CALGARY- The Crown calls it a ‘deal with the devil’—but it’s a deal that could put a stop to years of deadly clashes between two rival gangs.
For nearly 13 years, the FOB and FK gangs have been at war, often in very public settings. 25 people have died as a result, but police have had trouble pressing charges because of the ‘code of silence.’
That changed on Thursday, when Michael Roberto admitted to his role in the killings of four people, agreeing to help the prosecution.
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“This is a huge deal. I don’t think Calgarians really know how big of an operation this is,” says Police Chief Rick Hanson. “The impact of this is pretty significant.”
Investigators add that Roberto is not the only gang member who is now cooperating with them.
“On these difficult cases we don’t just need the physical evidence, we also need those witnesses to come forward and cooperate,” explains Insp. Cliff O’Brien. “We have found several witnesses who are willing to come forward and cooperate, and that’s really moved this investigation forward.”
It remains to be seen the full impact the witnesses will have, but defence lawyers for those they’ll be testifying against are already preparing.
“It will affect the trial yes,” admits lawyer Alain Hepner. “How, it’s hard to say at this point. It’s too new, this information is too fresh.”
Police say the saga is not over yet, and have a warning for other gang members.
“If you are a gang member or part of a criminal organized group in our city committing murders, I think you need to be wary,” says O’Brien. “That person who you are sitting with, the person you think is your best friend in this criminal organization, may turn out to be a police witness and you just don’t know that.”
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