Drug dealer caught with $50,000 in fentanyl jailed for more than six years

A routine traffic stop that led to the seizure of $50,000 in fentanyl has resulted in a penitentiary sentence of more than six years for a St. Catharines man.

“The sad reality is the region of Niagara is one of the worst in Ontario for fentanyl-related deaths,” Judge Joseph De Filippis said in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines Thursday.

“That’s most unfortunate, and offenders such as this contribute to that.”

Jesse Lalande was sentenced to eight years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to several charges including possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking and possession of crystal methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

The 37-year-old was given credit for the amount of time he had spent in pretrial custody — the equivalent of 20 months — and must serve an additional six years and four months.

On July 1, 2021, court was told, police on routine patrol on Highway 405 near Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls observed the defendant, a passenger in a car, not wearing a seatbelt.

Police initiated a traffic stop and questioned the passenger.

“The accused appeared to be deceitful with his name and attempted to demonstrate a French accent but was later found to be speaking fluent English,” said federal prosecutor Darren Anger.

The offender also made efforts to conceal his identity by refusing to remove his mask and sunglasses, despite claiming he was hot and was breathing heavily.

He was arrested for obstruction and police seized a bag from the vehicle which contained 188 grams of fentanyl. The opioids had an estimated street value of $50,000.

A bag containing 128 grams of crystal methamphetamine was also found inside the car. The estimated street value of the drugs was $10,000.

Police subsequently identified the offender, and determined he had previously been released from custody on drug charges and was under a court order not to leave his home. He had also removed an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.

Lalande had been released from custody with conditions while awaiting disposition on a September 2020 arrest in Niagara Falls.

In that case, police pulled over a vehicle on Kitchener Street and found a bong containing shatter in the cup holder, as well as a quantity of fentanyl and cocaine.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of assault causing bodily harm following a November 2021 incident at Niagara Detention Centre

Court was told an inmate at the Thorold jail was injured after he was attacked by several fellow inmates.

The offender also made efforts to conceal his identity by refusing to remove his mask and sunglasses.