A Colwood man arrested in connection with one of the region's biggest drug seizures has been sentenced to more than three years in a federal penitentiary.
Kevin Michael Vezina, who was arrested on a busy downtown street last year after police smashed the window of his car, pleaded guilty in December to three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Vezina also pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property, including several unique gold rings and a ring from the Mann Cup -- the Canadian men's lacrosse championship -- that belonged to the brother of Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton.
Yesterday, provincial court Judge Michael Hubbard sentenced Vezina to 40 months on each trafficking charge and 18 months on the charge of possession of stolen property. The sentences are to be served concurrently. Vezina, who was credited with four months time served for the two months he spent in custody, must serve a further 36-month sentence.
Hubbard also imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and a DNA order. Vezina has forfeited two cars -- a 2008 Nissan Altima and a 2005 Toyota Tacoma -- as well as the cash seized by police.
"You have been involved in a very substantial drug operation and to your credit you have come to plead guilty," said Hubbard.
Federal prosecutor Dirk Ryneveld told the court the Victoria police strike force began investigating Vezina in November 2008 and joined with the regional crime unit to conduct surveillance on him from Jan. 13 to Feb. 19.
On Feb. 18, police obtained search warrants for Vezina's home at 280 Milburn Dr., his room at the Hotel Grand Pacific and his cars. The following day, when police arrested Vezina at the intersection of Pandora Avenue and Douglas Street, they searched his Nissan Altima and found crystal meth, $8,250 in cash, cocaine and heroin.
Officers recovered two kilograms of cocaine worth $100,000 and eight ounces of heroin worth $25,000 in his hotel room. They found about half a kilogram of cocaine at Vezina's house on Milburn Drive, weigh scales, drug cooking materials and other paraphernalia, said Ryneveld.
"The total value of the drugs and cash seized according to the police was $246,700," he said.
In asking for a 40-month sentence, Ryneveld told the court Vezina had a criminal record for possession for the purpose of trafficking dating back to May 2004 in Newfoundland and Labrador, for which he received a 25-month sentence.
