HELLS ANGELS BOSSES GUILTY ON DRUG CHARGES

Two top executives of Ontario chapters of the Hells Angels Motorcycle
Club were found guilty yesterday of trafficking drugs and directing
the sale of drugs for the benefit of a criminal organization.

The decision is seen as a victory for police and prosecutors in their
war on the HAMC, members of which have long flaunted their
death's-head logo, maintaining that they are nothing more nefarious
than a group of old men who like to ride motorcycles.

Gerald (Skinny) Ward, 60, a founding member of the Niagara chapter,
had pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine and possession of proceeds
of a crime. Terry Pink, 41, president of the Simcoe chapter, had
pleaded guilty to similar charges but both denied that these illicit
activities had anything to do with their motorcycle club.

Mr. Justice John McMahon of Ontario Superior Court ruled yesterday
that the club is "a criminal organization which is dedicated to the
facilitation and commission of serious criminal offences that
materially benefit the members of the HAMC," and that Mr. Ward and Mr.
Pink carried out their activities "not only for the benefit of the
individuals involved but for the benefit of the HAMC, particularly the
Oshawa and Niagara chapters."

The two men were arrested along with 22 others after raids in
September of 2006 on homes and clubhouses in Toronto, Oshawa, Windsor
and Niagara Region. The arrests were the culmination of an 18-month
undercover operation called Project Tandem.

Prosecutor Tom Andreopoulos said he was pleased to see the charges
culminate in convictions only a little more than two years after the
arrests.

Project Tandem was executed with the help of a police agent named
Steven Gault, a member of the Oshawa chapter who was paid hundreds of
thousands of dollars for his work and who is now in the
witness-protection program.

Mr. Gault testified that when he purchased a kilogram of cocaine from
Mr. Ward he paid a premium of about $2,000 to pay down a debt owed by
the Oshawa chapter to the Niagara chapter.

The Hells Angels "have complete control of the coke dealing in the
whole Niagara Region," Mr. Gault testified during the proceedings,
according to the judge's decision.

In his decision, Judge McMahon cited evidence that as of July, 2008,
75 per cent of Canada's HAMC members have been convicted of criminal
offences, that a defence fund is maintained by members' monthly dues,
and that members in prison are referred to as the Big House Crew.

Sentencing arguments for Mr. Pink will be heard on Jan. 29, and for
Mr. Ward on Jan. 27.