All four were first charged in 2009 in Operation Diligence, an investigation led by the Sûreté du Québec, into how members of the Hells Angels MC based in Quebec had infiltrated specific segments of the province’s construction industry. As part of the same investigation, they were found to have helped full-patch members of the motorcycle club's charter in Trois-Rivières hide their money.
They managed to avoid having to serve time behind bars because they appealed the convictions. Their appeals went through a very lengthy and complicated process. Initially, the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled it took too long for the Crown to prosecute the case and ordered a stay of proceedings on all charges.
The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled Monday on the other issues raised by the appellants, including arguments that there was insufficient evidence of a conspiracy was involved in what what happened. The appellate court disagreed and ordered that the four accused begin serving their sentences in two days.
SOURCE: Montreal Gazette