Biker sentenced to 3-1/2 years for drug deal

A Manitoba biker associate has admitted to a $10,000 drug deal which was largely arranged on a Blackberry device being secretly monitored by police. Jamie Korne, 41, pleaded guilty to trafficking today and was given a three-and-a-half year prison sentence under a joint-recommendation from Crown and defence lawyers. Korne was one of 13 people arrested earlier this year as par of "Project Deplete", which utilized the services of a criminal-turned-informant who allowed police an inside look at the criminal underworld in exchange for $500,000 and witness protection. The large-scale takedown by the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force -- comprised of officers from the Winnipeg Police Service, Brandon Police Service and the RCMP -- yielded an impressive haul. Officers seized about 6.9 kilograms of cocaine, 4.6 kg of crack cocaine and 2.7 kg of methamphetamine. They also seized more than 9,800 tablets of ecstasy, about 500 tablets of oxycodone and about 900 grams of marijuana. The probe has been underway since August 2011 In Korne’s case, he was caught sending numerous messages to the secret agent about a 10-ounce cocaine transaction which ultimately went down in January 2012 at a Winnipeg car wash, court was told. Korne set up the deal, using connections he had, and was given $10,000 in marked money for his efforts. Korne was fighting his own drug addiction at the time and agreed to the transaction to help feed his costly habit, court was told. He is a former member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Biker-sentenced-to-3-12-years-for-drug-deal-179556861.html