FORMER HELLS ANGELS LEADER CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING

Former Manitoba Hells Angels president Ernie Dew was convicted of drug
trafficking Monday, thanks largely to being double-crossed by a former
good friend turned undercover police agent.

Dew, who lost his perch atop the outlaw motorcycle gang following his
February 2006 arrest, now faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.

However, that hearing will have to wait as Dew's lawyer has filed a
rare motion accusing police of entrapment.

Sarah Inness claims police induced her client to sell drugs and that
all charges should be dismissed. Queen's Bench Justice Brenda Keyser
is set to hear arguments on the motion April 24.

At issue is the police use of Franco Atanasovic, a career criminal
they paid more than $525,000 to infiltrate the Hells Angels beginning
in 2005 during Project Defence. He wore a secret wiretap and allowed
police to gather surveillance video of drug deals.

Dew was caught on candid camera making several deals with Atanasovic.
He opted to act as his own lawyer at trial, although Keyser appointed
Inness to represent him for the purpose of cross-examining Atanasovic.
There was no jury.

Inness then remained on the case, conceding during closing arguments
last month that Dew is guilty on six of the seven charges he faces --
provided the evidence is later proven to have been obtained legally.

The only charge left for Keyser to rule on involved a cocaine deal at
Dew's home that happened while he was out of town. Keyser found him
guilty as charged Monday, even though the deal was done by Dew's wife,
Vera. Keyser said the evidence shows Dew had arranged it.

Vera Dew has previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and is
currently serving a four-year prison sentence. Eight other accused
also admitted responsibility and have been sentenced to terms not
exceeding seven years. Dew may be in line for similar punishment as
full-patch member Ian Grant, who is the only other accused to fight
the allegations at trial.

Grant was convicted of eight of nine charges last spring including
drug trafficking, extortion and possession of proceeds of crime. He
was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Grant's only acquittal was on the charge of participating in a
criminal organization, which would have carried its own consecutive
sentence with a maximum of 14 years. No one has ever been convicted of
that charge in Manitoba. Atanasovic is now in witness protection and
came to court under intense security during both Grant's and Dew's
trials. The Dew case began in November and dragged out over the
winter, although there were often long adjournments between sittings.

Police have continued to target the Hells Angels, arresting three
full-patch members and 15 associates in December following a similar
operation using another agent.