House burns in Hells Angels linked gambling probe

London, Ontario, Canada (December 21, 2019) BTN — A police investigation into the Hells Angels prompted in part by suspicious fires now has another to such probe – at the home of a London woman arrested in the bust of an alleged gambling ring run by the Hells Angels.

About 12 hours after the OPP announced the arrest of Habiba Kajan, 43, on Thursday, her house at 203 Commissioners Rd. E. caught fire.

She wasn’t there, remaining in custody awaiting a bail hearing in Brampton Friday.

Suspicious is the official and about the only word London police are saying so far about their investigation into the blaze, which destroyed the $1-million home located between Wortley Road and Carnegie Lane in London.

Related | Hells Angels members involved in gambling ring

They’re investigating a possible connection between the fire and the arrests, but said it’s too early to reach any conclusions, But one source close to the Hells Angels suspects the fire wasn’t random, that someone is sending a message to police that they’re not going to keep all the assets they seized.

“It’s not over. There will be more ‘lightning,’ ” the source said.

That source doesn’t buy speculation the fire might have been set to destroy evidence. It doesn’t make sense to burn the house to destroy evidence after the police search, the source said.

An aerial photo shows the home at 302 Commissioners Rd. E. the day after a Thursday night fire. The home had been raided by police on Dec. 12 as part of an organized crime sweep in Ontario. 

(Mike Hensen/The London Free Press) 

A neighbour said she called 911 after noticing flames shooting from the home shortly before 11 p.m. “It was raging and it was moving very fast,” said the neighbour, who did not want to be identified.

Firefighters and police responded at about 10:50 p.m. There were no injuries and no one was home at the time of the fire , police said. Emergency crews told the neighbouring woman and her family they had to leave for their own safety, she said, adding the flames coming from the roof were more than three metres high.

“It could have spread,” she said.

The home was searched by provincial police on Dec. 12 as part of a two-year investigation called Operation Hobart, which led to the arrests of 28 Ontario residents on 228 charges and the dismantling of an alleged multimillion-dollar, online gambling operation.

OPP say they launched the project in January 2018 in response to a spike in violence across Ontario and Quebec, including attempted murders, assaults, extortion and suspected arsons.

That led to an investigation into an alleged Mississauga gaming house and online sites, resulting in a news conference at the OPP’s headquarters in Orillia at 11 a.m. Thursday to detail the results of the probe.

The OPP contend Londoner Robert Barletta, 49, was one of three Hells Angels members who ran the gambling operation using five websites. The former president of the London chapter of the Hells Angels is facing 12 charges, largely firearms- and gambling-related and another for income tax evasion.

Nicknamed the “Teflon biker” because he’s kept a clean record, Barletta also had a bail hearing in Brampton Friday.

Kajan is charged with 10 firearms and gambling offences. Sources have linked her to Barletta.

It’s not known if either was released on bail.

The OPP allege the gambling operation had made $131 million in illegal revenue over five years and was connected to a prominent, alleged Mafia crime family.

Seized or restrained in searches across Ontario last week were 18 vehicles, gold and silver coins, luxury watches and jewelry, and 21 firearms, police said.

Nine properties valued at slightly more than $8.1 million were also seized, police said, without listing the addresses.

The head of the Ontario biker enforcement unit, Staff Sgt. Anthony Renton, directed questions to London police on Friday.

SOURCE: Toronto Sun

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Outlaws MC Prez indicted on firearm charges

Boston, Massachusetts, USA (December 21, 2019) BTN — The regional president of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston for possession of an unregistered firearm.

Bruce Sartwell, a.k.a. “Monster,” 48, of East Bridgewater, was indicted on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Sartwell was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in October 2019.

As alleged in the charging documents, Sartwell is the Regional President of the Brockton/East Bridgewater Chapters of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. On Oct. 19, 2019, agents intercepted a package originating in China and addressed to Sartwell that was declared as a “Fuel Filter” but actually contained a firearm silencer.

A review of importation records revealed that Sartwell had received approximately 65 shipments from Asia (over 55 from China), many of which were labeled as innocuous items that could have been more easily and cheaply purchased in the United States.

On Oct. 30, 2019, a search was executed at Sartwell’s residence where an AR-15 styled “ghost gun” – a firearm without any manufacturing or serial numbers – and firearm manufacturing tools, assembly parts including milling equipment, buffer spring, buffer tube, air-powered water Dremel polish and a drill press were recovered.

In addition, two firearm silencers were found concealed in false bottom compartments, a guide for assembly and disassembly of an AR-15 rifle, 20 knives, a black powder handgun, a flare gun and various ammunition compatible with the AR-15 style rifle.


In the basement of the house, a floor-length mirror concealed the entrance to a hidden storage area that was found to contain a safe with silencer parts and a firearm assembly instruction book.

The charge of possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.


United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, New England Field Division made the announcement today. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Customs and Border Protection; Massachusetts State Police; East Bridgewater Police Department; Bristol County Sheriff’s Office; and the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linsey Weinstein of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

SOURCE: WBSM

Ohio: Coalition of Clubs donate 10 grand of toys to kids

Dayton, Ohio, USA (December 20, 2019) BTN — A statewide motorcycle organization generously donated time and toys for children in foster care.

The Ohio Coalition of Clubs is a group of 60 motorcycle clubs. On Saturday, they delivered donated bikes and toys for children in foster care at the Haines Children’s Center on North Main Street in Dayton.

Keith Tickle says, “The purpose was really to give back to the children to make sure they know they’re not forgotten this holiday season. We come together as a unified group of bikers to truly spread blessings this holiday season.”

Three trailers were needed to deliver all the toys, which totaled about $10 thousand.


