It was an in-depth, costly and clandestine investigation into a feared biker gang which featured all the usual police hallmarks: a well-paid civilian informant, wiretaps and plenty of covert surveillance.
But the RCMP’s recent Project Dilemma wasn’t without a few surprises, including the sudden and curious arrival of an inter-provincial “wrecking crew” to assist the Manitoba Rock Machine (RM) chapter as it worked towards bolstering its ranks, developing drug turf and throwing cold water on any potential police heat, court documents fleshing out details of the months-long probe show.
Local RM leaders announced the arrival of two members of a Quebec-Ontario support club called the “SS Elite” during a Nov. 8 “church” meeting held at the home of the paid police agent, himself then a full-patch RM member. He is not identified by name in the documents.
The new faces on the local biker scene — described as the first among the SS Elite “strike force” to travel to western Canada — were sent to “provide security, support, enforcement and logistics,” to the Manitoba RM chapter, local leaders told their small band of gathered members and prospects.
The SS Elite was described by RM leaders as being modelled after the SS Waffen, “created to protect Hitler and other Nazis.”
“As SS Elite members, they ultimately report to RM members in Montreal but are also required to protect and support the local chapter members,” the court papers say.
One of the new arrivals said his instructions were to “’enforce the law.’” The other described how he was instructed to “be there for Winnipeg chapter members when they are in need and to make sure that they don’t get hurt.”
Their incentive was to eventually be patched into the Rock Machine as full members, the documents state.
Local RM leadership “assured” the SS Elite gangsters “they could become full-patch RM members if they proved themselves.” At this time, police say Winnipeg’s RM chapter was considered “provisional” because it didn’t have at least five full-patch members.
One of the SS Elite members asked about potentially selling drugs in Dauphin. It was no problem, he was advised, despite the area’s drug turf being operated by a former RM member who was previously voted out of the club.
“The north is a money maker,” the SS Elite member said.
“You are in RM country ... Manitoba is RM country,” was the reply, the documents say. “As full patch SS Elite members, they could do whatever they want wherever they want within the province of Manitoba,” they were told.
The RM’s local cocaine supply — referred to as the “food” situation — as well as the Rock Machine’s future plans were also discussed, according to the documents.
Ideas to undermine police and investigations were also talked about: One high-ranking member called for the creation of a “legitimate company” called “Rock Machine Media Incorporated.” Its purpose was to weaken any police claim the RM was a criminal organization, the documents state.
“This business ... would allow RM members to claim that they are shareholders in a legitimate business and that they derive income from it ... the goal is the long term viability and sustainability of the RM for the benefit of all.”
By Jan. 18, something had changed, as the SS Elite “had been dissolved,” the documents state. No reason is stated. At a meeting that day at an Inkster Boulevard restaurant, it was unanimously decided one of the former SS Elite members would be granted prospect status.
Thirteen days later, RCMP carried out raids across Winnipeg and collared 11 suspects, 10 of whom were directly indicted into the Court of Queen’s Bench to face trial. Along with pounds of cocaine and other drugs, RCMP also seized guns, pipe bombs and other explosives as well as Rock Machine paraphernalia.
MANITOBA ROCK MACHINE: KEY DATES
September 2008: Police monitor a meeting said to be the first public gathering of a newly formed Rock Machine in the province. Members seen at the meeting had no known ties to the former RM gang based in Quebec, but ties to other gangs.
January 2010: Members of the Manitoba Hells Angels and support crew Redlined begin a series of violent attacks on RM members. They continue throughout the year with no retaliation from the RM.
Spring 2011: The RM begin to retaliate against the Hells Angels and Redlined. The “biker war” reaches a fever pitch over the summer months, with several shootings and fire-bombings linked to the feud. The RM support club, the Vendetta Crew, emerges. By the fall, fighting decreases.
June 2011: Winnipeg police seize a copy of the Rock Machine Canada constitution, dated Sept. 16, 2010. The document sets out the structure of the gang and its various chapters.
March 2012: Project Flatlined, a crackdown on the Hells Angels and Redlined, takes a number of their members off the streets. This same month, high-ranking RM local RM members are reported to travel to Montreal to meet with Quebec-based members.
August 2012: The RCMP Drug Section begins Project Dilemma. A full-patch RM member agrees to snitch on the activities of his gang for police.
January 2013: Project Dilemma ends with raids across the city and the arrests of 11 suspects.
