Jonnathan Lajoie was sentenced on Wednesday at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Drug trafficking

Montreal man receives three year prison sentence after selling cocaine in Prince Albert

Feb 6, 2025 | 2:00 PM

A man from Montreal, who was caught running a cocaine trafficking operation in the Prince Albert and Saskatoon areas, has received a three-year prison sentence.

Jonnathan Solarek Lajoie, who also goes by the nickname “Frenchy”, appeared by video for Thursday’s sentencing hearing at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

The offences date back to November 2023 and May 2024.

In the first occurrence, police had followed a Black Elantra from Prince Albert to Saskatoon, where Lajoie was observed meeting someone at a restaurant. He then drove on Highway 12 towards Blaine Lake and roughly five kilometres outside the town, where he was observed conducting another transaction.

Upon the vehicle’s return to Prince Albert, a traffic stop was conducted and three people were arrested.

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A search of the vehicle would result in the seizure of $8,165 cash, packages of cocaine totalling 56.5 grams, oxycontin pills, and cell phones.

Lajoie was soon after released on bail with conditions.

Fast forward to May 27, 2024, and Prince Albert police would receive information cocaine was being sold out of a house in the city’s east hill area. By way of a provided cell phone number, an undercover police officer sent Lajoie a text message, inquiring about the purchase of an eight ball of cocaine (3 grams) for $250.

The following day, a meeting was arranged and Lajoie, now driving a black truck, was followed by police to the provincial courthouse, where he attended for the previous charge, and was arrested outside.

A search warrant of the house resulted in the seizure of five packages of cocaine, totalling 60.4 grams, as well as $3,940 cash and drug paraphernalia. Another man who was in the home, who was also from Quebec, was also arrested.

Noting Lajoie’s young age of 21, Defense lawyer Brian Pfefferle noted Lajoie had grown up in poverty and comes from a family with addiction issues. After the pandemic, he was unable to find work.

“He made some very unfortunate decisions,” Pfefferle stated.

With consideration given to time spent in pre-sentence custody, Lajoie has roughly a year and nine months left to serve. Upon his release, he plans to return to Quebec and live with his stepfather, who was described in court as a positive support.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell