‘He came North to meet a woman; became drug addict’

His parents came to Canada decades ago looking for a new life, now their son could be deported back to Cambodia after he serves a 3.5-year prison sentence for peddling cocaine and fentanyl in Hay River.

Forty-year-old Savy You, of Toronto, pleaded guilty in NWT Supreme Court to two drug charges and proceeds of crime of $3,060 after being nabbed in March 2024 by Hay River RCMP who were executing a search warrant at a residence on an unrelated matter.

NWT Supreme Court Justice Sheila MacPherson. (Photo: Lawson Lundell LLP)

“He came North to meet a woman, but became a drug addict,” said Justice Sheila MacPherson on Friday, in accepting a joint recommendation for a global sentence of 3.5 years.

“A sentence of over two years means he will lose any right to appeal a deportation order … but that’s a risk people occur when committing serious offences in Canada.”

You has the distinction off being charged with serious drug offences three times in 2024, with the disposition of his other matters not immediately known, or still before the courts:

• March 15th: Hay River RCMP executed a search warrant on a residence and a quantity of suspected fentanyl and crack-cocaine was seized. You was charged and released on bail.
• June 20th: Fort Simpson RCMP executed a search warrant on a residence where crack and drug trafficking paraphernalia were seized. You was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, He was remanded into custody, but later released on bail and ordered to reside in Toronto.
• November 22nd: Hay River RCMP executed a search warrant and suspected crack-cocaine and fentanyl were seized, along with a handgun and ammunition were seized. You was arrested and slapped with a lengthy list of drug and weapons charges, along with failure to attend court and three counts of failing to comply with release orders. He was kept in custody.

Several NWT residents were also arrested in the above raids for a variety of charges and many of those cases are still before the courts.

Justice MacPherson made note she was mindful that the March case was not his only charge, but he is still considered a first-time offender.

“It is truly unfortunate that Mr. You has fallen into this way of life,” she said, noting his parents struggled after coming to Canada. “He also had his own struggles growing up and now, his (three teenaged) children will lose the guidance and the support of a father.”

MacPherson told court that while the accepted minimum for “low-level” trafficking in the NWT is five years, up to one-third can be deducted for a guilty plea.

This means police search warrants won’t be challenged and it saves police, witnesses and victims from having to testify at trial.

With time served in remand prior to Friday, You has 756 days left to serve.