Cocaine ‘courier’ handed five-year prison sentence

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A cocaine “courier” who got caught with $19,000 worth of the drug — then got caught with more cocaine at his home while out on bail — has received a five-year prison sentence.

Court heard that the man turned to the illegal drug trade when it got tough to financially support his family, but Justice Robert Cummings said others have paid a price.

“He may otherwise be loving and generous. The simple fact of the matter is he was a drug dealer of the highest order in this city,” Cummings said. “The drugs that he distributed cause nothing but pain and suffering to other people.”

Stacey Garrett Genaille pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and to breach of a recognizance.

Crown prosecutor Jason Clouston said that on Jan. 27, 2012, Brandon police got a tip that Genaille had travelled to Portage la Prairie to pick up several ounces of cocaine.

Police were told that Genaille would return to Brandon in a specific pickup truck.

Two city police officers parked along the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 340 turnoff at Douglas.

They spotted the pickup truck, with Genaille in the front passenger seat, and followed as it turned off the Trans-Canada and headed south on Highway 340.

As the truck neared Brandon along Veterans Way, another officer in another vehicle followed, too.

The truck was then stopped on the outskirts of the city.

The driver of the pickup had been hired by Genaille to drive to Portage and back for $500 and some cocaine.

The driver later told police that Genaille had handed over a large amount of money to a pair of men he’d met at a Portage sub sandwich shop.

The driver said that, as police pulled over the pickup truck, Genaille exclaimed, “We’re f—-d.”

When the driver asked why, Genaille said: “Because I’m packing a lot.”

As Genaille got out of the truck, a 28-gram (one ounce) chunk of cocaine wrapped in plastic fell out of the pickup and landed at his feet.

Inside Genaille’s pant leg was a bag that contained six more chunks of cocaine of the same weight. He had $300 cash in his pocket, too.

In total, there was 198 grams of cocaine worth a street value of $19,800, presuming it wouldn’t have been further diluted to increase volume and bring in more cash.

As it was, the cocaine represented 200 to 400 sales.

Genaille was released on bail on Feb. 1, 2012, but city police later got tips, including one through Crime Stoppers, that he was still involved in the illegal drug trade.

They placed Genaille under surveillance throughout June and raided his east-end home on June 21. He lived there with his common-law partner and three children, including a toddler.

Genaille and his family were in the yard when police entered his home.

Among the items they found inside was a coffee mug on top of a kitchen cupboard that contained a bag holding 30.5 grams (more than one ounce) of cocaine with a street value of $3,000.

A scale contaminated with cocaine was seized from the pantry, and police also seized packaging and “score sheets” used to track drug deals.

A line of cocaine, apparently ready to snort, was also found on a CD case on top of a kitchen cupboard.

Clouston described Genaille as a “courier” of mid-level quantities of illegal drugs.

Genaille’s lawyer, Crystal Antila, said her client turned to the drug trade when he fell on hard financial times.

His partner had returned to school and he was the primary provider for a family with five children.

Antila said Genaille, who struggles with addiction, turned to the drug trade a second time because he found it hard to find a job due to the stigma of being on bail.

Cummings sentenced Genaille to a total of five years in prison, minus seven months time served.

» ihitchen@brandonsun.com