Pubdate: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 The Hamilton Spectator Contact: http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) THE POLICE FILE ON THE GRAVELLE FAMILY Document filed with court reveals history of criminal activity that centres around drug trafficking The following picture of what police call the Gravelle crime organization is drawn from police statements presented in court this week. The statements include allegations yet to be proven in court. THE GRAVELLE FAMILY Five brothers, a son, wives and common-law spouses, girl friends and criminal associates. The drug-trafficking Gravelle family is in the spotlight. Police say in court documents family members are suspected of murder, being involved in the smuggling of drugs worth millions in street value into Canada and the United States and using fear and intimidation to get what it wants. Family members live extravagant and lavish lifestyles with few means of legitimate support. THE FAMILY Paul Gravelle: the eldest, born March 15, 1947, with a criminal record dating back to the 1960s. A charismatic braggart and criminal kingpin who heads the family. Convicted drug smuggler and bank robber and self-acknowledged suspect in the Nov. 16, 1998 shotgun execution of Ancaster lawyer Lynn Gilbank and her husband Fred. Police say he is motivated by greed and a delight in executing crimes and thwarting police. They say he is cunning and ruthless and has used fear and intimidation to have others do his bidding. He boasts about his drug running but vehemently denies involvement in the Gilbank murder or more serious crimes. He called Spectator reporter Bill Dunphy from jail to state his innocence. Verbally accosted a Hamilton police detective in a Canadian Tire store and tried to deflect suspicion away from himself and tried to point the finger at other suspects in the Gilbank slayings. Although denying some crimes, he says he uses the suspicion and rumours about being involved in murder to keep people in line and fearful. Paul was charged with threatening his sister-in-law, Rene's wife, and her friend when there were family differences. Warned off a man interested in seeing his mother, Pauline. He denied involvement when the man was beaten, his car and home vandalized and his porch set on fire. Told police if he were responsible for the crime, he would have burned the house to ground with the man inside. Paid for his former girlfriend and her friend to go to Jamaica several times and pleaded guilty to a related drug charge when the two women were arrested for bringing jugs of cannabis resin worth $400,000 back to Canada the third time. Andre: Second in command although regarded by some as the real leader; the hands-on organizer and legal brain cosy with the family's lawyers. He is said to carefully review police disclosure records in cases involving members of the organization to learn about police investigation techniques and the law. Charged in the murder of the Gilbanks. His common-in-law wife owns Pacex Packages Express, a courier company operating in Canada and the U.S. Daniel: regarded as the Jamaican connection; along with Andre, owned several houses suspected as being part of a money laundering scheme. Rene: although his role is not clear, he ran a limousine and cellphone business allegedly used for trafficking drugs. Denis: has facilitated the transport of drugs; shunned somewhat by other family members; went to police after the Gilbank slayings and tried to point the finger away from the Gravelle family. Told police he is now a Christian and no longer involved in drugs. Christian: Paul's son; charged numerous times with drug offences but charges were often withdrawn when co-accused pleaded guilty; contacts in Jamaica and has travelled to Brazil and Colombia. Operates Celebrity Auto but without apparent income to support his lifestyle. John Croitoru: a 297-pound "enforcer" known as Johnny K-9; former president of the Hamilton Chapter of the Satan's Choice motorcycle gang. Charged in the murder of the Gilbanks. One man told police he witnessed the results of a brutal beating Johnny K-9 administered on a Gravelle family hanger-on who had "mouthed off." Tom Lockhart, Mark Robertson and Todd Stillwell: criminal associates and friends of the Gravelles who have often taken the fall and pleaded guilty to avoid family members going to jail, say police. Lawyers hired by the family represent them; they are taken care of financially while in jail and rewarded afterwards. William and Angie Smith: drug "mules" drawn into the criminal web of the Gravelle family; given a paid trip to Jamaica but arrested carrying jugs of cannabis resin worth about $500,000 back to Canada in their luggage. They ignored instructions from Paul to use his lawyers instead of Lynn Gilbank and to take the fall and do the time; threatened by a jail house inmate to do what the Gravelles said. An OPP officer said in court Bill had informed on the family. They are in police witness protection. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D