Nanaimo OPS drug bust results in guilty pleas, primary accused faces lengthy jail sentence  

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Gerid James Gregory-Allen plead guilty on Thursday, April 30, for his role in a drugs and weapons bust in late 2024 outside an overdose prevention site in Nanaimo. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

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Nanaimo OPS drug bust results in guilty pleas, primary accused faces lengthy jail sentence

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Federal Crown prosecutor Chris Gibson outlined facts of the case, in which a civilian filed a complaint with the Nanaimo RCMP regarding two individuals who turned out to be Gregory-Allen and Koshman in a vehicle on Cavan St. 

Gregory-Allen was counting pills, put them in a backpack, and left.

Pictures of the pair were sent to Mounties, who were recognized by police investigators. 

Knowing the pair frequented the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) at 250 Albert St., police showed up to investigate. 

Gregory-Allen was spotted by police with the same backpack pictured by the civilian witness in the front courtyard area of the OPS. 

Both suspects were arrested on site.

Gregory-Allen’s backpack contained about 225 grams of methamphetamine, 80 grams of crack cocaine, over 40 grams of fentanyl, bear spray, phones, a scale, and a key to the Castaway Motel on Terminal Ave. 

He also had a collapsible baton, brass knuckles, a knife, and about $640 cash. 

Koshman’s backpack contained just over seven grams of crack cocaine, 1.5 grams of fentanyl, opioid pills, brass knuckles, bear spray, drug pipes, and $320 cash. 

Significant to the investigation was a loaded 3D printed firearm also found in Koshman’s backpack; however, the weapon with five bullets belonged to Gregory-Allen. 

Koshman was adamant the weapon was not hers, with Gregory-Allen taking responsibility for the gun. 

While the weapon was considered loaded, which was reflected in the charge Gregory-Allen pleaded guilty to on Thursday, the federal Crown’s Gibson said the weapon wasn’t considered “immediately fireable.” 

The Crown’s Gibson said police secured Gregory-Allen’s motel room and obtained a search warrant. 

“Significantly, there was a loaded sawed-off, break-action shotgun and a pump-action shotgun, which was unloaded but had shells available to be used. There was $10,000 cash and over a kilogram of different types of drugs: fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and GHB.”   

Gibson said a joint submission has been agreed upon with Gregory-Allen’s lawyer, amounting to a 10-year prison sentence. 

Gregory-Allen also pleaded guilty to a pair of drug trafficking charges for an incident on May 2, 2024, outside a supportive housing and resource centre on Wesley St. 

He was found with 35 grams of crack cocaine and 22 grams of a fentanyl/carfentanil mix. 

Pre-sentence and Gladue reports were issued for Gregory-Allen, who entered guilty pleas from the Nanaimo Correctional Centre.

He’ll be formally sentenced at a yet-to-be-determined future date. 

Gregory-Allen has been in custody since the Sept. 12, 2024, offence date. 

Koshman, who has no prior criminal record, attended the proceedings from a Lower Mainland treatment centre.

Court was told Koshman is contesting her sentencing process, and is said to be seeking a non-custodial sentence. 

News of the bust heightened community tensions around the service, with the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s mid-Island branch pledging a full review of its procedures.

Jason Harrison told NanaimoNewsNOW, approximately three weeks after the incident, they’re cooperating fully with a police investigation.

“Should any gaps or areas for improvement be identified [in their internal review], we are fully committed to adopting the necessary changes to strengthen our processes.”

Mayor Leonard Krog echoed concerns from those living near the facility and said in October he was “deeply disturbed” by news of the bust.

“If these places are to be successful, people have to have confidence in how they are managed, and this certainly, I think, has raised some serious questions that are disturbing, and I hope there will be answers forthcoming,” Krog said.

Nanaimo City Council has no jurisdiction over the property or the operator, which falls under a ministerial order formalized in 2016 in response to the ongoing toxic drug crisis.

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