Family man with no gang ties got caught up in drug trade; sent to jail in Project Deplete bust

A family man with no prior record will serve 3 1/2 years in prison after being nabbed as an incidental target in a sweeping police drug-and-guns crackdown. Mark Beitz, 32, was taken from Queen’s Bench Justice Colleen Suche’s courtroom in handcuffs Tuesday as several family members looked on in apparent sorrow. Beitz previously admitted guilt for the role he played in facilitating a cocaine deal between his cousin, Jamie Christopher Korne, and a paid police informant cops employed in what was dubbed Project Deplete. “You’re feeling sorry for yourself today,” Suche told Beitz, as she accepted the jointly recommended prison term for the first-time offender. “But the part I really want you to think about is the damage you’ve caused to society ... that’s why you’re going to jail for 3 1/2 years,” Suche said. Beitz helped broker a Jan. 9, 2012, cash-for-cocaine deal between the agent and Korne, a transaction for which he was to be paid a measly $100. He didn’t supply the 11 ounces of the drug in the $10,000 deal, police heard. The meeting between Korne and the police agent took place in the back of a vehicle at a car wash and was captured on video surveillance, the Crown said. Korne received a 3 1/2-year prison term late last year. Beitz apologized to the court and his family. He’s been on bail without incident since shortly after he turned himself in to police in February 2012. “I don’t ever want to see this place or go through this again,” he said. "You're feeling sorry for yourself today," Suche told Beitz. "But the part I really want you to think about is the damage you've caused to society ... that's why you're going to jail for 3.5 years," Suche said. Project Deplete saw RCMP and Winnipeg police target what they described as a number of major players in the provincial drug trade. Some involved had various gang associations. Others, like Beitz, had none whatsoever. In all, 16 suspects were nabbed in the months-long covert probe which saw the agent paid $500,000, plus expenses, in phases. All but one have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 18 months to eight years.

Former Manitoba Hells Angels leader Dale Sweeney sentenced to 11 years in prison

Monday, April 29, 2013

Former Manitoba Hells Angels leader Dale Sweeney has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in spearheading a sophisticated cocaine trafficking ring. Sweeney, 43, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in aid of a criminal organization and possession of proceeds of crime. Sweeney’s sentence was jointly recommended by the Crown and defence. Prosecutors would have recommended a much higher sentence had Sweeney been convicted after trial, said Crown attorney Geoff Bayly, noting the case against Sweeney was “extremely strong.” Sweeney was among nine people arrested in March 2012 following a joint city police and RCMP investigation targeting the Hells Angels and its support club, Redlined. Court heard Sweeney and his gang minions and street dealers raked in more than $100,000 a month selling crack cocaine, primarily in the Elmwood area. “We tell (rivals) to get the f--- out of Elmwood ... it is ours, bought and paid for,” said a co-accused in a phone conversation intercepted by police. Sweeney was sentenced to three years on the proceeds of crime charge and a further eight years on the drug trafficking charge. He received credit for one year of pre-sentence custody. Justice Rick Saull ordered Sweeney serve at least four years on the drug charge before he is eligible for parole. Sweeney agreed to forfeit more than $500,000 in assets, including equity in an Autumnview Drive home, two motorcycles, and the balances of several investment accounts. Defence lawyer Allan Gold suggested Sweeney will be a changed man when he is finally released from prison. “There is no reason to think he won’t renew his life in a constructive fashion,” Gold told court.

Hells Angel Rod Sweeney arrested

Wednesday, August 14,2013

A Hells Angel wanted in connection with a bizarre attack on two cyclists last week is now in custody. Rodney Patrick Sweeney, 45, was arrested on Tuesday, four days after police announced a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Sweeney has been charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in connection with what police say was an unprovoked attack on a 27-year-old man and his 14-year-old nephew. The incident happened Aug. 5 at 11:15 p.m. near the corner of Concordia Avenue and Molson Street in East Kildonan. Police say the two victims were riding their bicycles when a man began following them in a vehicle. After a short distance, the suspect got out of the car and attacked the pair with a blunt weapon. The victims escaped with non-life-threatening injuries and called police. Neither victim appears to be affiliated with a gang or have provoked the attack, police said. “From our investigation, it seems to have been instigated by nothing — nothing that would provoke even an aggressive confrontation, never mind a violent attack,” police spokesman Const. Rob Carver previously said. Last summer, Sweeney agreed to abide by the conditions of a peace bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour until 2015. The little-used legal weapon was used by police at the time as part of efforts to keep a lid on a brewing turf war between the Angels and its rivals, the Rock Machine. Sweeney was detained in custody at the Provincial Remand Centre.

