Another Starshine property shut down by SCAN operation for drug trafficking

A third Starshine Property in St. Stephen has been the subject of a SCAN operation, this time 18 Marks Street, for drug trafficking. 

According to an affidavit submitted by a peace officer with the Department of Justice and Public Safety, the unit began receiving complaints in July 2024. 

The affidavit shows about eight complaints from members of the community, whose identities are protected under the Act. 

Annette Penkala, owner of Starshine Properties Ltd, lives in Alberta and has been described by those in the community as an absentee landlord. She purchased roughly 20 properties between St. Stephen and Utopia. 

Power, running water, and sewer are believed to have been shut off to the four units in the building. (Patrick Watt/The Courier)

“It is apparent that the owner of the property does not, or will not, take control of the situation,” read an affidavit from JPS officer Ryan Cormier. 

Both 16 Schoodic Street and 9 Schoodic have been subject to SCAN-based investigations and property seizures – both properties owned and operated by Starshine Properties Ltd in St. Stephen. 

A notice placed outside 16 Schoodic said it too was shut down for illegal drug activity. 

SCAN allows for peace officers, under the Department of Justice and Public Safety, to seize a property – whether commercial or residential for 90 days. It can terminate all leases, including those of legitimate tenants. 

Drug activity observed 

During his investigation, Cormier spent time reviewing surveillance of 18 Marks Street and described several short visits at the property from Aug. 15-24, 2024. 

“During this surveillance period, a total of 17 short-duration visits to the property occurred,” he wrote in the affidavit. “These visits occurred by persons on foot and by vehicle and lasted from one to five minutes.” 

He said one male, on Aug. 16, was observed in the earlier hours “bringing an item to their mouth and conducting multiple lighter flashes before letting out a large cloud of smoke.” 

“In my professional experience, this is typical of drugs being smoked through a glass pipe,” he wrote in the affidavit. 

A male, named Timothy Dean Scott, who Cormier said has been a part of the SCAN investigation at 16 Schoodic Street was also observed at 18 Marks Street. 

There are five apartments, according to the affidavit, and the investigations revealed units two and three were the main subjects, while it ruled out the occupants of units one and four. 

It appeared the property had no power, sewer, or running water, but multiple extension cords were running to one of the apartments. One unit remained to have power, Cormier wrote, either through an NB Power meter or generator. He stated the remaining meters had been damaged. 

On Sept. 24, 2024, a letter was mailed to the address listed for Starshine Properties Ltd, but Cormier wrote Canada Post was unable to deliver the letter and it could be picked up at a Canada Post location – but didn’t specify which one. 

Subsequent surveillance and follow-up with the complainants was done in October, according to Cormier. 

The complainants detail many incidents, including seeing a man walking with a “crossbow and arrows on his back and a large hunting knife.” 

16 Schoodic Street was shut down for “illegal drug activity” according to a sign outside the property. (Patrick Watt/CHCO-TV)

Complainants also provided photographs of people using drugs, including “an additional photo of a male with a needle stuck inside his arm.”

Between the time SCAN issued the community safety warning letters from Sept. 10 to Oct. 10, NB RCMP St. Sgt. Scott MacKenzie advised Cormier there were eight calls requiring the RCMP to attend 18 Marks Street. 

“Those calls involved a variety of offences including mischief, disturbances,  unwanted persons, taking a motor vehicle without consent, fight in progress, and assault with a weapon,” he wrote. 

Two tenants were found to have no connection to the illegal activity believed to be taking place at 18 Marks Street.  

Further surveillance in November showed more short visits to the property and people observed behaving suspiciously, carrying or using drugs. One of the complainants texted Cormier a photograph of a syringe they found lying on the ground outside the property. 

It also included someone attempting to light something on fire outside the property, but was extinguished by someone inside the apartment. 

Another person, identified by Cormier as Glenn Logan, was also involved in activity at 16 Schoodic, a property also investigated and seized by SCAN. 

“Glenn Logan was a subject of interest (in) SCAN’s previous community safety order at 16 Schoodic Street,” Cormier wrote. “The same activity is now occurring at his new residence at 18 Marks Street, with near constant traffic between the various apartments.”

“These visits, which are taking place at all hours and involve disputes and an attempted arson, lead me to have reasonable suspicion that 18 Marks Street is being used for illegal drug activity.” 

Eventually Cormier said he believed the property was being used for drug trafficking. 

Impact to the community 

The affidavit also provided insight into how the community and complainants felt about the property. 

Several complainants filed a detailed amount of suspicious activity as part of their submissions, including that “the activities that were ongoing at 18 Marks Street were unsettling and that they feared for their family’s safety.” 

Both a funeral home and a seniors complex are in close proximity to 18 Marks Street. 

It is also close to St. Stephen Middle School. 

“Complainant 5 stated that they are fearful for their and their children’s safety due to the activity that takes place at 18 Marks Street,” the affidavit said. 

It also said that a majority of residents at the seniors complex were also concerned. 

“Complainant 4 indicated … that although no activity has directly affected the residents of the complex, a majority, if not all, of the seniors who live there, are fearful of the individuals and activity that is occurring at 18 Marks Street and are scared to be outside.” 

The Department of Justice and Public Safety declined to comment on the investigation, saying only it was a community safety order issued and all tenants complied with the order. 

It said it could not provide the cost of the operation, as “investigators work on multiple files simultaneously, the costs associated with single investigations are not available.”

Problems at other properties

Tenants at other Starshine Properties have faced different issues. 

Residents of Hillcrest Court in Utopia were subject to water disconnection notices as a direct result of non-payment. The bills were in Pankela’s name, so couldn’t be paid for by the tenants. 

Several other properties were also in a similar situation, and the Tenant Landlord Relations Office (TLRO) was asked to investigate those issues. 

The Department of Social Development said in an email to The Courier the Tenant Landlord Relations Office is aware situation involving Starshine Properties.

“Due to the active investigation by the TLRO, Housing New Brunswick is unable to speak on the matter,” the department said in a statement.

Adding only, that the “TLRO works to help all tenants and landlords solve issues, and any tenants with concerns over their tenancy are encouraged to contact the TLRO.”