Kerry Wallace Chang was jailed this week for over seven years for trafficking fentanyl and possessing crystal meth and GHB, commonly referred to as the date rape drug (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Jailed

Prolific Nanaimo offender jailed 7+ years for fentanyl trafficking

Apr 2, 2025 | 4:01 PM

NANAIMO — A lifelong Nanaimo resident deeply entrenched in the local criminal underworld has managed to escape extended jail sentences for years.

That changed abruptly for Kerry Wallace Chang on Tuesday, April 1.

Chang, 56, was handed a seven-year, seven-month prison sentence in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo after he was found guilty last spring of trafficking nearly half a kilogram (471 grams) of fentanyl.

He unsuccessfully argued at trial the fentanyl found by police on a living room table during a November 2020 raid at a south Nanaimo home either belonged to a deceased addict or a street drug courier.

The fentanyl was on top of 60 grams of the lethal synthetic opioid, and much smaller amounts of crystal meth and GHB, which was found in Chang’s bedroom of a Twelfth St. home, which he pleaded guilty to possessing.

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Crown counsel described the bust as a mid-level trafficking operation with elements of sophistication.

Chang’s sentencing was scheduled for last September; however, he no-showed, leading to a Canada-wide arrest warrant and his eventual capture.

Nanaimo RCMP issued a news release and this mugshot after a nationwide warrant was issued for Chang’s arrest. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Prior to the acceptance of a jointly crafted sentencing recommendation, defence attorney Kelly Bradshaw said Chang, who had a positive and supportive upbringing, battled substance abuse since his late teens.

Chang is the father of murdered 16-year-old Makayla Chang, with Bradshaw telling court her client blames himself for his daughter’s fate.

“I know that Mr. Chang has a hole in his heart, not only for what happened to Makayla but for his part in him not being there for her, that he feels he allowed this to happen — that’s something that Mr. Chang will never, ever get over obviously,” Bradshaw said.

Chang was jailed for three months one day before his daughter was reported missing in 2017.

Her body was found about two months later as an exhaustive police investigation led to an eventual confession and second-degree murder conviction against a man who befriended her.

Bradshaw said the fentanyl in Chang’s bedroom was his personal supply to cope with the effects of a serious single-vehicle crash in July 2020, involving Chang losing control of his car and plunging over a steep Rutherford Rd. embankment.

She noted Chang got clean in his 20s, worked for the Canadian Coast Guard, and had aspirations of being a helicopter pilot, but relapsed.

Chang’s criminal record is an extensive one, dating back to 1988 when he was 20 years old.

He’s amassed nearly 60 criminal convictions since, primarily involving violence, drugs, property crimes and breaching court-ordered conditions in the Nanaimo area.

Despite a long rap sheet, Chang’s longest prior jail tenure was only two years.

Referencing that judges are strongly advised to accept joint submissions, justice Robin Baird reminded Chang several times how he was fortunate he had not received a more severe punishment.

As a comparison, Baird pointed to the case of an immigrant drug courier with no prior record handed eight years behind bars for trafficking a kilogram of fentanyl.

Baird, well acquainted with fentanyl dealers, described what he called the catastrophic impacts the drug is having.

“Every city, every town, every village in B.C. and elsewhere in this country is inflicted by the scourge of this synthetic opioid and it’s ruining our communities.”

Baird, who oversaw Makayla Chang’s judicial proceedings, expressed sympathy for the teen’s death.

The veteran high court judge initiated an unscripted exchange with an attentive Chang as he stood in the prisoner’s box while outfitted in a jail-issued jumpsuit.

“Maybe you should think of it this way: live a clean and productive life from here on in her honour.”

“Absolutely, sir.”

“This has got to be it, Mr. Chang, this has got to be it — because if you get involved in this type of behaviour again, next time the sentence is going to be medieval, you understand?”

“Absolutely I do, sir.”

Chang apologized for bailing on last fall’s sentencing, saying he panicked, was scared and addicted.

“I owe my wife a happy ending to our life, we’ve been through a lot. I’m going to do my best in the system to make myself a better man. I’m approaching 57 years old next month, its been quite the story to my life,” he said.

Seven months’ worth of pretrial credit will reduce Chang’s sentence.

Federal Crown prosecutor Chris Gibson said Chang’s failure to appear in court will be dealt with separately at a later date.

A lifetime prohibited firearms and weapons ban, forfeiture order for the 2020 police raid, and a mandatory sample of Chang’s DNA were also ordered by Baird.

Chang will serve his sentence at a federal penitentiary to be selected by Correctional Service Canada.

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