SOURCE: WDTN

Hells Angels members involved in gambling ring

Barrie, Ontario, Canada (December 20, 2019) BTN — Police call it the biggest investigation of organized crime in more than a decade.

The Ontario Provincial Police's takedown of an alleged organized crime family and motorcycle club members, dubbed Project Hobart, was a nearly two-year operation resulting in 28 arrests and 228 charges laid by OPP and 18 other police forces across the province.

"Probably one of the biggest investigations, if not the biggest investigation, we have run through the organized crime enforcement bureau," said Sgt. Anthony Renton with the OPP Biker Enforcement Unit.

The OPP led the bust of the alleged operation involving illegal gambling and gaming, including five online websites.

Police said the gambling network collected revenues totalling more than $131 million over five years.

Investigators teamed up with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to follow the trail of money, resulting in several charges including money laundering, fraud and tax evasion.

"All income is taxable, including income or revenue generated from illegal activities such as illicit gaming, gambling or loansharking," said CRA's Stephane Bonin. "Our searches included personal residences, business premises, including accountants and business associates."

Police from Southwestern Ontario to York Region and the GTA conducted the operations across the province, with help from police in Quebec to lay charges against alleged known members of organized crime networks from London, Ont., to north of Toronto.

"It's more than just a bunch of people betting on the Packers-Seahawks game," explained Det. Insp. Gerry Scherer.

London Police Detective Supt. Chris Newton said the organized crime network has been responsible for violence and threats of violence pertaining to the collection of money and gambling debts. "There have been shootings, robberies, extortion, with the threat of physical harm. So it's not just the betting itself."

"The CRA's willingness to participate in such cases as this one shows we are not afraid to go after members of known organized crime groups."

More than $130-million in revenue from crime with illegal gambling and online gaming as part of Project Hobart charging members of organized crime families and biker gangs @CTVBarrieNews pic.twitter.com/sr2mHKCWqU

— Mike Arsalides (@MArsalidesCTV) December 19, 2019

Police also alleged the ring, with ties to at least one organized crime family, was linked to a homicide west of Toronto earlier this year.

Michael Deabaitua-Schulde was gunned down in the parking lot of a Mississauga gym in March.

Local police had previously said Deabaitua-Schulde was a member of the Niagara chapter of the Hells Angels, and the provincial force said Thursday he was directly tied to the alleged gambling ring. Four people have been charged with first-degree murder in his death.

Police vow to continue their crackdown on illegal gambling across the province.

SOURCE: The Star

Bandidos member prosecuted for gun with license to carry

Milam County, Texas, USA (December 19, 2019) BTN — Milam County went forward with prosecuting Patrick Lewis Vaden, a member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, on Monday. This was after Vaden was accused of unlawfully carrying a weapon based on his affiliation with the Bandidos.

Vaden was pulled over in Nov. 2018 for going 67 mph in a 60 mph zone. He had a license to carry and had a gun when he was stopped.

More than 24 hours after jury selection, on Tuesday, the case abruptly ended in a mistrial and an appeal. Defense Attorney Kurt Glass told 6 News that Judge Steve Young ruled a mistrial after Glass refused to exclude a critical fact in the trial.

"What we have to appeal is whether or not Mr. Vaden and his license to carry are able to be mentioned in front of the jury," Glass said.

Glass said the prosecution filed a motion last week requesting that Vaden's license to carry, which was valid at the time of the arrest, was not to be admitted into evidence. He said Young agreed with prosecutors on Monday, but he had to risk bringing the LTC up in court regardless in order to lay the groundwork for a possible appeal after the case. He hopes it won't come to that.

"Depends upon what the court of appeals does," Glass said. "The court of appeals has the option to send the case back down with no decision, or they can tell the judge, 'Hey, you have to follow the law and allow Mr. Vaden to tell the jury he was allowed to carry a weapon.'"

Court documents state that Vaden was stopped by Department of Public Safety Trooper Michael Tice in Nov. 2018. According to a court transcript, Tice said he checked Vaden's driver's license and then confirmed Vaden was a gang member in the Texas Gang Intelligence Index. DPS later told 6 News the TxGANG database records are not to be used to independently confirm gang affiliation.

"If law enforcement performs a wanted persons check and the person being searched has been entered in TXGANG, the return will indicate that the person is a possible gang member. There is no message that states the person is “registered and confirmed as a gang member,” The Texas Department of Public Safety said in an emailed response.

Tice arrested Vaden for unlawfully carrying a weapon based on the TXGANG record and the colors Vaden was wearing, according to a court transcript.

Glass showed 6 News reporter Andrew Moore on Tuesday where in the law a license to carry should protect someone in Vaden's position.

Texas Penal Code Section 46.02(a-1)(2)(C) states a person cannot carry a handgun if they are a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01. The Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang has been labeled a criminal gang by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

However, Section 46.15(b)(6)(A)(B) says the previous section mentioned (Section 46.02) does not apply to a person who is carrying an LTC issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, provided they are carrying correctly. Glass said Vaden was carrying the gun correctly.


Young, in this case, wrote that a license to carry should not apply here and Vaden should not ride with a gun. After speaking with 6 News legal expert Liz Mitchell, she said it is not unusual for a judge to subjectively interpret laws in this situation.

"Sometimes in the penal code we do have certain statutes that may both be applicable at the same time and may even be at odds. The penal code is not going to set out specific fact patterns. That's when we get into precedent set by case law." Mitchell said. "That's where a judge might come into play -- based on his or her representation of legislative intent."

Mitchell said judges can and do make subjective decisions by interrupting law and decide what evidence should be valid in a specific jury trial, so Young is not doing anything unusual when it comes to evidence either.

SOURCE: KCENTV