THUNDER BAY - A 32-year-old woman who allowed gang members from the Greater Toronto Area to use her Thunder Bay residence for drug trafficking activity in order to support her own addiction received a one-year custodial sentence on Tuesday.
Tiffany Thompson was arrested in late May after officers with the Thunder Bay Police Service executed a search warrant for a residence believed to be connected to drug trafficking activity, federal crown prosecutor Ron Poirier said Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Court heard police had been conducting surveillance on the house and received information Thompson and another woman had let individuals from the GTA use the residence to sell drugs.
Thompson entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking after police found a large quantity of cocaine in her bedroom and purse.
Her lawyer, Michael Hargadon told the court Thompson’s drug addiction is what ultimately led to her drug trafficking offences.
“At the time she was charged she was heavily addicted to crack cocaine and was essentially being led by other individuals at least in part to feed her addiction,” Hargadon said. “At that point, her addiction was so deep I don’t think she fully comprehended the implications of what she as doing.”
Despite being charged with a serious drug offence, Hargadon explained Thompson’s drug addiction should be noted to the court.
“She was being taken advantage of by others as a result of that addiction and that serves to substantially diminish her degree of moral blameworthiness,” he said.
Judge Elaine Burton accepted a joint submission for Thompson of a total incarceration period of one year.
"Given the background that I have heard, it's the context that helps explain how you have come to be in trouble," Burton said. "It's not an excuse but it tells me there are some areas in your life where you could certainly use some assistance."
After her jail sentence, she will be placed on a 12-month probation period which will require her to attend counselling for substance abuse and trauma.
Thompson also faces a 10-year weapons prohibition order. She was granted credit for the time she has served in pre-sentence custody and has roughly six months left to serve on her sentence.
