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Primary operator in Dube's dial-a-dope ring convicted

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An Edmonton man who sold up to $15,000 of crack cocaine a week as a “primary operator” in Todd Dube's dial-a-dope drug ring was convicted in NWT Supreme Court.

Yohannes Seyoume, 21, spoke softly in court on Monday, answering to Judge Shannon Smallwood after she convicted him on one count of trafficking in cocaine. Seyoume pleaded guilty to the charge in November, following his arrest in April, 2016.

Through an agreed statement of facts read by Crown prosecutor Duane Praught, the court heard Seyoume was one of four “primary operators” of a “dial-a-dope” phone, selling crack in Yellowknife under the direction of Dube from Feb.25, 2016 to April 4, 2016.

Dube, labeled by prosecutors as the “king pin” of a sophisticated drug operation, was sentenced to nine years in jail in October.

“Project Green Manalishi,”an RCMP “G” Division Federal Investigation Unit-led probe aimed at dismantling high level drug trafficking networks in the city and NWT, began monitoring Dube's texts and phone calls in February 2016, leading police to uncover Seyoume's active involvement in drug trafficking, the court heard.

Seyoume, along with three others, shared “dial-a-dope” duties, taking turns covering 12-hour shifts with the phone. As an operator, Seyoume would take calls from drug users, arrange meeting places, and take the drugs – crack cocaine – to sell to the callers at the agreed upon spot. The crack, the court heard, was supplied by Dube, who would either “front” or sell an ounce of crack cocaine to each of the four phone operators, including Seyoume, for about $2,300.

Each ounce would usually be divvied into 50 to 55 “street grams”– weighing 0.5 grams each – to be sold for $80 to $100. Each “dial-a-dope”operator kept the profits made from the marked up street product, the statement of facts read.

RCMP pulled the plug on Dube's phone-fuelled operation, carrying out several search warrants and making multiple arrests on April 4, 2016. Police searched a Yellowknife residence where Seyoume and Dube both lived, seizing 181 grams of marijuana, $57,487, seven cell phones, cash counters, scales and a blender that later tested positive for cocaine. Seyoume – carrying $325 and three cell phones – and Dube were arrested outside of a city restaurant on the same day.

During his submissions for sentencing, prosecutor Praught, highlighting the fact the “dial-a-dope” phone line was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, stressed the organized, commercial level of drug trafficking Seyoume was involved in.

“This was a full time job,” Praught said of Seyoume's past role. A job, he contended, that hurt an already vulnerable community.

Praught said Seyoume preyed on the city's drug addicts, trafficking a drug he called more dangerous and addictive than cocaine. Mitigating factors, including the defendant's lack of past criminal convictions, were submitted by Praught.

Praught is asking for a sentence of 30 to 36 months minus a credit of 1.5 days for time already served.

Seyoume's lawyer, Peter Harte, acknowledged the seriousness of the conviction, but argued a message of deterrence to other offenders shouldn't be sent “on the back” of his client.

Harte also expressed concern that a sentence of over six months in jail would likely result in Seyoume being deported back to Kenya, where he would have to start from scratch.

Harte is requesting a sentence of two years less a day.

Seyoume was in custody from the time of his arrest until Aug. 4, 2016, when he was released on recognizance.
Seyoume is due back in NWT Supreme Court on Thursday, when Judge Smallwood will make a sentencing decision.