Pubdate: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Rob Lamberti JP ON DRUGS RAP Lawyer Also Nabbed A Niagara Justice of the Peace and a Welland lawyer are among four who face charges in what police allege is a drugs and money laundering scheme yesterday. Although RCMP officials refused to say if any of the four accused had ties with bikers, particularly the Hells Angels, they admit they relied on the province's biker enforcement unit for information and intelligence. The four were arrested following an investigation launched in January 2002. 'JUSTICE COMPROMISED?' "Of particular concern to us as we continued this investigation, and of significant public interest, is whether or not the local justice system had been compromised by the two accused who were employed in it," RCMP Insp. Linda Martell said. "The investigation thus far has not gleaned any information to indicate that such is the case." The biker unit was formed in part to deal with the influx of bikers into the region after the Hells had set up a chapter in Welland, in addition the Outlaws' mother chapter in St. Catharines. FACING CHARGES Justice of the Peace George Radocjcic, 44, of Niagara Falls, faces charges including possession of the proceeds of crime, laundering proceeds of crime, conspiracy to launder the criminal proceeds, conspiracy to possess the proceeds of crime. Criminal and civil lawyer Jeffrey Root, 38, of Welland, faces charges including conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime, conspiracy to possess the proceeds of crime and counselling to commit laundering. Richard "Ricky" Ward, 44, of Sherkston, Ont., and Monica Gehl, 25, of Port Colborne, are charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine and possessing proceeds of crime. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart