Toronto mom sentenced after taping cocaine to 12-year-old son on way back from Aruba

“Fully considered, Ms. Gordon has withstood more than her share of disappointments and social injustices,” said the judge.

Gordon, who is of Antiguan and Jamaican heritage, was born in Toronto.

“She is the youngest of four children and a parent of two sons, ages 12 and 16,” said the decision. “Ms. Gordon grew up from birth to age 12 in the Scarborough neighbourhood of Galloway, one of the most impoverished in Toronto. Her father was physically abusive towards her mother.”

Gordon grew up in poverty, said the decision.

“Her father sent money to support his older children in Jamaica instead of helping her mother. Ms. Gordon did not receive Christmas gifts and she had limited clothing. She had no disposable income.”

Gordon told the court “they lived in a subsidized townhouse with plenty of social issues including guns and drugs.”

Gordon was 17 when she had her first child, said the decision.

“The father of the child was emotionally and physically abusive throughout their relationship which lasted for five years,” said the decision. “Ms. Gordon reported that their relationship ended after the birth of their second son in 2012, but the emotional and verbal abuse continued whenever they had contact and she was subjected to threats whenever she reacted.”

After they broke up, she got sole custody of the boys, said the decision.

“Her 16-year-old son has ADHD and is speech and developmentally delayed. Her 12-year-old son has mild autism and a learning disability.”

It is deplorable that Ms. Gordon used her son in this way to facilitate the importation scheme. It significantly increases her moral responsibility

Mental health problems have hurt Gordon’s efforts to hold down a job, the court heard.

“That her two sons will not have her nurture and support during any term of incarceration is heartbreaking,” said the decision. “Apparently, her mother will take care of them.”

Several aspects of anti-Black racism bear on Gordon’s case, said the judge.

“It is highly likely that the people above her in the importation scheme were men,” Harris said. “Particularly in light of her history of being the victim of sexual assaults and assaults by men, including as a child, as a Black woman she was particularly vulnerable to recruitment as a drug courier.”

Gordon was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when she was about 20 years old, said the decision. “She stated that the abuse she endured at the hands of her former partner was a factor in the diagnosis. She has also been diagnosed with general anxiety and depression.”

Gordon “attempted to take her life on two occasions as she felt stagnant and unable to cope,” it said.

Her sister reported that Gordon’s “mental health is worse since her arrest and she often broke down in tears about the fact that her son was handcuffed,” said the decision.

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