A 23-year-old Leamington man who unwittingly sold drugs to an undercover police officer for more than a year pleaded guilty Thursday to trafficking almost one pound of cocaine, among other narcotics.
Joseph Jabbour was charged with 15 counts related to possession and trafficking of controlled substances, but pleaded guilty to six.
Federal prosecutor Richard Pollock said Ontario Provincial Police first encountered Jabbour in the summer of 2008 when they began an investigation into alleged drug trafficking in Leamington.
“Officers identified areas of concern,” said Pollock, noting that an undercover officer managed to meet up with Jabbour July 3, 2008, at a gas station. “The accused offered and the officer accept six ecstasy tablets.”
That first $40 transaction in the parking lot of the gas station during work hours launched a series of bigger deals between the two over the next year.
The officer bought drugs at the gas station, as well as in other commercial parking lots around town, from Jabbour. One time, the undercover officer went to someone’s house looking to buy illegal drugs and the occupants called in a dealer who turned out to be Jabbour.
In all, between July 3, 2008, and July 8, 2009, Jabbour sold the undercover officer almost a pound of cocaine, as well as some ecstasy and methamphetamine, for more than $8,000. Pollock said the federal government will seek that amount in fines.
Defence lawyer Brian Dube said his client will likely receive penitentiary time, but that he should have consideration for his age — he was 18 when he first sold to a police officer — and for pleading guilty before a trial.
Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance set March 5 for sentencing.
