Drug dealer gets 4-years for trafÀcking in Kelowna, W. Kelowna

A drug dealer has been sentenced to four years in jail for trafÀcking fentanyl and a mixture of other drugs in Kelowna and West Kelowna.

Behrang Khosravi of Vancouver was found guilty in April of three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafÀcking.

On July 27, 2016, Kelowna RCMP arrested Khosravi and Joseph Bergeron, who were believed to be tied to a gang in the Lower Mainland and who were trying to establish business in Kelowna, police said at the time.

A search of a local hotel room and each of the men's vehicles yielded 143.19 grams of a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine, 238.79 grams of cocaine, 69.6 grams of methamphetamine and $21,000 in cash.

The Crown proposed a six-year jail sentence for Khosravi, while the defence argued for a 36-month sentence.

“I've had a lot of time to sit and think of the mistakes that I’ve made in my life,” Khosravi, 30, said in B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna Thursday. “I just want to say I’m sorry for all the mistakes I’ve made.”

In his sentencing submissions, federal Crown prosecutor Matthew Canzer said Khosravi’s drug trafÀcking was higher than street level, calling it a mid-level drug operation.

Justice Allan Betton said that while the operation was bigger and more sophisticated than a basic dial-a-dope operation, he characterized it as street-level trafÀcking.

Khosravi does not have prior drug convictions, but does have a criminal record with offences including aggravated assault, mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

“His conduct is not indicative of a person motivated to improve his conduct,” said Betton. Betton sentenced Khosravi to 48 months in jail. With credit for time served, Khosravi has 17 months left to serve.