A B.C. man has been handed a two-year conditional sentence after pleading guilty to one of two drug trafficking charges in connection with drug trafficking and conspiracy offences in Richmond.
A similar charge against the man’s brother has been stayed by the Crown.
Five men — including one Hells Angel — have pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking and conspiracy charges for offences said to have taken place in Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Richmond and Vernon between September 2020 and July 2021.
On July 8, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Provincial Court Judge David St. Pierre heard Roman Gabriel Fox Tassone has pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking in Richmond of party drug GHB.
Brother Lukas Sam Fox Tassone also faced one count of the same charge involving cocaine and GHB. The charges against Lukas are being stayed, Crown prosecutor Ashley Hathorn told St. Pierre.
Earlier, it appeared both would be heading to trial.
As Lukas looked on, Roman addressed the court.
“I made a lot of mistakes in my life,” he said. “I believe at each mistake, I try to get better at facing my problems. I don’t try to run from them.”
“I just want to apologize to the Crown and the community,” he told St. Pierre. “I respect your decision whatever it is.”
Hathorn had asked for a sentence of four years in prison while defence lawyer Connor Muldoon suggested a conditional sentence and two years’ probation.
Muldoon stressed the facts his client has no criminal record, had been dealing with family stress, returned from abroad to face the charges and pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for his actions.
The lawyer said some media had characterized the brothers as being “on the lam,” something he said was not true.
“He returned to the jurisdiction and has taken full responsibility,” Muldoon said.
Muldoon said the brothers have faced “significant media exposure, publicity and embarrassment,” issues that have affected their ability to get work and financial difficulties.
He said their banks had closed their accounts after the charges were announced despite the fact people in Canada are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Roman’s sentence is eight months of house arrest followed by eight months with a curfew. The remaining eight months includes strict conditions.
St. Pierre stressed to Roman that if he violates the order, he could be incarcerated.
“This is a jail sentence that is served in the community,” St. Pierre said. “If you mess it up, Crown can bring you back on a breach with a sentence that is served in jail.”
The investigation
The charges came in December after the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) executed 12 search warrants at locations throughout Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan.
Police said they seized about $650,000 in Canadian currency and about two kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of MDMA, one kilogram of fentanyl, 200 grams of ketamine, 10 kilograms marijuana and 16 kilograms of a drug-cutting agent.
Also seized were three rifles, a shotgun, three prohibited gun magazines, ammunition, body armour, two vehicles and a cocaine press.
Inside one residence, police seized a Hells Angels Motorcycle Club vest and various items of Hells Angels support clothing.
Jonathan Louis Lutar was charged with being part of a criminal organization that included Allan Beatima Arcangel, Matthew Shaw, David Oppenheim and others.
Court documents alleged Lutar instructed people to engage in drug trafficking for the benefit of the organization.
Arcangel has since died and charges against him were abated.
Lutar pleaded guilty to trafficking on Sept. 25, CFSEU-BC said.
Lutar, Courtenay James Lafreneiere, Arcangel, Shaw, Oppenheim and others were charged with trafficking at the direction or for the benefit of the organization made up of any three of Lutar, Arcangel, Shaw, Oppenheim and others.
Lutar, Lafreniere, Arcangel, Shaw and Oakley Lain Charest were charged with conspiring together to traffic in controlled drugs.
Lutar, Lafreniere, Arcangel, Shaw and Charest were charged with trafficking in fentanyl, carfentanil and cocaine. Court documents show Lutar and Shaw were charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Lafreniere, a full-patch Hells Angels member, pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime before Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Provincial Court Judge Laura Bakan Sept. 27. CFSEU-BC said Lafreniere is a member of the club's Haney chapter.
Shaw pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking May 31.
Charest is charged with having a Ruger 45 calibre P90 gun with readily accessible ammunition. In connection to a July 5 incident in Vernon, he also allegedly possessed a Walther P38 handgun and five firearms magazines without a licence. He's also charged with allegedly possessing the guns while prohibited from doing so.
Charest pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, possession of firearm, and possession of prohibited/restricted firearm May 31.
