Eastern Shore man awaits sentencing decision
A judge has reserved his decision at an Eastern Shore man's sentencing on three charges from an undercover investigation into drug trafficking by the Hells Angels.
Paul Francis Monahan, 65, of Ostrea Lake pleaded guilty in Dartmouth provincial court in April 2019 to conspiracy to traffic cocaine, conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime, and trafficking marijuana.
Monahan's sentencing hearing was adjourned several times over the past two years for various reasons, including concerns about his poor health, but the judge finally heard sentencing submissions Friday.
The Crown argued for a four-year sentence while the defence recommended two years in prison, followed by a period of probation.
Justice Frank Hoskins – who was appointed to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court this summer – will give his decision in mid-october.
Monahan and an Ontario man, Mark David Heickert of Orillia, were arrested on drug-related charges in
November 2017 following a nine-month investigation called Operation Harley.
Monahan was a hangaround member of the Hells Angels Nomads chapter in New Brunswick and a former hang-around member of a Hells Angels chapter in London, Ont.
Heickert was a full-patch member of the Hells Angels in Oshawa, Ont.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Monahan sold marijuana to an undercover RCMP officer in Nova Scotia 15 times between February and July 2017 and also set up four purchases of cocaine at Heickert's home in Ontario between June and November of that year.
A different undercover operator bought one kilogram of cocaine the first three occasions and two kilos the final time. The purchase price was $47,000 per kilo and Monahan was paid a commission for each transaction.
Heickert, 52, entered guilty pleas in June 2019 on three charges: conspiracy to traffic cocaine, conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime and breaching his release conditions by having contact with another member of the Hells Angels.
He was sentenced in January 2020 to four years and seven months in prison and also received a $141,000 fine in lieu of forfeiture, to be paid within 10 years of his release from prison.
On Friday, prosecutor Mike
Taylor said the Crown was seeking a shorter sentence than the 4.5 years Heickert got for the cocaine conspiracy conviction because Monahan was a facilitator rather than the seller and had a “slightly” lesser degree of moral culpability.
“But without him, these transactions would not have taken place,” Taylor said of Monahan.
“He was a significant cog in the wheel, so to speak.”
Taylor said the facts before the court indicate a meaningful connection to a lifestyle of trafficking a controlled substance.
“Mr. Monahan played a significant role in arranging the sale of large quantities of cocaine,” he said. “That's not something that someone can do unless they are firmly entrenched in the lifestyle and reach a significant level of trust.”
Defence lawyer Peter Planetta told the court his client has “very serious health problems,” including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.
“His time in custody will be harder on him than the average inmate,” Planetta said.
The Crown also requested a $26,740 fine in lieu of forfeiture, reflecting the money Monahan received for the marijuana and as commission for the cocaine deals. Planetta asked that Monahan have 10 years to pay the fine after he gets out of prison.