Drug trafficking lands man in jail

Thomas Francis Elliott was sentenced to 11 months in jail for drug possession for the purpose of trafficking

A Charlottetown man who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking says getting caught was a blessing.

Thomas Francis Elliott, who pleaded guilty in November to one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, was sentenced recently to 11 months in jail.

In a letter his attorney read to the court, Elliott said he’s been a drug addict for over 20 years and his life has consisted of crime, jail, hurt, pain and being alone. He said he has made strides to improve his life since his arrest.

“The day I got caught was a blessing because it was the day my eyes finally opened up and I realized I’ve been living the wrong life for way too long.”

On March 5, 2016, police received information Elliott was selling hydromorphone from his vehicle. Police found Elliott and a passenger in the vehicle and asked them to step out.

Upon searching the vehicle, police seized more than 200 hydromorphone tablets valued at about $4,300, as well as cash and a Blackberry smart phone.

The Crown mentioned the accused has a history of offences stemming back to 2002.

Defence attorney Thane MacEachern told the court at the time of his arrest, Elliott was using up to 50 hydromorphone pills each day. MacEachern says since being on the methadone program, Elliott has been “functioning much more socially than he had been able to do so in the past” and has maintained steady employment for the past year.

Provincial court Judge John Douglas said while it is noted the accused has taken positive steps, the nature of the crime requires jail time.

Along with jail time followed by two years of probation, Elliott must pay a $200 victim surcharge fee and submit a DNA sample to the national DNA data bank.

He is also banned from owning firearms for life.