BROKEN DRUG CODE KEY TO ANGELS BUST

Code-breaking was the key to the successful convictions this week of
nine players in what police and prosecutors describe as a Hells
Angels-sponsored cocaine smuggling ring that targeted the Windsor area.

"This was all about surveillance and breaking a code -- the
investigators did an unbelievable job in this case," said Windsor
federal Crown attorney Richard Pollock.

What's impressive, he said, is that Thursday's spate of conspiracy
convictions were for suspects who were not even found with the cocaine
in their possession. Coke was seized from a garage and at one of the
conspirators' homes, but the evidence that nailed them was gleaned
almost entirely from wiretap evidence and intercepted
communications.

It wasn't until three months into the eavesdropping by Project
Provider -- a large-scale drug trafficking probe by a joint task force
of RCMP, OPP and Windsor police -- that investigators clued in that
their main targets, whose business revolved around a Windsor auto
shop, were using automotive terminology to covertly describe their
drug shipments and delivery operations.

Bumper work or a paint job were among the terms used guardedly, and
designed to avoid police detection, that investigators eventually
interpreted to mean cocaine transactions.

The first arrest in the case came after one of the suspects under
surveillance was overheard making arrangements for "paint work" and
then observed picking up a package at an auto shop on Moy Avenue.

Police said no work was done on the car before it departed. The driver
was later arrested and police discovered that the package was cocaine.

Pollock said the bust represents the single most significant local
crackdown on the Hells Angels since the notorious outlaw biker gang
gained a foothold in Windsor in 2001.

"The message is that there's a high cost for the Hells Angels in doing
business in Windsor ... and maybe they should take their business
elsewhere," he said.

More than half a million dollars in seized assets, including cash and
vehicles, were forfeited to the Crown. While the South Windsor home of
one of Project Provider's main targets, Carmen Amante, had been seized
last spring and restrained by the court under proceeds of crime
legislation, it was not part of Thursday's forfeiture order in Ontario
Superior Court.

"The Crown is not in the business of removing a home that is going to
affect the lives of a family and children," said Pollock.

Amante, 39, was made to forfeit more than $100,000 in cash, bank,
mortgage and RRSP accounts held in his and his wife's name, as well as
a business property and seven vehicles.

The Crown's proceeds-of-crime claim to a 27-foot speedboat is still
before the court.

Raymond Guilbeault was the first to be arrested in Project Provider.
He was sentenced to a three-year term Feb. 21, the same day the other
arrests were made.

SENTENCING SET

Sentences will be handed down Jan. 13 for the nine men found guilty
Thursday of conspiracy to traffic cocaine: Carmen Amante, 39; reputed
full-patch Hells Angel Jose Poulin, 35; Attilio Montaleone, 28;
Salvatore Briguglio, 60; Kevin Jovetic, 32; Antonio (Tony) DeSantis,
53; Wilfred Payne, 38; and Filippo Polifroni, 62. Martin Dufresne, 40,
the confessed coke courier arrested with $64,000 found stashed in his
vehicle, pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime.

As part of a deal worked out over four days this week betweenRichard
Pollock and five defence lawyers, criminal charges were withdrawn
against Amante's wife Sherri, sister Rita Payne, 37, nephew Randy
Darocy, 27 and Joseph (Giuseppe) Manzone, 29.

Carmen Amante was also found guilty of possession of a prohibited
weapon but had illegal gaming charges withdrawn. Montaleone pleaded
guilty to illegal bookmaking, while Jason Giorgi, 25, is still facing
bookmaking charges stemming from his Project Provider arrest.

Brothers Robert Petley, 41, and Christopher Petley, 43 at the time of
his arrest Feb. 21, are committed to stand trial on a charge of
possessing a prohibited weapon, a 9 mm Glock handgun.