THUNDER BAY – A convicted drug dealer will spend an additional five years behind bars after pleading guilty to additional charges.
John Tsekouras, who police labelled as the kingpin in their 2012 Project Dolphin bust, pleaded guilty at the Thunder Bay Courthouse on Thursday to conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and trafficking cocaine.
The 44-year-old had been previously sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after being found guilty in 2015 on four charges – one count each of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and marijuana and one count each of trafficking cocaine and marijuana.
Tsekouras had appealed those convictions all the way to the Supreme Court, arguing evidence from his Blackberry mobile device had been seized and searched unlawfully and should not have been allowed as evidence. His appeal was denied earlier this year.
The sentence imposed on Thursday will add five years to be served consecutive to the previous convictions. A nine-year sentence was also imposed on the conspiracy charge, but it is to be served concurrent to the previous conviction. As well, Tsekouras was fined $200,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of $60,000 with a 20-year window to pay.
Remaining charges against Tsekouras – which included conspiracy to commit murder – have been withdrawn.
