HELLS ANGELS GET FOUR YEARS FOR TRAFFICKING

Judge Agrees To Defence Request For Jail Time At Ferndale

Two senior members of the Vancouver Hells Angels were sentenced
yesterday to four years in jail for trafficking, with the judge
recommending they serve their time at Ferndale minimum-security prison.

Norman Edward Krogstad, 58, and Cedric Baxter Smith, 55, pleaded
guilty to 11 counts of trafficking nine kilograms of cocaine.

Prosecutor Martha Devlin told B.C. Supreme Court the charges followed
an RCMP probe involving a police agent -- an ex-member of the Prince
George Renegades, an Angels "puppet club." The agent bought the drugs
from Smith, described by police as a senior member of the Hells
Angels, and Krogstad, who police believe is president of the Vancouver
chapter.

The police agent, now in witness protection, paid more than $400,000
for the drugs. The money has not been recovered.

Lawyers for Krogstad and Smith asked the judge to recommend the men
serve their time at Ferndale --known as "Club Fed" because it once had
a nine-hole golf course -- because their clients had pleaded guilty,
thereby saving taxpayers the considerable expense of a trial.

Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm sentenced the pair to four years
on each count, to be served concurrently, and agreed to recommend Ferndale.

Outside court, RCMP Cpl. Glenn Atkins said he was satisfied with the
sentence. The investigation cost more than $2 million but the
sentencing saved the system more than $1 million, he said.

Corrections Canada spokesman Dennis Findlay said Dohm's recommendation
is only one factor that will go into the decision on where they'll
serve their time.