years.

On Friday, Justice Ronald Mills sentenced Darren Craig Harper, 46, to two and a half years in prison — but not without a warning.

“You’ve received a break through efforts of counsel. Take advantage of it,” Mills told Harper after accepting the jointly proposed sentence.

Judges are encouraged, through legislation, to accept joint submissions “unless the proposed sentence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.”

According to the agreed statement of facts, Harper was caught selling a relatively small amount — 5.6 grams of cocaine. However, Mills said the fact that he spent $75,000 in drug money at Saskatchewan casinos proves he had been trafficking for a prolonged period of time, which could warrant a higher sentence.

Mills also noted Harper’s prior record of drug offences, which includes a previous sentence for cocaine trafficking.

Harper was the longtime boss of Saskatoon’s Terror Squad street gang and has links to the Hells Angels, according to parole documents.

On Sept. 8, 2016, police observed two men separately leaving a home on Avenue E South with cocaine. One man said he got it from Harper, who was the only person inside the house when police conducted their search, federal Crown prosecutor Kirsten Janis told court.

She said police found baggies that tested positive for cocaine, $3,480 in cash and cellphones.

Records showed Harper had no taxable income between 2013 and 2016 and lost $75,000 to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority between 2014 and 2016.

Since there is no way to recoup that money, Harper was given a fine in lieu of forfeiture and has 10 years to repay the proceeds of crime he gambled away.

Defence lawyer Morris Bodnar said his client wants to straighten out his life and insists this will never happen again. Harper told court that despite feeling hopeless in the past, he has no choice but to succeed for his two children.

“I want the public to know I’m far from perfect, but I own all my mistakes.”

As a result of his guilty plea, Harper’s charges of possessing proceeds of crime under $5,000 and possessing bear spray for a dangerous purpose were stayed.