Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 13, 2007, Winnipeg, Manitoba By Bruce Owen and Mike Mcintyre t he Hells Angels have been penetrated by a police informant for the second time in As Many years a sign the provinces most feared gang is also the most vulnerable to Law enforcement. The work of the secret agent plus phone wiretaps and undercover surveillance saw the gangs newly elected president Dale Deli Donovan hauled away from the gangs Scotia Street clubhouse Early wednesday morning. The year Long investigation dubbed project Drill also saw 17 other gang members and associates charged with multiple offences including three people in Thompson with conspiracy to commit murder. The arrests come just Days after Hells Angels associate Bekim Zeneli was shot to death in Thompson. Ramp arrested a 40 year old Man for questioning last weekend but released him without charge. The free press has Learned that Man is Thompson resident Sean Weickert. His brother James is a full Patch Hells Angels member from Oshawa ont., who is one of the men charged this week with the murder conspiracy. Ramp spokeswoman sgt. Line Harpish downplayed any link Between project Drill and Zenelis unsolved slaying. The target of the conspiracy is very much alive Harpish said. Zenelis widow Samantha Collier said Sheds also been told by police none of the arrests had anything to do with her husbands murder. Ism praying that they will solve his Case soon this is Way too hard to Deal with at this time of year she said. Bekim and i have two children our daughter is one and our son is four. Sources told the free press Zeneli May have been a target of the ongoing police investigation and had been recently warned by officers that his life could be in danger. Its not Clear whether his killing prompted police to wrap up project Drill before they were ready. Police said the latest arrests 14 people were in custody As of last night four were still being sought will be a blow to the Hells Angels As its the second time their president was the target in a police sting since the gang set up shop in the City almost seven years ago. A similar joint police operation dubbed project defence saw the gangs then president Ernie Dew two other members and 10 associates targeted in february 2006. Dew was booted out of the gang to be replaced by Donovan. Project Drill started tuesday evening with arrests in Thompson and continued throughout the night and Early morning in Winnipeg and St. Pierre Jolys. A 35 year old member of the Kelowna Hells Angels was also arrested in that City and a 29 year old Man was later arrested in North Vancouver. During the course of project Drill police seized 11 kilograms of cocaine 13 pounds of marijuana 2,000 tablets of methamphetamine five machine guns three handguns $ 70,000 Cash and several vehicles. Hells Angels Prospect member Al Lebras was arrested at his Barber Street Home in wednesdays raids. Lebras 56, is one the Cit yes original bikers. Police also took Over the Hells Angels clubhouse on Scotia Street spending several hours searching it wednesday while seizing gang documents and paraphernalia. The recently amended criminal property forfeiture act gives the province the Power to seize it As proceeds of crime in keeping with what has already happened in other Canadian cities. Whether that happens remains to be seen. Police believe some of the accused were involved in High level drug and weapons trafficking. A Minnesota Man was caught last month allegedly trying to smuggle guns into Canada. All the accused will make their first court appearances this morning in Winnipeg. They ave apparently got a Binder full of material and a hard drive ready for us said defence lawyer John Weinstein. The Case is giving Many in Manitoba ass Legal system a feeling of Duj a Vul. It was in february 2006 that police capped off project defence by arresting 13 Manitoba Hells Angels and associates following a year Long undercover probe that involved paying career criminal Franco Atanasovich $ 525,000 to infiltrate the gang. There have been 10 convictions to Date with full Patch member Ian Grant getting the longest sentence of 15 years. Dews trial is ongoing. Justice sources told the free press wednesday that project Drill which began in november 2006 used Many of the same methods As project defence. But no one believes this will be the knockout punch against the gang. Under Donovan is leadership a nomads chapter was set up to work alongside Hells Angels in Regina extending the local chapters influence. Crown attorney Chris Mainella will Lead the prosecution just As he did in the project defence Case. He told the free press the accused will Likely be broken into several smaller groups that will be tried separately. Wow. Mikeo crime. Com. Bruce. Owen free press. 