The North Vancouver couple accused in the bust of a massive fentanyl ring have pleaded not guilty to a host of drugs and weapons charges — although the province is already seeking to claim their properties, cash and luxury items as the proceeds of crime.
Lawyers for Karen Armitstead and Walter McCormick appeared in court Thursday to enter not guilty pleas on their behalf and to elect to be tried by a judge alone.
McCormick and Armitstead are facing more than a dozen charges including possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a restricted firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless use and storage of a firearm, and possession of stolen property over $5,000. McCormick faces separate charges of trafficking a controlled substance.
Police raided their home at 2681 Poplynn Dr. in February as part of a region-wide bust targeting the Lower Mainland’s supply of fentanyl. Police have been warning the public about the dangerous synthetic opioid, which is being blamed for at least three recent overdose deaths in North Vancouver. The drug is typically mixed in with heroin or used to make fake oxycodone.
Though they have yet to have their criminal trial date set, B.C.’s director of civil forfeiture has filed a claim going after Armitstead’s Lynn Valley home as well as a condo in Oliver and a 3.4-acre waterfront property on Gambier Island. The claim also lists more than $170,000 in cash, two luxury watches valued at $48,000, a Ford truck and a leased Volkswagen, as well as assets owned by their four co-accused.
The civil claim refers to McCormick as a “high level drug trafficker with access to large quantities of fentanyl pills” who “was, at all material times, the supplier of fentanyl as well as other illegal drugs…”
The Poplynn Drive home contained numerous illegal drug and cash stashes as well as “score sheets” used to record drug deals found in a garbage can and roughly nine kilograms of pot in the garage, the claim alleges.
In her written response to the forfeiture suit, Armitstead stated the home never contained any drugs, guns or illegal cash and that if there were any, they were hidden in places “not readily discoverable” by her.
All of the properties were purchased with legal income, mortgages and inheritances, the response continues. As a Lions Gate Hospital nurse since 1986, Armitstead had been earning approximately $90,000 per year. McCormick is a self-employed welder and ironworker.
McCormick’s lawyer Jordan Allingham said he expects to fix a date for the trial.
“Obviously he has an interest in having this matter heard in a trial and he’s presumed innocent of the allegations. It’s unfortunate right now that the media has thrown around the term ‘kingpin’ when nothing has been proven in court,” he said. “Both are eager to go to trial and are waiting for their day in court to address these allegations against them.”
Armitstead’s lawyer Lawrence Myers also stressed that the justice system must be allowed to do its job.
“She’s been an outstanding member of the North Shore community for 25 years. These are allegations yet to be proven. I’m confident there is not sufficient evidence to convict her,” he said, adding that he too is disturbed that she is currently facing trial by press.
Myers is also representing Armitstead in the civil forfeiture case. “She bought that house 25 years ago. It was completely paid for before any suggestion a she was in any way involved in any activity. She received it as a settlement in a divorce proceeding,” Myers said.
