03/05/09 (CAN):
Expert: Main Purpose of Hells Angels is to Facilitate Criminal Activities
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The main reason for the existence of the Hells Angels motorcycle club is to facilitate criminal activity for its members, a biker expert testified at the trial of four Hells Angels.
The Crown called Jacques Lemieux, a retired RCMP staff-sergeant from Montreal who specialized in motorcycle gangs, to provide an expert opinion about the Hells Angels in Canada and specifically the East End chapter of the Hells Angels in B.C.
"It is my opinion that the main purpose of the Hells Angels organization is to facilitate the criminal activities of its membership," Lemieux testified .
"The members of the Hells Angels [are given] a vehicle to facilitate criminal activities."
Questioned further by prosecutor Mark Levitz, Lemieux testified about the violent turf war years ago between the Hells Angels and a rival biker gang, the Rock Machine, in Montreal and Quebec.
He said he believes the Hells Angels in B.C. are no different than other chapters in Canada.
Lemiex was testifying at the trial of four East End Hells Angels - Ronaldo Lising, Randy Potts, John Punko and Jean Violette - accused of assault, extortion and weapons offences.
The 28-count indictment alleges the Hells Angels chapter is a criminal organization and that the accused committed such crimes as extortion and uttering death threats "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization, to wit the East End charter of the Hells Angels."
Earlier, Levitz asked Lemieux about a secretly taped conversation, in which Punko was heard speaking to police agent Michael Plante about dynamite.
"It is my opinion that Mr. Punko wanted dynamite, is the extent the Hells Angels will go to further their criminal activities," Lemieux testified.
Plante worked as a police agent to infiltrate the Hells Angels and carried a secret listening device, allowing police to record conversations.
The trial has heard how Plante was promised $1 million to work as an RCMP police agent.
He was paid $500,000 after his work ended in 2005 and will be paid the remainder after he finishes testifying at a number of trials.
Plante had been accepted to become an East End member of the Hells Angels and was trusted by many of the bikers, the trial has heard.
At the trial's opening last September, Levitz told the jury the Hells Angels is the most powerful outlaw motorcycle gang in the world and its main purpose is to facilitate the criminal activities of its members.
The defence has urged jurors to keep an open mind and not prejudge the accused because they are Hells Angels.
Under cross-examination Thursday by Lising's lawyer, Greg DelBigio, Lemieux admitted he was being paid by the Crown for his expert testimony.
He also said the Crown was paying his expenses while in Vancouver.
Lemieux said he was given a computer disc that contained the entire police investigation code-named E-Pandora, which targetted the East End Hells Angels.
He admitted he didn't read everything on the disc.
"You didn't take time to read it?" DelBigio asked. "That's the evidence they wanted you to see to formulate your opinion."
Lemieux explained he was an RCMP officer at the time, so he had other duties.
"It would have taken months and months to read it," Lemieux said.
DelBigo suggested Lemieux was not fair and impartial because he had jumped to conclusions before reading all the E-Pandora file.
"It is over 33 years of experience I had to give an opinion on what the Hells Angels are all about," the witness said.
Lemieux explained he also worked for years in Ottawa for Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, compiling and analyzing police investigations and intelligence on outlaw motorcycle gangs.
He testified Hells Angels members have a structured heirarchy, commonly use encrypted email to communicate and wear a three-piece Hells Angels "patch" on their backs to intimidate people.
But DelBigio showed the witness some photos of three-piece patches worn by such police biker groups as the Band of Brothers in New York and the Gun Fighters in Texas.
The lawyer showed the witness a photo of burly biker cops.
"If people saw these guys, they might be intimidated," DelBigio suggested.
"They could be, yes," Lemieux conceded.
His cross-exam continues at the Vancouver Law Courts before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly and a jury.
The judge cautioned jurors Thursday to examine whether the expert was impartial and determine whether to accept some, all or none of his opinion.
"You are the sole judges of the facts," the judge told the jury.
With thanks, Vancouver Sun, © 2009
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