While sentencing Randy Nahdee to nine years in prison for drug trafficking, a Sarnia judge pointed out his Walpole Island First Nation community has struggled mightily against the fentanyl epidemic.
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“It’s people like Mr. Nahdee that are responsible for inflicting this tremendous tide of misery upon his own community,” Justice Mark Poland said. “Mr. Nahdee, you should be terribly ashamed of the pain and trauma and misery that your drug-peddling behavior has inflicted upon your own community.”
The community between Sarnia and Chatham declared a state of emergency in recent years due to drug overdoses.
Nahdee was charged there in February 2023 with five counts of drug trafficking and one count of breaching a release order, because he was on bail at the time on London-area drug-trafficking charges.
He was caught in his hometown with nearly 43 grams of fentanyl, almost 83 grams of meth and nearly 35 grams of cocaine after being arrested on Highway 401 outside London in June 2021 with about 322 grams of fentanyl, almost 180 grams of cocaine, and 227 grams of crystal meth.
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After he pleaded guilty to six counts of trafficking, both the defense and Crown suggested nine years in prison.
“It is a significant sentence,” federal prosecutor Brian Higgins told the Sarnia judge. “Nine-year sentences are not common in our courts. But they are when they’re required, and it’s required in this case.”
Poland said he was uncomfortable with nine years.
“In my view, the sentence is at the very, very low end of the possible range,” he said.
But the judge added he was bound to impose it due to direction from the Supreme Court of Canada.
One reason for his discomfort was Nahdee’s prior convictions, Poland said.
“The criminal record of this man is abysmal,” he said, noting he has numerous drug trafficking and weapons offenses on it. “His criminal history is very, very concerning.
“The reality is that this sentence is as low as it could possibly be for Mr. Nahdee or a person in his circumstances.”
And he hasn’t learned from his past sentences, like a 20-month jail term for drug trafficking and weapons offenses in 2013, he added.
“Mr. Nahdee’s not gotten the message,” Poland said.
Nahdee apologized for his actions and said he’s had a lot of time to think while incarcerated.
After credit for pre-plea custody, he has just shy of six years left to serve.
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