ANTI-GANG SENTENCES 'RIDICULOUSLY LOW'

MONTREAL -- Prison sentences of 45 months handed down yesterday to the
first people convicted under a federal anti-gang law should help make biker
life appear less attractive, says the prosecutor in the historic case.

But a leading biker-gang expert called the sentences "ridiculously low" and
said they'll do little to persuade those involved with organized crime to
abandon their multimillion-dollar business.

"This is another example of the courts being out of touch with the needs of
society," Yves Lavigne said in an interview from Toronto. "What does a
criminal have to do to get the maximum (14-year) sentence?"

Quebec court Judge Robert Sansfacon convicted four drug dealers with ties
to the former Rock Machine biker gang last month under the anti-gang law.
The law makes it illegal to belong to a criminal organization.

Those sentenced were Philippe Cote, Mario Filion, Eric Leclerc and Simon
Lambert.

A judge acquitted three other men and a woman on the same charges in the
same trial but found them guilty on a variety of other charges, including
drug offences.

Those four were also sentenced to jail terms ranging from 10 months of
house arrest to 42 months in jail.

Cote, Filion, Leclerc and Lambert received additional prison sentences of
45 months each for their drug-related convictions.

Prosecutor Jean-Claude Boyer said he was pleased with the sentences. "These
are severe penalties with respect to gangsterism," Boyer said following the
sentencing.

"I hope they're going to send a message to everyone who's looking to those
gangs with envy, especially to the youth."

The fact the sentences must be served consecutively with other drug
sentences the four criminals received is one of the toughest elements of
the 1997 gangsterism legislation, said Boyer.

It's rare for sentences on multiple charges not to be served concurrently.

Boyer added he was also pleased with Sansfacon's decision to order three of
those men to serve one-half of their total sentences before seeking release.

Most prisoners are released after serving one-third of their sentences.