Canada -

OFF THE WIRE
recorder.ca
By QMI Agency




A mid-level local cocaine dealer, pressed into service for the Hells Angels biker gang, pleaded guilty to drug and organized crime offences Thursday. Ryan Morton of Lansdowne, who is free on bail, was scooped up last year as part of a 30-month investigation into the Eastern Ontario drug scene called Project Beckenham.
The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine, possessing the proceeds crime over $5,000, trafficking cocaine to benefit a criminal organization and conspiracy to commit assault causing bodily harm to benefit a criminal organization.
He had been selling cocaine in the Brockville area when the Hells Angels came to town. Under the leadership of Mario "Five Cent" Sincennes — an member of the elite Nomads chapter who was sentenced to eight years in June — the bikers ordered local dealers to buy drugs from the Hells or suffer the consequences.
Morton was to have helped mete out these consequences when cops pulled him over with other men and a trunkful of weapons. Wiretaps revealed they were heading out to assault a rival dealer.
Morton's lawyer, Israel Gencher, requested a pre-sentence report ahead of sentencing submissions slated for May 19.
Federal prosecutor Allyson Ratsoy is seeking a prison sentence of six to seven years.