A convicted drug dealer who had been targeted by police was caught in the act again last fall, Red Deer court heard on Friday.
Alvin Law, 22, of Red Deer, was jailed for four years when he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.
He also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and breaching conditions of a conditional sentence order. Several other charges were withdrawn.
Federal Crown prosecutor Dave Inglis told court that Law was arrested on Sept. 11, 2008, while RCMP undercover officers were watching him in an alley in north Red Deer. He was observed making a suspected drug transaction.
Police followed him to a gas station, where he was arrested.
Discovered in his vehicle were 49 individually wrapped packets of cocaine weighing 0.3 grams each. Another packet contained 1.7 grams.
Inglis said the smaller packets are sold by dealers claiming they are 0.5 grams and the larger one is purported to be two grams.
Police also seized $1,930 in cash, which was forfeited to the Crown.
Law’s girlfriend, Southsada Khamkhay, was in the car and also charged. Charges against her were withdrawn.
Inglis said the most aggravating factor was that Law was still serving a two-years-less-a-day sentence for a drug dealing conviction in Edmonton.
The vehicle, which was the property of Law’s mother, was also seized and is the subject of court hearing later this fall.
Law was also banned for life from owning or possessing firearms and ammunition. He must also surrender a sample of his DNA.
Judge David Plosz also suspended his driving privilege for six months. “That means you can’t drive the prison laundry truck for that time,” Plosz said.
The judge also told Law that if he continues his drug dealing, he will only get more time in jail.
“You’re just a dirty drug dealer. That’s what you are,” Plosz said.
He said police in Red Deer and anywhere else that Law goes after jail will have him targeted. “You’re not smart enough to keep getting away with it,” Plosz said.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com