B.C. resident Colin Martin, 35, has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison after a jury convicted him on eight counts, including conspiracy to export, conspiracy to traffic and two counts of money laundering.

In the late 1990s, Martin was living the high life. He spent $86,000 cash for a sports car, and tens of thousands on other purchases.

The money all came from a huge marijuana smuggling operation.

After a lengthy trial, the Salmon Arm man was sentenced this week, but he's hardly going to jail a repentant man.

"I'm guilty of these things for sure, but no more guilty than my father or brother," he said in an interview.

He's a convicted criminal now, but in the late '90s, Martin worked in central B.C.'s forest industry. Then a new opportunity literally knocked at the door - his dad with 10 pounds of marijuana to sell.

Soon Martin was the head of the family-run drug exporting business, moving hundreds of kilograms of B.C. bud into the U.S. and grossing an estimated $2 million.

Then police caught on, and through extensive wiretaps, aerial and ground surveillance and the services of a paid informant, the Martin family business was busted.

Martin said he doesn't see any real crime in his criminal activities, saying most of the people in the pot exporting business are just regular folks.

"For the most part, most of the people I've met are decent, loving, caring people," he said.

The judge clearly had some sympathy for Martin, calling him bright and articulate despite being a Grade 8 dropout.

She explained the 30-month prison sentence wasn't for rehabilitation, but to send a message to other marijuana dealers.

Martin's father and brother earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export and were given two years less a day conditional jail time.

"All in all, I think the judge was fair and I guess I have to thank her for that," said Martin.

Maybe even more than fair - after sentencing Martin to prison, in a very unusual move the judge has allowed Martin to go home because of an unexpected decision from the appeal court to grant Martin bail while he appeals his convictions.

 

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