Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU) Copyright: 2007 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274 Author: Paul Cherry, The Gazette DRUG RING LEADERS GUILTY OF GANGSTERISM Prosecution Was Country's First. Trial Was Test of Law's New Definition of 'Criminal Organization' Five drug traffickers who held a street in Montreal North "hostage" while their gang dealt crack on sidewalks and out of a high school parking lot have been convicted of gangsterism in a case described as a first in Canada. Rendering his verdict yesterday after the three-month trial, Quebec Court Judge Jean-Pierre Bonin said he could summarize the case this way: "A band of criminals literally took hostage a part of Pelletier (Ave.) between Henri Bourassa Blvd. and d'Amos St. In that area the group took control of drug trafficking, in particular crack, partly by using violence and threats to exclude all other groups." The trial was unique because it targeted street gang members, alleging they were part of a large-scale conspiracy along the lines of the Hells Angels or the Mafia. It also tested a section of the Criminal Code amended in 2001 to broaden the definition of a "criminal organization." Prosecutors are no longer required to prove an accused knew the name of any of the people who were part of the criminal organization. The investigation into Bernard Mathieu's gang began in 2004. Dubbed Project Abat, it targeted drug trafficking on Pelletier Ave. after two men delivering drugs were shot dead in 2003. They were killed on Pelletier Ave. in front of an apartment building often used by Mathieu's dealers. An innocent victim was left paralyzed by the shooting. Montreal police Det.-Sgt. Jean-Claude Gauthier, an expert on street gangs, testified during the trial that Mathieu, 35, was suspected of controlling Pelletier Ave. for a decade. His dealers were a constant presence on the street, drinking rum, playing cards and dealing crack, even out of the parking lot of Ecole secondaire Calixa Lavallee. When he was in his early 20s, Mathieu lived in one of the many large apartment buildings that line Pelletier Ave. Undercover police bought several rocks of crack from Mathieu's dealers during the investigation. They also recorded several conversations that proved Mathieu was the leader. In April 2005, police arrested Mathieu and more than 25 people tied to his network. Several have pleaded guilty since then but yesterday 15 who decided to go through with the lengthy trial at the courthouse on Gouin Blvd. were convicted of at least one count of drug trafficking. Ten of the 15 faced the possibility of being convicted of commission of an offence for a criminal organization, which carries a maximum 14-year sentence, but Bonin ruled the prosecution failed to provide enough evidence against five. Valter Fernandes, who hung out with Mathieu's gang, smiled as he learned he was acquitted of all the major charges the co-accused faced. Bonin said there was not enough evidence to convict Fernandes of being part of a criminal organization or trafficking in either cocaine or crack. He was convicted only of trafficking in marijuana. It was Fernandes who learned that Mathieu and his dealers were under investigation during Project Abat. His girlfriend noticed surveillance photos of Mathieu's dealers posted on the walls of neighbourhood police Station 39. When Fernandes warned Mathieu, the dealers moved to nearby Garon Ave. Wilson Longin, one of several dealers convicted of drug trafficking and conspiracy, said he planned to appeal. During the trial, the defence lawyers generally accepted the fact their clients were guilty of drug trafficking but argued the accused were working individually and for their own profit. "We think it raises questions about gangsterism ... that will probably be addressed to the Quebec Court of Appeal to determine what is a criminal organization in Quebec," lead defence lawyer Marie-Helene Giroux said. "We wonder what the difference is between a conspiracy involving three people or more and a criminal organization." Sentencing arguments in the case of the minor figures in the trial begin today. In Mathieu's case, they begin in February. Mathieu is fighting a deportation order that would have him sent to Haiti. Key Members Of Montreal North Gang, And Charges They Faced Bernard (Ti-Pon) Mathieu Age: 35 Residence: Laval Head of drug-trafficking gang Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic Trafficking in marijuana Trafficking in drugs for a criminal organization Loukens (FBI) Fevrius Age: 24 Residence: Montreal Supervised street-level dealers Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic Trafficking in drugs for a criminal organization Roger LEger Age: 54 Residence: Montreal North Distributed drugs to the network Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Reginald (Reg) Casimir Age: 36 Residence: Laval Supplied drugs to Bernard Mathieu's gang Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Wilson Longin Age: 37 Residence: Montreal Street dealer Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Hansley (Ice) Joseph Age: 27 Residence: Montreal Supplier Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Jean-Yves (Infinity) Longin Valbrun Age: 27 Residence: Laval Gang lieutenant Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic Trafficking in drugs for a criminal organization Joel Samedy Age: 44 Residence: Montreal Street dealer Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Jean-Pierre Joseph Age: 30 Residence: Montreal North Member of street gang called the Dope Squad. He supplied Mathieu's gang. Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Jean-Robert (Ti-Jean) Pierre Antoine Age: 39 Residence: Laval Gang lieutenant Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic Trafficking in marijuana Trafficking in drugs for a criminal organization Valter Fernandes Age: 31 Residence: Sorel Dealt marijuana and hung out with Bernard Mathieu's gang Trafficking in marijuana Serge Hadley Mussotte Age: 30 Residence: Montreal Member of the Dope Squad. He helped supply drugs to Mathieu's gang. Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Clinton (President) St. Thomas Age: 30 Residence: Montreal Distributed drugs to dealers Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic Trafficking in drugs for a criminal organization Celonie (Joe) Mervilus Age: 39 Residence: Montreal Distributed drugs to dealers Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs Roberto (Toto) Aurelius Age: 30 Residence: Montreal North Supplier Trafficking in cocaine Trafficking in crack Conspiracy to traffic in drugs - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine