Ten people are facing 45 charges after a year-long investigation into a cocaine distribution network that police said was linked to a member of the Hells Angels and support club members.
Project Entry began in March 2017 after members of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams received information about the role of outlaw bikers in drug trafficking.
WATCH BELOW: ALERT said a year-long investigation revealed a group, including a Hells Angels member, demonstrated the ability to move large amounts of cocaine.
Police allege those involved filled “various roles” within a cocaine distribution network that ran through Edmonton, Spruce Grove, Cold Lake, Whitecourt and Grande Prairie.
The charges include instruction of a criminal organization, participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and other drugs, firearms and property-related offences.
Police believe it’s the first time the charge of instruction of a criminal organization has been laid against someone in Alberta. ALERT alleged William McCabe, a Hells Angels Westridge (Edmonton) member, oversaw the cocaine trafficking operations and facilitated the distribution of drugs through the communities.
“When we delve into the investigations of criminal organization, organized crime groups, obviously they’re a more sophisticated level, so it requires more resources by the police financially, personnel wise,” Supt. Chad Coles told reporters of the significance of that charge.
WATCH BELOW: ALERT says charging a Hells Angels member with running a criminal organization is significant.
During the investigation, police seized five kilograms of cocaine, half a kilogram of the buffing agent phenacetin, cannabis resin and a handgun.
Multiple vehicles and motorcycles were also seized, along with $13,000 cash proceeds of crime.
According to ALERT, a kilogram of cocaine can sell for as much as $70,000 on the street. The drugs seized in this bust would have been worth up to $350,000.
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WATCH BELOW: ALERT said a drug trafficking investigation involving a member of the Hells Angels resulted in the seizure of drugs, cash and a handgun.
Coles called the investigation a “complete disruption” of the reach of the network that was allegedly moving wholesale quantities of cocaine across the province on a regular basis.
The people who have been charged are listed below. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the full list of charges).
- William McCabe, a 47-year-old man from Spruce Grove;
- Shane Daly, a 39-year-old man from Spruce Grove;
- Joseph Collicutt, a 32-year-old man from Grande Prairie;
- Pascal Jaques, a 40-year-old man from Cold Lake;
- Theresa Acker, a 42-year-old woman from Spruce Grove;
- Anton Petrowitz, a 36-year-old man from Calgary;
- Clinton Thomas, a 33-year-old man from Parkland County;
- Nicholas Stovell, a 38-year-old man from Cold Lake;
- Nicholas Delibasic, a 46-year-old man from Cold Lake; and
- Larissa Ausmus, a 31-year-old woman from Spruce Grove.
WATCH BELOW: ALERT said William McCabe of Spruce Grove was the key figure in an extensive Alberta cocaine distribution network.
Daly and Jacques were allegedly members of the Dirty Few Lakeland chapter, a support club for the Hells Angels.
Police said support clubs are typically used to carry out lower-level work for the Hells Angels, including drug trafficking and expanding territory to other markets.
Chief Supt. Ian Lawson said groups like the Hells Angels also use support groups as a type of “insulation.”
“By using a support group it provides some challenges to an investigation to identify who exactly is providing the direction to it.”
During the investigation, police seized five kilograms of cocaine, half a kilogram of the buffing agent phenacetin, cannabis resin and a handgun.
Multiple vehicles and motorcycles were also seized, along with $13,000 cash proceeds of crime.
Coles called the investigation a “complete disruption” of the reach of the network that was allegedly moving wholesale quantities of cocaine across the province on a regular basis.
“The weight of these charges is quite significant and ALERT is very confident in the quality of the investigation brought forward before the courts,” he added.
The arrests were made between July 25 and 30.
There are six Hells Angels clubs across the province of Alberta – three in Edmonton, two in Calgary and one in Red Deer. Police said there are now about 16 support clubs across the province.
WATCH BELOW: Police have busted an alleged crime ring, which they say is connected to the Hells Angels. It has tentacles in Edmonton, Spruce Grove, Cold Lake, Whitecourt and Grande Prairie. Kendra Slugoski has more.
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