Hells Angels gangster wanted in blunt-weapon assault of teen & relative.....

Friday, August 09, 2013

The man accused of an unprovoked attack on two cyclists Monday night is also an alleged high-ranking Hells Angels member who had legally promised to end his criminal ways. At 11:15 p.m., a 14-year-old boy and 27-year-old male relative were out for a bike ride near Concordia Avenue and Molson Street when a man began following them in a vehicle. After a short distance, the suspect got out of the vehicle and attacked the 27-year-old and 14-year-old victims with a blunt weapon. The victims escaped, and called police. They were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injures. On Friday, police issued a warrant for the arrest of Rodney Patrick Sweeney, 45. Sweeney is white, 6-foot-2 and 230 lbs. with a medium build. He has short brown hair and a goatee. He’s also allegedly a long-time, high-ranking Hells Angels member, the brother of the gang’s reported president. It’s unclear what provoked the attack. “Certainly the two victims have nothing that would indicate they didn’t do anything to bring this upon themselves. They’re not known to police, there’s nothing whatsoever that would lead us to that conclusion,” Const. Rob Carver, police spokesperson, said Friday. “From our investigation it seems to have been instigated by nothing — nothing that would provoke even an aggressive confrontation, never mind a violent attack,” Carver said. Police warn Sweeney has been known to carry weapons and should not be approached. Instead, they ask anyone with details of Sweeney’s whereabouts to call (204) 986-3916. “Sweeney is known to police,” Carver said. “He’s the kind of individual we would not want members of the public to approach for any reason. He is … known to carry weapons. We would just want to know if he was seen and some indication of where he was.” “We’re hoping Sweeney will turn himself in, given the media attention.” Last summer, Sweeney agreed to abide with the conditions of a peace bond — to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour.” That bond remains under effect until 2015. The little-used legal weapon is intended to fight organized crime by keeping gang members apart. “It’s an all-encompassing thing to be a good citizen ... which this type of activity, if proven, would be in breach of,” Carver said. Sweeney’s brother Dale is the reported president of the Hells Angels, who were engaged in a violent drug turf war with rivals Rock Machine at the time. Sweeney was not charged with a crime at the time. But court heard Hells Angels associates “assembled in convoys to go on the hunt for rival Rock Machine members,” court documents state. Sometimes, the missions culminate in a home invasion, dubbed “knock knock ginger man,” the court documents state. Police implicated Sweeney in these so-called hunting missions through an intercepted text message from his brother. “Grab some of the boys tell them to put somework (sic) it. Keep pressure on they hurtin (sic) bud!” police quote Dale Sweeney as writing to Justin MacLeod, the alleged president of the HA’s “friend” gang, the Redlined Support Crew.

Angel's recovery has Parole Board skeptical Says clean so they ask for financial details

Thursday, June 27.2013.....

He says he's cut all ties to the Hells Angels, volunteers his time and has started up a burgeoning — and legitimate — painting business while taking university courses on sociology and crime by correspondence. Even Winnipeg police are cautiously optimistic Ian Grant's now a changed man who could be given additional freedoms, parole officials say. Despite this, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) thinks it's still too soon for Grant to receive full parole from his 15-year prison term and has ordered him to remain living at a halfway house for at least the next six months. Grant, 39, learned earlier this month his bid for full parole — and a chance to live at a newly rented apartment — was denied. The board elected to keep him under the closer supervision which goes with day parole, which Grant's been free on without issue since last June. "Gains achieved on conditional release, while extremely positive, were seen as relatively short-lived when viewed against your persistent, dense and violent criminal history," the board stated in a recent decision. Grant was arrested as part of a sizable Manitoba police undercover bust targeting the Hells Angels and others in 2006. He was found guilty after trial of drug-trafficking and extortion and sentenced in May 2007. The recent PBC decision cites a wealth of positive changes Grant has made in his life. But ultimately, the board says it wants to take a wait-and-see approach before full parole can be granted. "Your skills and commitment to change need to be further tested," the decision said. The PBC imposed a new condition on Grant. In addition to past requirements he return nightly to a halfway house and avoid all contact with the criminal element, he must now also provide detailed financial information to the satisfaction of a parole supervisor.