A Childhood of 'Instability and Dislocation'

"Absent the mitigating factors and the circumstances described in the Indigenous Background Report, I would regard this as an exemplary case for a sentence very significantly above the 5 - 7-year range."

"[Delaney had informed an undercover police officer in 2024 that] two men had recently died in her residence from fentanyl overdoses caused by the red fentanyl [she was selling], indicating that one of the deceased had been a good friend of hers."

"[Delaney's] moral culpability [taking into account these circumstances, is placed] well above that of the ordinary commercial fentanyl trafficker."

Justice Derek Jugnauth, October 15, 2026 

Jeff Whyte - stock.adobe.com

Now 28 years of age, Metis woman Kendall Delaney was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty in the Court of King's Bench, Alberta, to trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl. Arrested in the spring of 2024, court heard that the young woman had been selling fentanyl laced with a benzodiazepine, which increases risk of fatal overdoses. An undercover police operation arranged by the Camrose Police Service and Vegreville RCMP succeeded in establishing evidence of her criminality.

 

According to the Crown, she was recommended for three years in prison as a "lenient" sentence representing "the minimum capable of adequately denouncing the conduct and deterring [Ms. Delaney] and others". On her own initiative, the defendant pleaded for house arrest and probation. She deferred her request for a conditional sentence and sought in its stead a prison term of about four to five years, when the judge stated his decision to increase prison time over what the Crown had recommended. 

 

On March 10, 2024, Ms. Delaney sold two ounces of methamphetamine for $380 at her home to an undercover police officer in the presence of her six-year-old son. She followed this up by selling the same undercover officer an ounce of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of cocaine three days later, for $430. A short time later, the undercover officer again contacted Ms. Delaney and arranged to purchase 3.5 grams of fentanyl for $220. "The fentanyl was packaged in three separate bags containing red, blue and brown fentanyl. Analysis later determined that the red fentanyl contained bromazolam, a benzodiazepine." 

"During the discussions leading up to the sale, Ms. Delaney asked whether the officer wanted 'blue, red or brown' fentanyl, or a combination of the three."

"Ms. Delaney advised the officer that the red fentanyl was 'literally killing ppl it's so strong' and suggested that anyone receiving it should be warned about its potency."

"The officer replied that a mixture was acceptable."

Justice Derek Jugnauth  

Once again the undercover officer went to his fentanyl supplier. "During the conversation, Ms. Delaney stated that she was not doing well because two people had overdosed during the previous week. When the officer asked to purchase additional red fentanyl and one ounce of methamphetamine, Ms. Delaney advised that the red fentanyl had caused the overdoses and noted her supply was diminished but that she would see what she could do." The following day arrangements were made by the undercover officer to buy an additional three ounces of methamphetamine. 

 

Ms. Delaney was arrested when the RCMP stopped a car she was travelling in with the two undercover officers on their way to pick up more drugs. She had with her a bag of methamphetamine of an ounce and another bag of about 1.3 grams of cocaine, both of which she managed to conceal in her vagina. At the arrest scene police discovered more undeclared  cocaine and methamphetamine in her purse. "After initially denying she was concealing controlled substances in her body, and refusing medical treatment to extract those substances, Ms. Delaney eventually removed the concealed drugs on her own, which were then seized by police." 

"[Delaney's mother] first exposed her to crack cocaine [at age 19]. What followed was years-long addiction to crack cocaine and methamphetamine."

"[She has been given] significant weight [to her] acceptance of responsibility and expressions of remorse; her difficult personal history; and the factors identified in the Indigenous Background Report." 

"Her life has been marked by significant childhood adversity and the effects of intergenerational trauma."

"Those experiences do not excuse her conduct, but they provide important context for understanding how she came before the court." 

Final Court decision 

A Metis woman was sentenced to six years in prison at Edmonton's Court of King's Bench for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl. Photo by Shaughn Butts/Postmedia