WEYBURN — A Weyburn man will have a lengthy time in prison after he was charged in two separate drug busts 11 months apart.
Ryley Mantei was sentenced to 1,260 days in custody, or nearly 3 1/2 years, on Oct. 28 in Weyburn Provincial Court, as per the terms of a joint submission between the Crown and prosecution.
Crown prosecutor Kim Stinson noted Mantei spent 313 days in custody on the charges, so he received 470 days of enhanced credit, leaving Mantei with 790 days remaining from the sentencing date.
For the first arrest Feb. 28, 2024, Mantei pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking cocaine, possession of a prohibited firearm and unsafe storage of a firearm.
Several charges were stayed, including possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of property obtained by crime.
According to information from the Weyburn Police Service, a co-accused in the matter, Tiffany Martin, pleaded guilty to a trafficking cocaine charge and received a 12-month jail sentence. The other charges she was facing have been stayed.
Stinson said that in December 2023, members of the Weyburn Police Service’s Drug Enforcement Unit began an investigation on a residence and its tenants.
“Police performed surveillance and saw a high volume of come-and-go traffic consistent with drug trafficking. A warrant to search the residence and the co-accused's vehicles was authorized,” said Stinson.
When police searched the vehicle, Stinson said they found items related to potential drug trade and indicators of hard drug use. At the residence, they found a sawed-off shotgun, a restricted shotgun, two baseball bats, a firearm magazine, a replica firearm and further items potentially connected to the drug trade.
He was charged with one count of violating his release conditions in March 2024 and two counts of violations in June of that year, and he pleaded guilty to those charges. Additional charges of trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from the June 2024 arrest, were stayed.
Finally, on Jan. 17, 2025, Mantei and another co-accused, Julia Huard, were arrested on drug and other charges. Mantei pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, trafficking methamphetamine and two counts of violating the terms of a release order. Charges for possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and violating release conditions were stayed.
Huard pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, avoiding a preliminary hearing on her charges. She pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, and received a 20-month conditional sentence order. Other charges were stayed.
Stinson noted the Weyburn Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Unit received information from a confidential informant that Mantei was selling large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in conjunction with a couple known drug runners in Weyburn. The following month, Stinson said CIU members received information that the accused was getting methamphetamine out of Moose Jaw, and people would go to the home of the accused to purchase and use drugs.
“Multiple days of surveillance were then carried out by the CIU members of the known residence of the accused,” said Stinson.
From Dec. 19, 2024, to Jan. 17, 2025, Stinson CIU members observed numerous quick-duration visits by vehicles and people to the residence. The WPS CIU found 0.8 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a baseball bat, a filleting knife and items consistent with the drug trade.
Stinson noted Mantei did not have a prior criminal record.
Mantei's attorney William Louison said Mantei reported having a good childhood and upbringing, including a good relationship with his parents. Mantei has worked in the oilpatch and in construction.
In 2022, Mantei's mother died from cancer, which Louison said was very difficult on Mantei. A family dog died a short time later, which Louison said “had a profound impact” on Mantei, who was also separated from his partner.
“Then he turned to drugs and … he tells me that things really spiralled from there,” said Louison.
With no criminal record and a significant work history, Mantei had been a very upstanding member of the community, Louison said.
“He takes full responsibility for his actions, he expresses remorse for his actions,” said Louison, noting the guilty pleas likely saved 12 days in provincial court for the preliminary hearings and additional time in Court of King’s Bench for the trials.
Louison said he and Stinson worked on the plea deal for several months, and the agreement is the product of some quid pro quo. It’s a “very significant sentence” for a first-time offender, Louison said, but he believes it’s appropriate.
Mantei expressed remorse for his mistakes and apologized for his actions, and he said he wants to take positive steps to turn his life around.
“Over the past 10 months while incarcerated, I have maintained my sobriety and I am fully committed to my recovery. I have learned from my mistakes and I am determined not to repeat them,” said Mantei.
He added he wants to set a good example for his son and show there’s a better way of dealing with life’s struggles.
In accepting the joint submission, Judge Brian Hendrickson noted the trafficking appears to be a commercial enterprise rather than for personal use.
“It’s a nasty business. It’s a dirty business. It hurts people in the community. It perpetuates people’s addictions. I describe it as a scourge on the community,” Hendrickson said.
The judge added he believes Mantei is genuine in his remorse.