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Term 20,000 pm per year / month / biweekly lease for $ 295 00 plus taxes based on 48 to. Term 20,000 pm per year / month based on 0% 60 to. Term includes All fees & taxes police have the following 14 people in custody wednesday night. Warrants Are still out for four other individuals. Dale Berry Donovan 33. President of the Manitoba chapter of the Hells Angels. He has also forged a Hells Angels nomads chapter with fellow bikers in Saskatchewan. He was one of five men released from custody in june 2004 after a High profile gang prosecution collapsed. Donovan lives in Gimli but was arrested at the gangs Scotia Street clubhouse. Charges instructing commission of an offence for a criminal organization participation in activities of criminal organization conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance cocaine conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance marijuana and Possession of proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Allain Joseph Lebras 56. One of the Best known outlaw bikers in Manitoba. He was one of the original members of the los bravos. He now is listed As a Prospect for the Hells Angels. He lives in Point Douglas in Winnipeg. Charges participation in the activities of a criminal organization conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance cocaine trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine possessing proceeds of goods obtained by crime and laundering proceeds of crime. James Allen Weickert 44. Member of the Oshawa chapter of the Hells Angels. Although of port Hope ont., Weickert is a former resident of Thompson and visits frequently. At the time of his arrest tuesday night in Thompson he was on bail for offences Laid in a september 2006 police sweep of Ontario Hells Angels. Charges conspiracy to commit murder participation in the activities of a criminal organization conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance marijuana. Stanley Anthony Lucovich 44. Lives in Thompson. Charges conspiracy to commit murder uttering threats participation in a criminal organization conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance marijuana trafficking in a controlled substance marijuana and Possession of proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Dean Gurniak 34. Also of Thompson. Charges conspiracy to commit murder uttering threats conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance marijuana and Possession of proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Lester Robert Jones 35. A member of the Kelowna chapter of the Hells Angels. He was arrested in Kelowna wednesday morning. Charges conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance cocaine trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine and Possession of the proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Allen Raymond Morrison 35. Described by police As a Hells Angels hang around. Morrison was in custody at the time of his arrest pending sentencing on an unspecified 2004 charge and conviction. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine Possession of proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Thomas Eric Anderson 22. A member of the Zig Zag Crew the puppet gang for the Hells Angels. He was also in custody at the time of his arrest. He is pending trial on charges a Man was beaten and had his car taken in a drug related incident last february. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine. Benjamin James Hamlin 23. A resident of Warroad minn., he was arrested nov. 22 at the Canadian Border for allegedly trying to smuggle guns into Manitoba. He had been granted bail but was still in custody trying to meet the conditions of his release when he was re arrested yesterday. Charges conspiracy to import firearms into Canada unlawful importation of a firearm and unlawful Transfer of a firearm. Wayne Albert Holmes 50. A resident of Winnipeg. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance cocaine. Stacy Jack Finch 49. A resident of St. Pierre Jolys. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance methamphetamine trafficking in a controlled substance marijuana and Possession of proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Jason Pineda 26. A resident of Winnipeg. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine and Possession of proceeds of goods obtained by crime. Delon Hanan Shell 26. A resident of Winnipeg. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine. Mark Schilperoort 29. A resident of Vancouver b. C., arrested in that City late wednesday. Charges trafficking in a controlled substance cocaine. Police surrounded a Home in Kelowna on wednesday that of Lead Singer Shane Bunting a. K. A. Mad child from the Vancouver rap group swollen members. They asked if they could come in and i told them not without a search warrant a said Bunting. The swat team was interested in who owned the Dodge ram truck parked in his driveway which head borrowed from a Friend said Bunting. He declined to name the Friend but said it a snot Lester Robert Jones of Kelowna one of the Hells Angels from across Canada arrested wednesday. Bunting claims police have dogged him Ever since he featured some Hells Angels members in a video in 2003. All i know is they re looking for the Guy who is the owner of the truck he said before the police eventually left. The police have always had a grudge against me. But yeah i have friends who Are in the Hells Angels. Ramp refused to say if the Kelowna Hells Angels raid and the incident at buntings Home Are related. Can West news service informant cracks Hells again project Drill leads to big seizures arrest of gangs local president submitted photo Dale Donovan is leadership has seen a nomads chapter set up to work alongside the Hells Angels in Regina. Submitted photo Al Lebras longtime City biker Long list of arrested suspects and allegations police surround Home of rap groups Lead Singer ;