A 26-year-old Surrey man caught with crack cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl during a dial-a-dope investigation in Burnaby has been sentenced to 18 months in jail and six months of probation.
Parmveer Manhas was arrested in Burnaby on March 4, 2020, after officers investigating a suspected dial-a-dope operation spotted the driver of a Ford Escape making five "short duration stops with different suspected street-level drug dealers," according to a sentencing ruling by B.C. provincial court Judge Patricia Bond Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Officers arrested Manhas after the fifth stop, and an initial search found he had 10.16 grams of crack cocaine on him.
A subsequent strip search revealed Manhas was also in possession of seven pieces of meth and 30 pieces of fentanyl/acetyl fentanyl.
Manhas was charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in February 2021 and found guilty on all three counts on April 25.
The Crown had called for a 30-month prison sentence and a lifetime weapons ban.
But Manhas's lawyer, Jeffrey Ray, had argued for a two-year conditional sentence, which would have allowed Manhas to serve his sentence in the community.
In handing down her 18-month jail sentence, Bond noted Manhas had a criminal record, had already served a two-year jail sentence for a firearms charge dating back to April 2016, and was on probation at the time he was caught with the drugs in Burnaby.
Bond also highlighted the fact Manhas was dealing fentanyl.
"He was selling fentanyl, and his motive was profit," she said.
As mitigating factors, Bond noted Manhas is still young and had begun his rehabilitation by moving back in with his parents in Surrey after some time living with friends in Burnaby.
During sentencing submissions, Manhas's lawyer said his client acknowledged "a level of immaturity" had played into his past offending.
"He admits he carried weapons to school to be the cool guy," Bond said.
During his probation, Manhas will be banned from consuming alcohol and other intoxicating substances except in accordance with a medical prescription.
He will also have to complete counselling as directed by his probation officer and will be under a lifetime weapons ban.
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