BIKER IMPACT WON'T CHANGE IN REGION, COPS SAY

Murder Victims Known To York Police

The murder of two Georgina bikers, among the eight Bandidos gang
members shot to death in southwestern Ontario last weekend, will have
little impact on outlaw biker gang activity in York Region, police said.

"Specifically, it doesn't mean that much," York Regional Police
investigative services Insp. Tom Carrique said. "Just that two
residents were victims in a homicide."

Eight bodies were found last Saturday stuffed in several abandoned
vehicles on a farm in Shedden in what has been called one of the
worst mass murders in Ontario's history.

Among them were Paul Sinopoli, 30, a full-patch Bandidos member and
Jamie Flanz, 37, who OPP investigators described as a prospect member.

Five people have been arrested and charged with eight counts of first-
degree murder in connection with the killings, including another full
patch Bandidos member, Wayne Kellestine, who lives near the Elgin
County farm where the bodies were found.

OPP Det.-Supt. Ross Bingley described the murders as an isolated
incident inside the Bandidos gang with no ties to other outlaw biker
gangs.

Both Mr. Sinopoli and Mr. Flanz were well known to police by virtue
of their association with the Bandidos, as are a handful of other
members of the gang who live and operate locally, Insp. Carrique said.

The Bandidos have no official chapter or clubhouse in the region,
unlike rival biker gang the Hells Angels, who police estimate have
more than 30 members in York and clubhouses in both Woodbridge and
Keswick.

A third Hells Angels chapter was operating out of a clubhouse in
Richmond Hill until 2003 when a massive provincewide biker bust
helped force them out. Many of the mostly drug related charges laid
against members of the local chapter are still before the courts.

Although police suspect local biker gangs are involved in a host of
criminal activity, their primary interest is illegal drugs, Insp.
Carrique said.

"Drugs are the thread that link all organized crime together," he said.

In the past, bikers would carry on criminal activity associating only
with those in the gang, but police intelligence shows times have
changed.

The lure of increased profits has linked biker gangs to other ethnic
organized crime groups around the region through various different
criminal enterprises, Insp. Carrique said.

Gangs like the Bandidos and Hells Angels continue to make headlines,
but puppet clubs operating under the direction of the larger more
powerful criminal organizations will often do their bidding shielding
the organization from prosecution, Insp. Carrique said.

Local Hells Angels have refused requests for interviews from the York
Region Newspaper Group.

In the rare times members have spoken to the media, outlaw bikers
often describe themselves as motorcycle enthusiasts with no criminal
ties who police publicly target to boost budgets.

Nothing could be further from the truth, Insp. Carrique said.

"They're not motorcycle enthusiasts, the police consider them a
criminal organization and we cannot combat this problem alone, we
need the cooperation of the community," he said.

Licensed establishments serving outlaw bikers and organizations
allowing them to take part in local events are only aiding and
abetting their criminal efforts, Insp. Carrique said.

When two Woodbridge Hells Angels were convicted of extortion against
a Barrie businessman in July 2005, Superior Court Justice Michelle
Fuerst decided they acted in association with a criminal
organization, namely the Hells Angels.

It was the first time federal organized crime legislation from 2001
was used against the gang, allowing up to an additional 14 years to
be added to the men's sentences.

Ray Bonner and Steven Lindsay tried to exhort $75,000 from a Barrie
man while wearing the Hells Angels colours.

The landmark decision will help law enforcement efforts to eradicate
the gang, Insp. Carrique said.

"The definition of a criminal organization is three or more people
acting in concert criminally for financial gain," he said. "The court
decision in Barrie identified the Hells Angels as a criminal
organization and it will definitely assist in further prosecutions of
outlaw motorcycle gangs."

The ongoing enforcement and investigative efforts of local police
include having officers permanently seconded to the OPP biker
enforcement unit and investigative services staff dedicated to biker
enforcement locally.

"We are intent on continuing our enforcement and investigative
efforts in regards to outlaw motorcycle until they no longer reside
and or operate in York Region," Insp. Carrique said. "Our efforts to
rid the region of outlaw motorcycle gangs will not stop until we are
successful."