POLICE NIP HELLS ANGELS EXPANSION

Gang Members Charged With Being Part Of Criminal Organization; 17 Arrested

VANOUVER -- A planned expansion into the criminally lucrative B.C.
Interior by the Hells Angels has been effectively stymied by the
arrests of 17 men, Vancouver police and the RCMP said yesterday.
Officers also charged members of the gang with being part of a
criminal organization. The 23-month investigation culminated in
simultaneous raids on the weekend at the East End chapter and Kelowna
hangouts of the Hells Angels, where a computer and other items were seized.

Even before those search warrants were executed, police had retrieved
millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs, weapons and $200,000 in cash.

Police say it's the first time individuals in B.C. associated with
the Hells Angels have been charged with being tied to a criminal
organization. A conviction on the charge could bring sentences that
are three times longer than what is normally handed out.

"We're hoping this will have a substantial impact on their
organization," said Constable Cam Kowalski, the media spokesman for
Project EPANDORA. "We arrested some of their senior members of the
organization and hopefully disrupting their plans to form a chapter
in Kelowna and the Interior, which hasn't been done yet to date."

The date of a charter for the Hells Angels in Kelowna was slated for
Christmas, 2005, Constable Kowalksi said.

Earlier this month, an Ontario Superior Court judge convicted two
Hells Angels of being "in association with" an identifiable criminal
group. That ruling was the first since organized-crime legislation
was toughened four years ago that found the Hells Angels to be a
criminal organization.

Last year, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled she could not find the
Hells Angels is a criminal organization based on evidence heard in
the kidnapping and assault trial of Hells Angels associate Rick
Mandi. Mr. Mandi was sentenced to five years in jail for kidnapping,
extortion and assault with a weapon.

Another B.C. Supreme Court judge, however, ruled in June, 2004, that
the Hells Angels are a criminal organization.

Police say the Hells Angels are a very organized group with the
ability to intimidate witnesses.

Recently, prosecutors in Manitoba abruptly abandoned a high-profile
Hells Angels prosecution over a problematic witness. Safety measures
are in place for potential witnesses in the B.C. arrests, police said
yesterday.

Six of the 18 men arrested are accused of being full-patch Hells Angels.

Eleven are charged with being associates. Police say that Jonathan
Bryce, the son of the East End chapter's president, John Bryce, is a
"hang around" member.

All the men arrested made brief appearances at the heavily secured
B.C. Supreme Court yesterday.

One man, Kerry Ryan Renaud, remains at large with an outstanding
warrant for his arrest. Police say Mr. Renaud is armed and dangerous.
The men arrested were charged with a variety of offences, including
extortion, assault and possession of proceeds of crime, explosives
and trafficking.

Earlier this year, police arrested 10 men in Vancouver and Prince
George, four Hells Angels members including the Vancouver president
as well as six members of the Renegades, a puppet gang from the
north. One of the accused, Billy Moore, the president of the
Renegades, was killed execution style in March.

A special prosecution team set up to deal with serious and difficult
cases was part of the investigation conducted jointly by the
Vancouver police and RCMP.

Attorney-General Wally Oppal said yesterday the role of that
established team of experienced prosecutors was to give legal advice
as the investigation proceeded. A different prosecuting team -- at
arm's length -- will be the Crown counsels in the coming case.

Vancouver Police Constable Howard Chow said the arrests mark a
transition and the Hells Angels can no longer be regarded as anything
but dangerous criminals.

During the weekend, members of the East End chapter said police were
heavy-handed in the raid .

Constable Chow dismissed those overtures and said the priority of the
police was safety for neighbours and members. "These guys were not
going to invite us in for tea and crumpets," he said.