Drug trafficker sent to prison for 'dealing in death'

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A Hamilton drug dealer who was acquitted in a 2017 shooting in Brantford has been sent to prison for dealing fentanyl.

Goran Nejat Kkakamad, 23, faced several firearms charges after shots were fired at a municipal townhouse complex at 359 Darling St. in October 2017.

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But a May 2019 trial turned into a comedy of errors when the Crown’s witness – the intended shooting victim – declared it wasn’t Kakamad who shot him. And Kakamad, with his twin brother sitting in the courtroom, couldn’t be decisively identified from video surveillance.

But, six days after being acquitted on eight firearms charges, Kakamad was arrested again by Brantford police who found him in the area of William and Richmond streets with drugs worth thousands of dollars, including nine grams of fentanyl, a powerful opioid linked to overdose deaths across the country, and more than $5,000 in cash.

Kakamad pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl and cocaine for trafficking.

“Mr. Kakamad made the intentional choice to deal in death,” Ontario Court Justice Colette Good said in sentenced the man.

“It’s time for this court to send the message to Mr. Kakamad and other drug dealers that if they choose to sell this particular drug in our community you will be going to jail for a very long time because you clearly have complete and utter disregard for human life.”

The Crown attorney asked for a sentence of three to four years, while Kakamad’s lawyer said a two-year sentence was enough.

The judge sentenced Kakamad to four years in prison but subtracted his time served of 366 days, leaving him with three years to go.

Good said she considered a number of factors in Kakamad’s favour, including that he young, has strong family support, quickly pleaded guilty and expressed his remorse. He also was struggling with his own addiction, which he now has under control, she said.

“His addiction started around Christmas 2018 when he found himself in custody at Maplehurst (Correctional Complex in Milton, Ont.) on charges of which he was ultimately acquitted,” said Good. “He found the living conditions so stressful that he began using drugs as a coping mechanism.”

But Good said she couldn’t overlook other factors outweighed any sympathy the court might have for the drug dealer.

Good said Brantford is suffering a fentanyl crisis.

“On Jan. 10 alone, members of the local police services responded to four suspected fentanyl-related overdoses that tragically resulted in the loss of life,” the judge said.

“It’s simply not enough for Mr. Kakamad to say to the court that he’s seen the light and wants to change.

“Being an addict, he chose to selfishly support his own habit (by dealing) and he would have known the misery he was passing on to others.”

Good said Kakamad, despite his youth, already has a significant criminal record filled with 38 convictions, of which many are for violence and breaches of court orders.

“I consider his prospects of rehabilitation to be quite limited because he consistently chooses to involve himself in the criminal justice system. He has no respect for the law and no respect for court orders.”

Good agreed to the usual enhanced credit for pre-trial custody but turned down a request for extra credit because of the lockdowns and poor conditions at Maplehurst. Kakamad wasn’t a “model prisoner,” accruing eight misconducts while there, she noted.

“When you’re dealing in fentanyl, not only are you endangering the life of the addict, but also the friend, family member or first-responder who might render assistance to the addict,” said the judge. “And you are contributing to the significant crime problem in this community.

“Your seriously misguided, selfish and opportunistic choices have significantly endangered public safety and contributed to the social decay in this community.”

SGamble@postmedia.com
@EXPSGamble