Nanaimo man avoids additional jail time for dealing fentanyl and meth

Gregoire faced a number of charges related to two incidents in Nanaimo and Ladysmith, where he was caught with drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, along with multiple weapons and paraphernalia related to trafficking.

Incidents
On July 12, 2021, Nanaimo RCMP received a call about a Ford F-150 truck being driven erratically near Seventh St. and Bruce Ave.

The day prior, someone reported seeing a firearm in a truck matching the description of the F-150, with the vehicle registered to Gregoire.

An officer located the vehicle parked but still running, with the driver appearing to be slumped over the steering wheel and not responding to the officer knocking on the window.

An open beer can was observed in the centre console, and the officer recognized the man as Gregoire, who initially refused to come out once he was awakened.

A second officer arrived on scene, and they managed to remove him from the vehicle, where police saw bear spray in the driver’s door.

Gregoire was handcuffed and searched, where police found 8.2 grams of methamphetamine and around $950 in cash. A partially opened safe was located inside the truck, with scales, bags of unknown powder, an Airsoft pistol, a collapsible baton, a smaller safe inside and other materials.

He was taken back to the police station where he failed a sobriety test and was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

Released that night, a subsequent search warrant was executed on his truck a few days later.

Inside, police found a total of 10.8 grams of fentanyl, 8.3 grams of methamphetamine, under a gram of cocaine, bear spray, two loaded Airsoft pistols, two large knives, an extendable baton, various credit cards, cheque books and IDs belonging to other people.

Numerous paraphernalia related to drug trafficking, such as small bags, score sheets, and quantities of unknown powder believed to be mixing agents.

The total value of the drugs if sold on the street was believed to be around $3,130.

Messages found on Gregoire’s phone detailed the purchase and sale of various drugs.

“There’s also the fact, as the Crown noted, that some of the fentanyl contained benzodiazepine,” said Judge Lamperson. “Which apparently means that if a person overdoses on that the person is not as responsive and maybe not responsive at all the Narcan, which essentially saved people.”

Gregoire pleaded guilty to other charges related to an incident in Ladysmith in August 2024, where he was located inside a stolen F-350 Ford truck with other people’s identification in his possession.

Sentence
Court heard how Gregoire grew up in a low-income situation marked by evictions and frequent moves, with his parents separating when he was four and his father struggling with addiction.

He dropped out of high school in Qualicum Beach prior to graduating and by the age of 22, was a regular drug user living on the streets of Nanaimo, committing crimes to support his habit.

“I accept what this accused has said that is, if he’s released on the streets without treatment, it’s very likely he’ll fall back into using drugs and committing crimes to support himself,” Lamperson said.

Gregoire is required to go to the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Community where his father is currently a client.

He will also have a number of probation conditions he must follow, including a weapons ban, submitting a sample of his DNA, not possessing any debit cards or ID’s that are not his, and not operating a vehicle without the specific permission or presence of the vehicle owner.

Lamperson said his sentencing decision was influenced by what he believes is Gregoire’s true and strong desire to get treatment, along with the availability of the bed at the treatment centre.

“Some judges would have given you a sentence and you would have been in (jail). The reason I did this is because of efforts you’ve made…I hope it goes very well and I hope I don’t see you in the next while. I’m happy to see you, but not in this capacity.”

Gregoire’s prior criminal record includes two past convictions from 2023 for possession of a stolen vehicle and being unlawfully inside a dwelling, where he received a time-served sentence and 12 months of probation.

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by Jordan Davidson

Nanaimo man avoids additional jail time for dealing fentanyl and meth

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