Woman caught in sting sentenced to prison
Published Wednesday November 18th, 2009
Crime: Drug addict will have opportunity to upgrade her Grade 9 education
SAINT JOHN - As she became the 19th person sentenced as a result of the Operation Portland drug sting on Monday, Amber Ann Marsh vowed to the make the best of her two-year federal penitentiary term.
"When I'm released, I'm going to better myself," the Dilaudid addict told provincial court Judge Anne Jeffries, "I'm done with this life."
"I hope so," the judge told her.
Marsh, 27, of Quispamsis, entered guilty pleas to five charges and was sentenced to 18 months consecutive to any time she is now serving for selling $20 worth of crack cocaine on April 23 to an undercover police officer who targeted her as part of the six-month drug sting aimed at street-level and mid-level drug dealers.
She also got three months concurrent for violating her probation by selling the drugs. The other charges against her were unrelated.
Marsh also got three months consecutive to any time being served for stealing a woman's purse on June 20, three months concurrent for attempting to use the woman's credit card and three months consecutive for breaching a court order, giving her 24 months in all.
Jeffries also prohibited her from owning or possessing a firearm for 10 years.
Sentences for those nabbed during Operation Portland have ranged from 10 months to seven years for Michael Anthony MacAulay, 24, who police have said was the kingpin of the drug dealing operation. The sting was carried out by three undercover peace officers, with backup, between April 6 and October.
Crown prosecutor John Henheffer said one of the undercover officers had asked patrons at the Iceberg Pub on Union Street where he might score some crack cocaine. They identified Marsh, who later was able to obtain and sell him $20 worth despite being on an undertaking to the court.
"Miss Marsh was a street-level dealer, not higher up," he said. But there was still a need to send a message to those who deal in drugs at any level that they will face incarceration, if caught.
Henheffer said he was willing to go along with the recommendation of Marsh's lawyer, Andrew Speight, that she receive a sentence of two years in penitentiary.
In asking for two years, Speight said, "(Marsh) is an addict. She suffers from an addiction to Dilaudid."
He said a prison term would not only give her a chance to overcome her addiction, but to hopefully upgrade her Grade 9 education.
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