Rock Machine wiped out by busts, RCMP say

RCMP say they have arrested the entire Manitoba chapter of the Rock Machine biker gang in a series of raids.

In a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday, Mounties showed off a huge haul of seized drugs, including 13 pounds of cocaine, eight pounds of dried marijuana and 1,800 pills of BZP, a synthetic drug similar to ecstasy. Rock Machine vests were also on display, along with firearms, ammunition and a “commercial explosive device” — dynamite.

Eleven people were arrested in what RCMP are calling Project Dilemma, which began in August 2012.

The raids included one Wednesday on Wall Street in Winnipeg, where the bomb squad was called in. Police robots entered Ken’s Kustom Auto Machine and later could be heard detonating something, which police said was a pipe bomb.

“We will continue to combat organized crime and its involvement in the drug trade at every level,” RCMP assistant commissioner Kevin Brosseau, commanding officer of RCMP D Division, said in a news release. “As part of our crime-reduction strategy, the RCMP will continue to fight criminal networks with an integrated strategy that includes co-operation between police services, provincial and federal agencies and public safety organizations.”

As a result of Project Dilemma, the RCMP have charged 11 people with multiple crimes.

Todd Kenneth Murray, 43, an alleged Rock Machine member from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• three counts of trafficking cocaine,
• three counts of possessing proceeds of crime,
• conspiracy to traffic cocaine,
• trafficking cocaine in association with a criminal organization,
• conspiracy to taffic cocaine in association with a criminal organization,
• instructing people to commit offences in association with a criminal organization, and
• participating in the activities of a criminal organization.

Joseph John Strachan, 42, an alleged Rock Machine member from the RM of East St. Paul, Man., is charged with:
• trafficking cocaine,
• possessing the proceeds crime,
• conspiracy to traffic cocaine,
• trafficking cocaine in association with a criminal organization,
• conspiracy to traffic cocaine in association with a criminal organization,
• instructing people to commit offences in association with a criminal organization, and
• participating in the activities of a criminal organization.

John Adam Curwin, 31, an alleged Rock Machine member from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• two counts of trafficking Benzylpiperazine,
• firearms trafficking,
• offering to traffic a firearm,
• two counts of possessing proceeds of crime,
• trafficking Benzylpiperazine in association with a criminal organization, and
• firearms trafficking in association with a criminal organization.

Cameron Adam Hemminger, 42, an alleged Rock Machine member from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• trafficking cocaine in association with a criminal organization,
• trafficking cocaine, and
• possessing the proceeds of crime.

Shannon Chad Campbell, 35, an alleged Rock Machine prospect from the RM of St. Andrews, Man., is charged with:
• possessing ammunition while prohibited and
• two counts of failing to comply with the conditions of a recognizance.

Christopher Lee Camara, 33, from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• two counts of trafficking in cocaine and
• two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime.

Donny Syraxa, 27, from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• two counts of trafficking cocaine and
• two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime.

Danny Vu Tran, 27, from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• two counts of trafficking cocaine and
• two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime.

Patrick La, 26, from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• two counts of trafficking cocaine and
• two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime.

Teagveer Singh Gill, 28, from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• two counts of trafficking cocaine and
• two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime.

Richard Dennis Lund, 29, from Winnipeg, is charged with:
• trafficking cocaine and
• possessing the proceeds of crime.