Seeking 6 years for dealer

Photo: File photo

A man who was dealing the four illicit drugs responsible for the most deaths in B.C. in Kelowna in 2016 is facing sentencing in Supreme Court this week.

Behrang Khosravi was found guilty of three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking in May after a week-and-a-half-long trial in April.

Khosravi was arrested on July 27, 2016 outside the Kelowna Fairfield Inn and Suites after police had been tailing a red Toyota Echo they had been tipped off was being used to deal drugs in town.

Police found several large amounts of drugs in the car and in Khosravi's hotel room, including 238.79 grams of cocaine, 69.6 grams of methamphetamine and 143.19 grams of a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Another man, Joseph Bergeron, was arrested leaving Khosravi's hotel room with a duffel bag with $20,500 inside.

Khosravi has remained in custody since his arrest.

During sentencing submissions Wednesday, Crown prosecutor Matthew Canzer told the court that fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin were involved in the most illicit drug overdoses during the 2016-17 period.

“These are killer drugs,” Canzer said. “(Khosravi) was dealing death to make money,”

Just over a month prior to his arrest, Khosravi had been released on bail on additional drug trafficking charges. He was also on probation when he was arrested in Kelowna. He had just began his 18 months of probation in April 2016.

“This was a crime motivated by greed and profit,” Canzer said.

“Mr. Kohsravi was profiting off those who are addicted to these drugs, and are among the most vulnerable members of our society.”

The Crown is seeking a six-year sentence for Khosravi, pointing to his past criminal record, which includes aggravated assault.

Crown is also seeking a forfeiture of the $20,500 seized during the arrest.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled through Thursday.