39-year-old Michael William Gallant will spend the next four and a half years in jail after being sentenced for a pair of drug busts in Nanaimo in 2020 and 2021. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

jail time

Nanaimo man caught with fentanyl, carfentanil sentenced to federal prison

Dec 23, 2024 | 4:36 PM

NANAIMO — A local fentanyl dealer will spend the next four and half years in a federal institution.

Michael William Gallant, 39, was sentenced in BC Supreme Court in Nanaimo on Dec. 18, in relation to a pair of arrests when he was caught with trafficking paraphernalia and illicit drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil.

Quoting a similar case during her judgment, Justice Francesca Marzari said while she was impressed with the steps Gallant has taken to remain sober since his arrests, the serious harm caused by the illicit drugs he was in possession of can’t be ignored.

“There is no question the moral capability of vendors who traffic in fentanyl and its analog carfentanil, is very high. This Court has recognized that general deterrence, denunciation must feature prominently in such cases, like (the) serious, unabated public health crisis caused from the street sale of drugs containing fentanyl.”

Gallant pleaded guilty to three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in relation to the two arrests early on in the court process.

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Incidents
Court heard on July 30, 2020, police initiated a search warrant on a Nanaimo home following an investigation into drug trafficking and arrested Gallant and his then-girlfriend Mellisa Edwards.

Inside police found 72 grams of methamphetamine, 23 grams of fentanyl which also contained carfentanil, nine and a half grams of cocaine, $5,000 in cash mostly in coins and twenty dollar bills, ammo, a score sheet detailing transactions, powered caffeine, a digital scale, and other material for cutting and packaging narcotics.

Edwards was handed a non-conditional sentence on Sept. 19 in relation to the incident and is currently in a treatment facility on the mainland.

On July 4, 2021, Gallant was pulled over by police while driving a stolen vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, police found a backpack containing over 187 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of fentanyl, two and a half grams of cocaine, 22 hydromorphone pills, and various drug paraphernalia including score sheets, scales, empty dime bags, and a pound of caffeine powder.

A cell phone seized in the car registered to Gallant contained messages up to the day of the bust with requests for various drugs, including ones found in Gallant’s possession.

History and recovery
Justice Marzari spoke about Gallant’s upbringing in a home filled with drug and alcohol abuse and family violence, removing his own father from their home at the age of 14 to protect his mother.

With only a grade 10 education, Gallant began abusing drugs and alcohol as a teen, which developed into a heavy methamphetamine addiction by his 30s.

She said Gallant has been sober for over a year while he spent 19 months on pre-trial house arrest, has “significant and impressive levels” of family support, and expresses what she believes is genuine remorse for his actions.

However, despite his sobriety, Gallant is hesitant to participate in any group rehab programs, including leaving a rehab facility in February, due to fears fellow users may be aware of his drug debts.

In 2023, Gallant was the victim of a home invasion when he was struck in the head with an axe which required stitches, said justice Marzari.

“He relates this attack to his previous drug associations and debts, and I find that he’s been avoiding all such associations since at least since that date…he is worried in particular about going to jail with persons who are aware of his drug debts and who may wish to harm him.”

Aggravating factors included Gallant being involved in the cutting and processing of drugs and having over 20 grams of fentanyl and carfentanil.

He was only known to have sold drugs at the street level and not directly to other dealers, thus reducing his moral culpability.

He is required to submit a DNA sample and is banned from owning weapons or ammunition for life.

Gallant remained mostly motionless while he accepted his sentence in the prisoner box, while his mother and sister became emotional and began sobbing as the sentence was rendered, telling him how much they loved him as he was led away in handcuffs by the bailiff.

His past criminal record includes a 2017 possession charge and a few breaches of probation.

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