— Source: Court documents and news archives
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Monday, April 29, 2013
'Elite' bikers from outside Manitoba mixed up in Project Dilemma sting
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013
It was an in-depth, costly and clandestine investigation into a feared biker gang which featured all the usual police hallmarks: a well-paid civilian informant, wiretaps and plenty of covert surveillance.
But the RCMP’s recent Project Dilemma wasn’t without a few surprises, including the sudden and curious arrival of an inter-provincial “wrecking crew” to assist the Manitoba Rock Machine (RM) chapter as it worked towards bolstering its ranks, developing drug turf and throwing cold water on any potential police heat, court documents fleshing out details of the months-long probe show.
Local RM leaders announced the arrival of two members of a Quebec-Ontario support club called the “SS Elite” during a Nov. 8 “church” meeting held at the home of the paid police agent, himself then a full-patch RM member. He is not identified by name in the documents.
The new faces on the local biker scene — described as the first among the SS Elite “strike force” to travel to western Canada — were sent to “provide security, support, enforcement and logistics,” to the Manitoba RM chapter, local leaders told their small band of gathered members and prospects.
The SS Elite was described by RM leaders as being modelled after the SS Waffen, “created to protect Hitler and other Nazis.”
“As SS Elite members, they ultimately report to RM members in Montreal but are also required to protect and support the local chapter members,” the court papers say.
One of the new arrivals said his instructions were to “’enforce the law.’” The other described how he was instructed to “be there for Winnipeg chapter members when they are in need and to make sure that they don’t get hurt.”
Their incentive was to eventually be patched into the Rock Machine as full members, the documents state.
Local RM leadership “assured” the SS Elite gangsters “they could become full-patch RM members if they proved themselves.” At this time, police say Winnipeg’s RM chapter was considered “provisional” because it didn’t have at least five full-patch members.
One of the SS Elite members asked about potentially selling drugs in Dauphin. It was no problem, he was advised, despite the area’s drug turf being operated by a former RM member who was previously voted out of the club.
“The north is a money maker,” the SS Elite member said.
“You are in RM country ... Manitoba is RM country,” was the reply, the documents say. “As full patch SS Elite members, they could do whatever they want wherever they want within the province of Manitoba,” they were told.
The RM’s local cocaine supply — referred to as the “food” situation — as well as the Rock Machine’s future plans were also discussed, according to the documents.
Ideas to undermine police and investigations were also talked about: One high-ranking member called for the creation of a “legitimate company” called “Rock Machine Media Incorporated.” Its purpose was to weaken any police claim the RM was a criminal organization, the documents state.
“This business ... would allow RM members to claim that they are shareholders in a legitimate business and that they derive income from it ... the goal is the long term viability and sustainability of the RM for the benefit of all.”
By Jan. 18, something had changed, as the SS Elite “had been dissolved,” the documents state. No reason is stated. At a meeting that day at an Inkster Boulevard restaurant, it was unanimously decided one of the former SS Elite members would be granted prospect status.
Thirteen days later, RCMP carried out raids across Winnipeg and collared 11 suspects, 10 of whom were directly indicted into the Court of Queen’s Bench to face trial. Along with pounds of cocaine and other drugs, RCMP also seized guns, pipe bombs and other explosives as well as Rock Machine paraphernalia.
MANITOBA ROCK MACHINE: KEY DATES
September 2008: Police monitor a meeting said to be the first public gathering of a newly formed Rock Machine in the province. Members seen at the meeting had no known ties to the former RM gang based in Quebec, but ties to other gangs.
January 2010: Members of the Manitoba Hells Angels and support crew Redlined begin a series of violent attacks on RM members. They continue throughout the year with no retaliation from the RM.
Spring 2011: The RM begin to retaliate against the Hells Angels and Redlined. The “biker war” reaches a fever pitch over the summer months, with several shootings and fire-bombings linked to the feud. The RM support club, the Vendetta Crew, emerges. By the fall, fighting decreases.
June 2011: Winnipeg police seize a copy of the Rock Machine Canada constitution, dated Sept. 16, 2010. The document sets out the structure of the gang and its various chapters.
March 2012: Project Flatlined, a crackdown on the Hells Angels and Redlined, takes a number of their members off the streets. This same month, high-ranking RM local RM members are reported to travel to Montreal to meet with Quebec-based members.
August 2012: The RCMP Drug Section begins Project Dilemma. A full-patch RM member agrees to snitch on the activities of his gang for police.
January 2013: Project Dilemma ends with raids across the city and the arrests of 11 suspects.
