REGINA – A Saltcoats woman will spend the next decade behind bars after being caught trafficking large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine on the streets of Regina.
Crystal Paige Ford, 41, and Scott Douglas Flaman, 42, were arrested back in January after a search warrant was executed in Saltcoats.
Ford appeared in Regina Provincial Court on Sept. 7, entering guilty pleas to a number of drug charges.
In an agreed statement of facts, the Court learned that in May of 2022, RPS received information from a confidential source that Ford was trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the city from a residence in the 2900 block of East More Crescent. Police observed Ford leaving that location on July 27 of 2022 with a pink suitcase and several bags, and she was arrested after a traffic stop just before 8 p.m. that evening.
In their search, officers found over $1,200 in cash, plus an estimated $7,275 worth of drugs. Police seized a total of 1,198.42 grams of methamphetamine separated into multiple bags and 2.02 grams of MDMA. A further search of the residence revealed 1.72 grams of fentanyl.
Ford was released on Sept. 29, 2022 after a bail hearing on conditions that included electronic monitoring, abiding by a 24-hour curfew, reside in an approved residence, and no contact with two individuals - one of whom being Flaman.
About three months later, RPS received another anonymous tip that Ford was back trafficking. On Jan. 17, a blue Ford Focus registered to Ford’s mother was noticed on the 1600 block of Ottawa Street with Ford observed going into a house, then back into the vehicle then returning to Saltcoats. A CDSA search of her residence two days later reveal $1,700 cash, multiple cell phones, a digital scale, 3,181.65 grams of methamphetamine, 821.21 grams of red and green fentanyl, and 4.11 grams of cocaine. She was also with Flaman during this time - a person named in the no-contact order.
“She did not receive permission at that time form her probation officer to be out of her residence at that time,” said Federal Crown prosecutor Shannon Williams.
Ford had spent 295 actual days in custody regarding these charges, ranging from July 28 to Sept. 29, 2022 then again from Jan. 19 to Sept. 7, 2023.
“Ford possessed the drugs seized for the purposes of trafficking,” Williams continued. “She was engaged as a wholesale trafficker at the time of her arrest.”
While Williams noted “very little guidance” in terms of sentencing trafficking fentanyl in particular, the joint submission of 10 years behind bars for this case is agreeable.
“In the circumstances of this case, we do submit that the sentence of 10 years sufficiently denounces the offence and will deter Ms. Ford and other offenders and it will serve to protect society from those who profit from trafficking in drugs.”
Legal Aid lawyer Taylor Bereziak provided the court with some background on Ford, noting that she was employed as a journeyman heavy duty mechanic and was not proud of being a drug dealer.
“She tells me that she sees this very lengthy sentence to do what she needs to do in custody to put this activity to an end,” Bereziak said. “She said she wants to do this for her children. She understands they’ve been through a lot because of this, and she wants to be there for them in the future. Ultimately, she tells me she wants to be proud of herself again.”
A large mitigating factor was Ford’s guilty plea to the charges.
“By entering a guilty plea, Ms. Ford is accepting responsibility for her actions,” Bereziak continued. “She understands that her actions have consequences and she is totally prepared to accept them.”
Judge Noah Evanchuk also acknowledged the weight of the guilty plea, and was blunt about the scourge of fentanyl in communities across Saskatchewan.
“These are some of the more serious trafficking charges and possession for the purpose of trafficking charges I’ve seen in my career on the bench,” he said.
Addressing Ford, he also stressed the fatal reality that could be a contributing factor in the drop in provincial life expectancy overall.
“As someone who has been incarcerated, I am sure that you will have known dozens of people in very vulnerable situations over the past six to eight years that are now deceased,” Judge Evanchuk said. “Just yesterday as a presiding judge, I had the solemn task of withdrawing charges filed by the Crown for five people who had passed away. That was just yesterday.”
In a global sentence, Judge Evanchuk sentenced Flaman to 10 years less enhanced remand credit of 443 days, giving her 3,210 days in jail going forward.
Flaman, who has also spend time in jail since the pair’s Jan. 19 arrest, also appeared via video from the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre.
His charges were stayed by the Crown.
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