Calgary businessman admits laundering $800,000 on behalf of drug trafficking organization
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Crown prosecutor Shelley Tkatch read in a lengthy statement of agreed facts signed by Fouani, whose case has slowly wound through Calgary Court of Justice for more than three years.
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And it won't be until fall that Fouani, 48, who is now self-represented, will face a sentencing hearing before Justice Greg Stirling.
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Stirling ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared by probation at the request of both Tkatch and Fouani and also asked that a psychological assessment be conducted by the Forensic Assessment Outpatient Service.
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The judge said the latter will be helpful in determining Fouani's 'wellness associated with the death of (his) spouse.'
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Fouani was badly injured and his wife, Nakita Baron, killed when a gunman ambushed them outside their southwest Calgary home on Aug. 18, 2022, just two months after he was charged in connection with a massive international drug bust.
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Edmontonian Michael Tyrel Arnold was convicted by a Calgary jury in June of second-degree murder and attempted murder in the deadly attack. He has not yet been sentenced.
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Fouani pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of a criminal organization on March 17, 2023, but because of a dispute between the Crown and defence on the facts, plus multiple other defence applications, the details of his crime were not put before the court.
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Tkatch told Stirling on Tuesday that she and Fouani were able to come to a consensus on a statement of agreed facts, negating the necessity of a scheduled three-day hearing next month over disputed details.
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Instead, she read in a lengthy document detailing a Calgary ALERT organized crime team investigation into drug trafficking and importation, money laundering and a criminal organization.
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The main targets of the investigation were Ricco King, Elias Ade, Kary-Lynn Grant, Jarret Mackenzie and Abdul Akbar, who were all charged in connection with a scheme in which more than 800 kg of methamphetamine and cocaine were seized by police, Tkatch said.
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CTV News
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