— Source: Court documents and news archives
It was an in-depth, costly and clandestine investigation into a feared biker gang which featured all the usual police hallmarks: a well-paid civilian informant, wiretaps and plenty of covert surveillance.
But the RCMP’s recent Project Dilemma wasn’t without a few surprises, including the sudden and curious arrival of an inter-provincial “wrecking crew” to assist the Manitoba Rock Machine (RM) chapter as it worked towards bolstering its ranks, developing drug turf and throwing cold water on any potential police heat, court documents fleshing out details of the months-long probe show.
Local RM leaders announced the arrival of two members of a Quebec-Ontario support club called the “SS Elite” during a Nov. 8 “church” meeting held at the home of the paid police agent, himself then a full-patch RM member. He is not identified by name in the documents.
The new faces on the local biker scene — described as the first among the SS Elite “strike force” to travel to western Canada — were sent to “provide security, support, enforcement and logistics,” to the Manitoba RM chapter, local leaders told their small band of gathered members and prospects.
The SS Elite was described by RM leaders as being modelled after the SS Waffen, “created to protect Hitler and other Nazis.”
“As SS Elite members, they ultimately report to RM members in Montreal but are also required to protect and support the local chapter members,” the court papers say.
One of the new arrivals said his instructions were to “’enforce the law.’” The other described how he was instructed to “be there for Winnipeg chapter members when they are in need and to make sure that they don’t get hurt.”
Their incentive was to eventually be patched into the Rock Machine as full members, the documents state.
Local RM leadership “assured” the SS Elite gangsters “they could become full-patch RM members if they proved themselves.” At this time, police say Winnipeg’s RM chapter was considered “provisional” because it didn’t have at least five full-patch members.
One of the SS Elite members asked about potentially selling drugs in Dauphin. It was no problem, he was advised, despite the area’s drug turf being operated by a former RM member who was previously voted out of the club.
“The north is a money maker,” the SS Elite member said.
“You are in RM country ... Manitoba is RM country,” was the reply, the documents say. “As full patch SS Elite members, they could do whatever they want wherever they want within the province of Manitoba,” they were told.
The RM’s local cocaine supply — referred to as the “food” situation — as well as the Rock Machine’s future plans were also discussed, according to the documents.
Ideas to undermine police and investigations were also talked about: One high-ranking member called for the creation of a “legitimate company” called “Rock Machine Media Incorporated.” Its purpose was to weaken any police claim the RM was a criminal organization, the documents state.
“This business ... would allow RM members to claim that they are shareholders in a legitimate business and that they derive income from it ... the goal is the long term viability and sustainability of the RM for the benefit of all.”
By Jan. 18, something had changed, as the SS Elite “had been dissolved,” the documents state. No reason is stated. At a meeting that day at an Inkster Boulevard restaurant, it was unanimously decided one of the former SS Elite members would be granted prospect status.
Thirteen days later, RCMP carried out raids across Winnipeg and collared 11 suspects, 10 of whom were directly indicted into the Court of Queen’s Bench to face trial. Along with pounds of cocaine and other drugs, RCMP also seized guns, pipe bombs and other explosives as well as Rock Machine paraphernalia.
MANITOBA ROCK MACHINE: KEY DATES
September 2008: Police monitor a meeting said to be the first public gathering of a newly formed Rock Machine in the province. Members seen at the meeting had no known ties to the former RM gang based in Quebec, but ties to other gangs.
January 2010: Members of the Manitoba Hells Angels and support crew Redlined begin a series of violent attacks on RM members. They continue throughout the year with no retaliation from the RM.
Spring 2011: The RM begin to retaliate against the Hells Angels and Redlined. The “biker war” reaches a fever pitch over the summer months, with several shootings and fire-bombings linked to the feud. The RM support club, the Vendetta Crew, emerges. By the fall, fighting decreases.
June 2011: Winnipeg police seize a copy of the Rock Machine Canada constitution, dated Sept. 16, 2010. The document sets out the structure of the gang and its various chapters.
March 2012: Project Flatlined, a crackdown on the Hells Angels and Redlined, takes a number of their members off the streets. This same month, high-ranking RM local RM members are reported to travel to Montreal to meet with Quebec-based members.
August 2012: The RCMP Drug Section begins Project Dilemma. A full-patch RM member agrees to snitch on the activities of his gang for police.
January 2013: Project Dilemma ends with raids across the city and the arrests of 11 suspects.
— Source: Court documents and news archives
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