$10-million police investigation targeting the East End chapter of the Hells Angels, police secretly listened to the conversations of a longtime member David Francis Giles.
When on the phone, Giles referred to himself as "Gyrator" and would often tell people not to discuss things over the phone. Instead, he'd arrange to meet his associates in parking lots and restaurants.
prosecutor Martha Devlin, in her final arguments Wednesday at the trial of Giles and two co-accused who are accused of cocaine possession and trafficking, suggested Giles repeatedly discussed what would be best for the Angels.
Such as this statement he made on June 14, 2005, after police installed a "bug" (listening device) inside the clubhouse in Kelowna: "This ain't about what it can do for you, it's supposed to be what you can do for the club," Giles said.
The prosecutor suggested the John F. Kennedy style quote shows Hells Angels work together to maintain the club's strength and reputation.
Devlin also played another 2005 recording of Giles discussing his plan to set up a new chapter of the biker club in Kelowna and how he didn't want anyone "riding on our coat tails."
Giles was heard saying he only socializes and talks to people who are "going to benefit this house."
The prosecutor suggested the "house" Giles was talking about is the Hells Angels, which Giles had been a member of for 20 years at that time.
"Giles made clear to the members of the club that they should not allow the Hells Angels name, reputation or authority to be used by anyone other than club members," the prosecutor told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Anne MacKenzie.
"In essence, Giles maintained that the East End Hells Angels should invoke the power of the patch in Kelowna," Devlin added.
The "power of the patch," the prosecutor said, refers to the deaths head patch worn on the back of jackets by full members of the club.
The case stems from a two-year, $10-million police investigation that resulted in charges against 18 men, including six Hells Angels, in July 2005. It was the largest police probe in B.C. to target the East End chapter of the Hells Angels, long considered to be the wealthiest and most sophisticated biker gang in the province.
The central issue at trial is whether the East End chapter is a criminal organization, which was alleged in an indictment filed July 11, 2005 by Canada's deputy attorney-general. If the Crown succeeds in its criminal-organization prosecution, it could put the assets of all East End chapter members -- real estate holdings, cars and motorcycles -- at risk of seizure under B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Act.
It could also make it easier to seize property following future Hells Angels and other trials, although the criminal-organization case would have to be made each time.
The Hells Angels in B.C. have worked hard to maintain their notorious reputation and achieve a "stranglehold on the criminal activity in B.C.," including drug trafficking, extortion and weapons offences, Devlin said
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