A Hells Angels insider pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic 10 pounds of cocaine on Tuesday. He would have been sentenced to five years in prison, but was released as he had already served the equivalent sentence while in custody.
• Also read: Hell’s friend wants $20,000 for his car
Christian Lanthier was arrested in 2019 as part of Operation Oursin, which targeted a network controlling drug trafficking in Eastern Province and New Brunswick.
The police raid on February 14, 2019 led to the arrest of 32 people, including some “prospects” of the Hells Angels, but no full members.
Photo provided by SQ
Christian Lanthier
Guilty
In the organization chart, Christian Lanthier has been identified as one of the suppliers of the network. The joint statement filed Tuesday at the Quebec City courthouse by Judge Steve Magnan said Lanthier was arrested following an undercover operation.
5 pounds of coke
Lanthier and his accomplices met with a civilian undercover agent on October 14, 2018 to organize drug trafficking at the Le Madrid restaurant off Highway 20 near Drummondville. The next day, following the input of a “cut supplier,” the group converts 4 kilograms of cocaine into 5 kilos to be resold.
When the judge asked him on Tuesday whether he recognized the facts against him, Christian Lanthier replied with a smile in his voice.
“Yes, yes, we conspired, Mr. Judge.”
Another charge of drug trafficking spoke against Lanthier, but was eventually dropped by the prosecution. The count of failure to comply with a subpoena was also dropped due to a plea of conspiracy on the first count.
Pierre-Paul Biron
Christian Lanthier was detained for an estimated 1,200 days from his February 14, 2019 arrest to June 28, 2022. After the credit increased to one and a half times, defense attorney Me Francis Leborgne and Crown Prosecutor Me Marc Gosselin agreed the 46-year-old had served the equivalent of five years in prison.
Judge Magnan therefore agreed to stay the sentence and sentence Lanthier to a six-month suspended sentence in which he committed himself to good behavior.
“The evidence clearly showed that the marketing was intended for criminal groups and, if not to be inundated, large quantities should be sent to the market in eastern Quebec.” , the judge said in his decision.
Difficult detention
The case had been heard in court several times in recent years, with Christian Lanthier frequently denouncing prison conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The judge revisited that fact Tuesday morning, wishing that these difficult conditions would have a deterrent effect on Lanthier in his criminal career. However, the judge dismissed the defendant’s opinion, who has frequently called for the introduction of a “COVID bounty” to multiply the value of days served in solitary confinement during the pandemic.
“You had a period of confinement that seems to have been difficult and I cannot neglect that time but perhaps it had a positive effect on your reflection,” Steve Magnan said, recalling the guilty plea filed on Tuesday the hearing of a prevented a request for a stay of proceedings in connection with these conditions of detention.
“I think all parties will find their accounts there,” the judge estimated.
Can you share information about this story with us?
Write to us or call us directly at 1-800-63SCOOP.