Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2005
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Amy Carmichael
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

HELLS ANGELS TRIALS MAY RUN WELL INTO 2006

VANCOUVER -- Members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club and their lawyers 
packed a courtroom yesterday to make plans for six separate trials, one 
expected to run for half of 2006.

Little is known about the cases involving about 20 bikers who were charged 
when police raided their clubhouses in Vancouver and Kelowna this summer.

The charges relate to production and trafficking of methamphetamine, and 
many of the men are accused of committing offences in association with a 
criminal organization.

The biggest of the six trials will be led by federal prosecutor Martha 
Devlin, who told the court yesterday she expects her evidence will take 
four to six months to deliver.

The eight accused in this trial have different lawyers who may also call 
evidence.

The matter most heavily focuses on John Virgil Punko, 39, a member of the 
East End chapter of the Hells Angels who is charged with directing and 
committing offences in association with a criminal organization. He also 
faces drug charges -- conspiracy to produce and traffic meth and 
trafficking cocaine. He's accused of possessing proceeds of crime and 
conspiracy to commit extortion, mischief, assault and one count of threatening.

Also accused is Randall Potts, 45. He faces similar charges of conspiracy 
to traffic drugs and directing and committing offences for a criminal 
organization. He's also accused of possessing explosives for a criminal 
organization.

The rest of the co-accused in the federal trial are younger men who are 
known as associates of the Hells Angels: Kerry Ryan Renaud, 25, David 
Pearse, 27, Nima Abbassian-Ghavami, 25, Jason Brown, 30, Wissam Ayach, 26, 
and Chad Barroby, 27.

They face charges relating to conspiracy to produce and traffic meth and 
committing offences in association with a criminal organization.

About half of the men who will appear in the six trials are still in jail. 
The rest are out on bail.

The matter was put over until Sept. 27 when trial dates will likely be set.
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