Drug dealer admits to selling meth at recovery centre
Chris James Arbeau, 45, of Fredericton, was busted by the city police force's drug section dealing meth twice in the same year, court heard
A Fredericton man busted twice in 2021 for dealing hard drugs sold crystal meth to an addict in front of a downtown drug-recovery facility, a court heard Friday.
Chris James Arbeau, 45, of Brookside Drive, was scheduled to stand trial in Fredericton provincial court Friday on drug-trafficking allegations, but he opted instead to admit to some of the charges against him.
He pleaded guilty to possessing meth and hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking Jan. 19, 2021, and possessing the proceeds of crime at that time.
Furthermore, Arbeau admitted to meth for the purpose of trafficking again Sept. 29, 2021, as well as another instance of possession of the proceeds of crime.
Crown prosecutor Nina Johnsen said on both occasions, Arbeau was under surveillance by officers with the Fredericton Police Force’s drug section as part of ongoing trafficking investigations, and they witnessed the defendant selling drugs around the city.
On Jan. 19, 2021, she said, officers followed a car in which Arbeau was a passenger to the parking lot of the St. Mary’s Supermarket, where they saw an unknown male get into the back of the car for a drug transaction.
Officers swooped in after the deal was done and arrested those present, court heard, and when they searched Arbeau, they found he had more than 50 grams of crystal meth, four hydromorphone capsules, other drugs and $2,185 in cash.
Arbeau was released on conditions, but months later, he was caught dealing drugs again.
Johnsen said officers still had Arbeau under surveillance the afternoon of Sept. 29, 2021, and followed him to the River Stone Recovery Centre, an addictions treatment clinic on King Street.
One member of the drug unit watched as he saw Arbeau meet with a known addict right by River Stone and witnessed another drug transaction, the prosecutor said.
Again, officers came in and arrested them, court heard, and Arbeau had crystal meth, clonazepam pills, meth pipes and $175 cash on his person.
His customer also had some meth on him, Johnsen said, and he told police he’d just bought it from Arbeau.
At the request of defence lawyer Edward Derrah, Judge Scott Brittain ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report and scheduled sentencing for June 2.
Arbeau was set to stand trial on other related charges, but Johnsen said the Crown will withdraw those after sentencing.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.