MESSAGE SENT TO GANGS

For months Marcel Joseph Pelletier ensured drugs flowed steadily into
the Regina Correctional Centre for him and his "bro's" in the Native
Syndicate street gang -- but the tide has turned.

The 21-year-old Regina man was sentenced Wednesday to four years in a
penitentiary after pleading guilty to participating in a criminal
organization, robbery with violence and obstructing justice by
counselling a witness to give false testimony.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Guy Chicoine said it was necessary to
"send a message" not only to Pelletier but to others who might be
attracted to join a gang. The sentence would have been six months
longer, but the judge credited Pelletier for pre-trial custody.

Pelletier was charged in an investigation dubbed "Operation Nugget" --
after his nickname. It was targeted at the Native Syndicate, which has
become the largest gang in the city since its arrival in 1998, court
heard. It has a core of about 150 members and another 100 associates.

Using wiretaps, police intercepted a number of calls Pelletier placed
from the remand unit at the Regina jail between Jan. 23 and March 27
in which he discussed drug deliveries.

Female and male gang members would "pack" marijuana, cocaine, morphine
and other narcotics -- usually hiding them in bodily orifices -- when
they came to the jail as visitors or inmates, Crown prosecutor Kim
Jones said. One taped conversation refers to the drugs being hidden in
a Kinder egg, a type of candy with an egg-shaped plastic container.

In one conversation, Pelletier mentions he has "patched over" to the
Syndicate and has a new NSG tattoo on his hand for "Native Syndicate
guy." Pelletier, who has a record of 35 previous offences, was
formerly a member of the Indian Posse street gang, court heard. Its
president and vice-president were sent to prison on criminal
organization charges in 2003 and earlier this year.

Pelletier is heard saying, "Regina is the Syndicate's
backyard."

The calls were placed while Pelletier was awaiting trial on his other
charges. He was also serving a 15-month sentence for dangerous driving
- -- involving a high-speed police chase -- and common assault for
attacking a fellow prisoner.

The robbery occurred April 29 when Pelletier and two others attacked a
13-year-old boy as he and friends were walking in the 1200 block of
Victoria Avenue. The boy was punched, thrown onto the ground and
kicked before his jersey, two necklaces and a watch were stolen. The
boy was unaware that hanging from the pocket of the coat he had
borrowed was a bandana of a rival gang, which sparked the attack.

The obstruction charge stemmed from efforts to dissuade a witness to
the robbery from testifying.

Jones asked for a total sentence of five years, but defence lawyers
Brendan Pyle and Keir Vallance argued Pelletier should get a break
because of his aboriginal ancestry, troubled upbringing, lack of
planning in the robbery, and the nature of the street gangs. Pyle
suggested the organized crime laws are targeted at groups like the
Hells Angels and not aboriginal street gangs whose members come from
disadvantaged backgrounds marred by unemployment and substance abuse.
"They're thugs, but they're fairly low-level thugs," he said.

Asked by the judge prior to sentencing about the source of his
problems, Pelletier replied, "I've made some mistakes."