Two men linked to organized crime were charged Wednesday with the shooting death of a North Shore drug dealer who allegedly refused to pay his territory’s “taxes” to the Hells Angels more than four years ago.
Kevin St-Pierre, 34, and James Patrice Mardy, 33, both of whom are already incarcerated on other charges, made an official appearance at the Joliette courthouse on Wednesday.
Kevin St Pierre
Accused
You are accused of premeditated murder. Francis Turgeon, 33, was killed on the night of May 8, 2019 in front of his residence in Repentigny, in Lanaudière.
That night, the drug trafficker nicknamed “Tank” was allegedly fatally struck by at least one gun bullet after being lured from his Raymond-Gaudreault Street home.
According to court documents seen by Le Journal, the independent reseller would have been killed because he refused to respect his contribution to the Hells Angels in order to sell in the area.
This type of dispute typically results in a “debt” to the criminal organization, as stated in one of these documents.
Annoy
At the time, we learned, Turgeon would have had an obligation of at least $80,000 to his “boss,” a high-ranking member of the Hells Angels.
Informants told the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) that his killing was ordered by one or more high-ranking members of the motorcycle club.
These allegations come at a time when the drug scene is tense. According to a report in Le Journal last September, more and more human traffickers no longer want to pay their 10 percent “tax” to the hells.
Recognize
St-Pierre, close to the Hells, and his accomplice Mardy would therefore have been the origin of at least one fatal shot heard in the victim’s neighborhood.
The accomplices even conducted reconnaissance tours near Turgeon’s home in the hours before the murder, search warrants show.
However, they were intercepted by the police. And when they took action, they say they were traveling in a black Acura TLX.
Complex investigation
This is a new twist in this complex investigative file led by the SQ’s Crimes Against Persons Unit.
These two new arrests are in addition to that of Wesley McKenzie, another member of the Hells. The 45-year-old was the first suspect to be charged with murder in 2019. The charges against him were then dropped in the summer of 2021.
During the investigation, the SQ conducted searches at the residence of St-Pierre, who is considered the main suspect. Investigators searched his Blainville home in 2019 and 2021, specifically to seize electronic devices that would have enabled exchanges between the suspects.
I Noémie Tellier
Criminal Lawyer
In addition, the criminal lawyer Me Noémi Tellier, who at times shared St-Pierre’s life, was subsequently suspected of complicity, Le Journal reported in 2022. To date, no charges have been brought against her.
The defendants are due back in court next month.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.