All nine members of a Hell’s Angels “Hang-Around Club” in Charlottetown were arrested Wednesday night by the new PEI Organized Crime Task Force.
The accused were taken into custody outside their 205 Fitzroy Street club just after 9 p.m. Wednesday following a regular weekly club meeting, or “church” as police described it.
The nine men range in age from 19 to 62 and face charges relating to the Illegal Operation of a Lottery or Games of Chance and subsequent charges dealing with the Commission of an Offense for a Criminal Organization and Participating in Activities of a Criminal Organization.
Those arrested are: “Ian” Roulston Kennedy, 53; “Corey” Gordon Falls, 29; Robert “Bobby’’ Vernon Falls, 62; “Kenneth” MacLeod, 48; Ronald Joseph “Dean” Cook, 45; “Brad” Charles Gallant, 25; “Blake” Edward Culleton, 34; “Shawn” Gregory Paquet, 29; and “Tristan” Edward Watts, 19.
Police also seized a number of items in the raid including each members’ club “colours” consisting of various identifying apparel, a quantity of money, ledgers, one weapon – that being a knife, and all of their cell phones.
Charlottetown Deputy Police Chief Brad MacConnell says the three charges facing each of the accused are serious and carry maximum sentences of 2 years, 5 years, and 14 years, respectively.
The Island club doesn’t carry full-patch status with the renowned biker group but are affiliated as a hang-around club of the Woodbridge, Ontario Hell’s Angels.
All of the men spent the night at Sleepy Hollow and appeared Thursday before a Justice of the Peace in provincial court, where they were joined by two full-patch members of the Woodbridge Hell’s Angels, who stood with the men and instructed them through the proceedings.
The 9 accused will appear in court at later dates and were released on conditions of not attending the Charlottetown clubhouse, and not to have contact with each other or with the two Woodbridge Hell’s Angels who appeared with them in court.
Deputy Chief MacConnell says the investigation is ongoing and more criminal charges are possible.
The Organized Crime Task Force consists of officers with the Charlottetown Police Force, Summerside Police Services, Kensington Police Services, and Island RCMP.