Project Distress target pleads guilty to drug charges

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This article was published 02/03/2015 (3342 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A massive Manitoba drug investigation has quickly paid off with its first conviction.

Michael Tuan Van Nguyen, 25, of Mississauga, Ont pleaded guilty Tuesday to trafficking and proceeds of crime as part of a deal struck between Crown and defence lawyers. He was then handed a seven-and-a-half year prison sentence and nearly $50,000 fine as part of a joint-recommendation.

Nguyen was one of 14 people arrested last December as part of “Project Distress” which involved a lengthy undercover sting operation involving members of the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force.

He is the first to admit responsibility. All other accused remain before the courts and are presumed innocent.

“This is about as early as you’re going to be able to enter a guilty plea,” said Crown attorney Erin Magas.

Extensive details emerged publicly for the first time Tuesday, including the fact police relied on a gang member turned “secret agent” to infiltrate the criminal network. That agent was paid up to $500,000 for his efforts, which included allowing police to get audio and video surveillance of key drug transactions.

One of those involved Nguyen, who was observed brokering a deal to bring a kilogram of cocaine into Winnipeg in May 2014. The deal was first brokered between the police agent and a friend of his, who had contact with Nguyen while he was living in Ontario.

Nguyen then flew to Winnipeg and met with the agent at the food court at Polo Park mall, where specifics were hashed out. The next day, the drugs were delivered to a room at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel on Pembina Highway. The agent then brought the drugs to police, who gave him $49,500 in money which he paid to Nguyen the following day during a meeting at the Clarion Hotel near Polo Park.

Nguyen then returned to Toronto and wasn’t arrested until months later.

“I’m done. This life isn’t going to take me anywhere,” he told his lawyer. Nguyen has a previous 2010 drug conviction out of Calgary, where his parents live, that resulted in a 28-month jail sentence.

“His hope is to get out and stay clean,” defence lawyer Richard Wolston told court on Tuesday.

As part of Project Distress, police were able to intercept thousands of encrypted communications between targets of the operation on a closed-circuit Blackberry network, which the agent provided them access to, court was told.

The 15-month probe targeted high-level drug trafficking and organized crime activities in Manitoba, with connections to Ontario, Alberta and B.C. It resulted in the seizure of six kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of methamphetamine and small quantities of other drugs. The seizures included $70,000 in cash, three handguns and 17 long guns.

The Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force is made up of the Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP and Brandon Police Service investigators.