Joshua Woodruff found guilty of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon, acquitted on fentanyl charge
A Lethbridge man has been convicted of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and carrying a concealed weapon after a trial in Alberta Court of Justice.
Joshua Anthony Woodruff was arrested on April 7, 2025, after a member of Safer Communities and Neighbours observed him leaving a known drug house in Lethbridge. He was arrested on outstanding warrants from Calgary police.
At the time of his arrest, Woodruff had a flip blade knife in his right front pocket, $3,320 in Canadian currency in a Louis Vuitton satchel, $120 in his wallet, 0.8 grams of fentanyl and 14 grams of crack cocaine in his pants, and 0.1 grams of red fentanyl powder in a metal container in his hand. A search of his backpack revealed a digital scale with cocaine residue, a large knife, bear spray, a straight edge razor knife, a utility knife with drug residue, cutting shears, plastic bags, 1.2 grams of methamphetamine, dime bags, five cellphones, and three strips of paper bearing his name and phone number.
Woodruff testified that he had stolen the contents of the backpack and the cocaine from the occupant of the drug house and that the drugs were for his personal use, not for trafficking.
In reasons delivered September 28, 2026, Justice P.G. Pharo rejected Woodruff’s account, finding his testimony featured several inconsistencies and that many of his actions defied logic. The judge found the scale, weapons, tools, baggies, phones, and paper slips were indicia of drug trafficking, and that the cash was proceeds of drug sales.
The judge convicted Woodruff of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and carrying a concealed weapon.
However, Woodruff was acquitted of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. The judge found that while he did not accept Woodruff’s evidence, his testimony raised a reasonable doubt given that he was a long-time fentanyl user and the amount he possessed, 0.9 grams, was under the typical 1-2 grams a user would consume in a day.
Woodruff also pleaded guilty to several breach of probation counts and possession of proceeds of crime.
