Red Deer Justice Centre (Image Credit: Josh Hall/rdnewsNOW)

By Sheldon Spackman

2023 Investigation

Red Deer man sentenced in local drug trafficking investigation

Feb 18, 2026 | 11:10 AM

A nearly four-and-a-half year jail sentence has been handed to the second of two people charged in a Red Deer drug trafficking investigation. 

Simon Emmerson Williamson, 25, of Red Deer, was sentenced in Red Deer Court of Justice on Feb. 17, 2026, to a total of 1,620 days in jail, and a 10-year firearm prohibition. 

He plead guilty to counts of possess for purpose, possess prohibited/restricted firearm, and two counts of possess/sale for use in producing a substance under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. His other charges were withdrawn. 

Co-accused, Tristyn Rawlins, 27, also of Red Deer, was given a conditional sentence on Feb. 28, 2025, which included house arrest, a curfew, no contact with Williamson, and not to be in possession of anything designed for use as a weapon. 

RCMP say a lengthy investigation began in September 2023. Then, on Nov. 2, 2023, a search warrant was executed at a home in the Lancaster neighbourhood. 

2023 Investigation

Red Deer man sentenced in local drug trafficking investigation

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Mounties say the search led officers to find various controlled substances in varying quantities, plus firearms, weapons and other property related to the production and sale of controlled substances. 

Items seized included: 

• Cocaine, acid, methamphetamine 

• 500 pills of Oxycodone 

• A shotgun, two rifles, a stolen semi-automatic handgun 

• ammunition 

• three tasers 

RCMP say both Tristyn Rawlins and Simon Williamson, were arrested and charged with the following offences: 

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine. 

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking other controlled substance. 

• Possession of anything used to produce or traffick in controlled substances. 

• Possession of Restricted Firearm 

• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm/Prohibited or Restricted Weapon (x 6) 

Related: Sentencing scheduled for pair charged in Red Deer drug trafficking investigation

Related: Preliminary hearing scheduled for pair charged in Red Deer drug trafficking investigation 

Related: Pair of Red Deer men arrested in drug trafficking investigation