A Logy Bay man who kept almost $300,000 from the sale of drugs in his house has been ordered to forfeit it all to the court.
Michael Kavanagh was given a conditional sentence and ordered to pay back more than $300,000 today in provincial court in St. John’s. — Photo by Rosie Gillingham/The Telegram
Michael Kavanagh was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day today in provincial court in St. John’s.
The exact amount Judge David Orr ordered him to forfeit to the court is $281,215.20.
As well, Kavanagh must pay $63,100 — money he got from the sale of drugs, which he used to make improvements on his house to increase its value before selling it.
He has two years to pay the money to the court.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing property obtained by crime.
The charges stem from 2009. In April of that year, a package sent in the mail from Richmond, B.C., was intercepted by Canada Post in St. John’s. Employees noticed unusual packaging with incorrect postal codes.
They called the police, who discovered the package contained two kilograms of cocaine. A tracking device was placed on the parcel and, as a result, investigators discovered Kavanagh was involved in the transport of the drugs.
They found the money during a search of Kavanagh’s house. It was stashed in various places in vacuum-packed plastic containers, boxes and bags.
They also found a money-counting machine and a digital scale with cocaine residue.
Kavanagh had been charged with trafficking, but in 2011 those charges were stayed, meaning the Crown opted not to pursue the case.
Kavanagh’s mother, Barbara Kavanagh, had also been charged after police found $14,850 in her purse after a visit with her son.
However, Crown prosecutor Lana Murray of Halifax agreed to withdraw those charges in exchange for her son’s guilty pleas.
The sentence was the result of an agreement made between Murray and Michael Kavanagh’s lawyer, Erin Breen.
Conditions of Kavanagh’s sentence include that he abstain from drugs and alcohol and follow a curfew, allowing time for exercise and employment for Kavanagh, who’s a martial arts instructor.
Given the opportunity to address the court before sentencing, Kavanagh declined.