Hells Angel William McCabe and support club members arrested in cocaine trafficking operation

Photos: ALERT

A joint investigation between ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams) and RCMP’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime has dismantled an extensive cocaine distribution network linked to a member of the Hells Angels and support club members.

Project Entry was a year-long investigation that resulted in 10 people charged with 45 criminal offences. Those accused allegedly fulfilled various roles within a cocaine distribution network that impacted the communities of Edmonton, Spruce Grove, Cold Lake, Whitecourt, and Grande Prairie, according to police.

Project Entry resulted in the seizure of five kilograms of cocaine, half a kilogram of the buffing agent Phenacetin, cannabis resin, and a handgun. Multiple vehicles and motorcycles were seized, along with $13,000 cash proceeds of crime.

The project concluded with multiple arrests made between July 25 and 30, 2018.

RCMP Chief Superintendent Ian Lawson speaks to the media as ALERT CEO Superintendent Chad Coles looks on at the Project Entry media conference.

Project Entry has resulted in extensive criminal charges being laid, including: instructing a criminal organization; participating in a criminal organization; conspiracy to traffic cocaine; and other drug-, firearms- and property-related offences.

At the centre of the investigation was Hells Angels Westridge (Edmonton) member William McCabe. The 47-year-old man from Spruce Grove allegedly oversaw cocaine trafficking operations and facilitated distribution through various communities. McCabe has been charged with instructing a criminal organization.

Project Entry also implicated two support club members, Shane Daly and Pascal Jacques, who are members of the Dirty Few Lakeland chapter. Support clubs are typically utilized to carry out lower-level dirty work for the Hells Angels, such as drug trafficking and expanding territory to secondary markets.

The full list of people arrested includes:

  • William McCabe, a 47-year-old man from Spruce Grove;
  • Shane Daly, a 39-year-old man from Spruce Grove;
  • Joseph Collicutt, a 32-year-old man from Grande Prairie;
  • Pascal Jaques, a 40-year-old man from Cold Lake;
  • Theresa Acker, a 42-year-old woman from Spruce Grove;
  • Anton Petrowitz, a 36-year-old man from Calgary;
  • Clinton Thomas, a 33-year-old man from Parkland County;
  • Nicholas Stovell, a 38-year-old man from Cold Lake;
  • Nicholas Delibasic, a 46-year-old man from Cold Lake; and
  • Larissa Ausmus, a 31-year-old woman from Spruce Grove.

Project Entry began in March 2017 after information was received about the role of outlaw bikers in drug trafficking.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). CrimeStoppers is always anonymous.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Members of Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.