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Repeat drug dealer handed long penitentiary term

BY KEITH LACEY A former Sudbury restaurant owner was sentenced to almost four years in a federal penitentiary Friday after being found guilty in May of possessing a huge cache of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
BY KEITH LACEY

A former Sudbury restaurant owner was sentenced to almost four years in a federal penitentiary Friday after being found guilty in May of possessing a huge cache of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Justice Patricia Hennessy imposed a 46-month sentence on top of 20 months George Mastorakis has already spent in custody after Greater Sudbury Police raided his Minnow Lake home Jan. 9, 2001.

After a lengthy trial, Hennessy found Mastorakis guilty of possessing a large quantity of cocaine, crack cocaine, hash oil and hundreds of high-powered prescription pills. The former owner of GeorgeÂ?s Deli was also found guilty of possessing numerous stolen goods.

Court heard Mastorakis was out on federal parole for other serious drug offences when he was busted.

Hennessy said the theory presented by defence counsel Glenn Sandberg that a tenant at MastorakisÂ?s Lonsdale Avenue home was responsible for possessing and hiding the drugs in the accusedÂ?s home was not plausible or credible.

Â?The evidence is overwhelming that the drugs belonged to Mastorakis,Â? said the judge at trial.

Police found several packages of cocaine, a vial filled with a large amount of crack cocaine, a large jar of hash oil, hundreds of prescriptions pills, and paraphenalia associated with the drug trade, including an electronic weigh scale and a Â?debt listÂ?.

They later raided a hock shop Mastorakis had planned on opening and found a large amount of stolen property.

Evidence from two key defence witnesses, including the mother of MastorakisÂ?s 12-year-old daughter, was not credible or believable as they had long criminal records, both admitted to having serious drug problems and they testimony had far too many inconsistencies and contradictions, said Hennessy.

Crown counsel asked the court to impose a penitentiary term of six to eight years, saying Mastorakis simply doesnÂ?t understand that thereÂ?s a serious price to pay when youÂ?re caught peddling hard drugs, which cause irreparable damage to drug addicts and the community at large.

The fact Mastorakis was out on parole for other serious drug charges at the time he was caught this time is a serious aggravating factor, said Hennessy.

ItÂ?s obvious Mastorakis doesnÂ?t want to abide by the law and has proven the only way society can be protected from him is for Mastorakis to be behind bars, she said. The judge ordered him to serve two-thirds of his 46-month sentence before being considered for parole.