A four-year sentence and a fine of a little over $8 million was yesterday handed down to Courtney De Monick, one of the three persons held on Tuesday after a total of almost 200 pounds of cannabis was found in a Charlestown house by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU).
De Monick, 58, appear-ed before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, who read two charges to him and his co-accused, Ebony Craig.
Subsequent to the reading of the charges, however, De Monick pleaded guilty to both charges, which resulted in CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford requesting that the charges against Craig be withdrawn. This request was granted by the magistrate and Craig was freed.
De Monick, of Lot 82 St. Stephens Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, admitted that on January 29th, at the very location, he trafficked 1.564 kilogrammes, equivalent to 3.4 pounds, of cannabis.
Additionally, he admitted that on the very date and at the very location, he was in possession of 87.668 kilogrammes, equivalent to 193 pounds, of cannabis and 20 grammes of cocaine.
Sandiford told the court that on the day in question, sometime after 9 am, De Monick was under surveillance at Lot 82 St. Stephens Street, Charles-town, Georgetown, when he was observed leaving the premises with a black bag. It was noted that De Monick later reentered the premises and left with another black bag and took it to vehicle, PPP 3008, and then walked off. He was intercepted shortly after and taken back to the car, where the black bag was removed and opened to reveal 1.564 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Sandiford told the court that a search warrant was granted and sometime after 2 pm the same day CANU ranks entered De Monick’s premises. She said in the bedroom and kitchen areas, large quantities of parceled cannabis were found along with parcels in an icebox. The ranks also discovered a scale, bulk plastic wrap and other items, which were removed from the premises, along with the illicit substance, and taken to CANU headquarters, where they were weighed, sealed, stamped and marked.
The prosecutor noted that De Monick assisted with the investigation.
Prior to sentencing the accused, the acting Chief Magistrate asked him his purpose for having the items, to which he stated that he was just trying to make some money. The accused later added that he has a four-year-old who suffers from bronchitis and he would have to take him to the doctor very often. “I know it was a bad choice but it is a choice I made,” he said. “When it comes to your children, sometimes you don’t know what else to do. I’m sorry.”
De Monick then heard that the court took into consideration the fact that he assisted with the investigation, that he didn’t waste the court’s time and was a first time offender. Twelve months were then deducted from his sentence because of these factors. However, the accused heard that the court also took into consideration the amount of narcotics found and the potential risk it posed to the community.
He was then sentenced to four years in prison and fined $8.4 million for the possession of cannabis and cocaine and sentenced to a year for the trafficking charge and fined $50,000. He will, however, only serve four years as the sentences are expected to run concurrently.
