RANDY RICHMOND
torontosun.com
LONDON, Ont. - The Hells Angels in Ontario are under attack by an unexpected new foe -- bureaucrats, QMI Agency has learned.
In an Ontario first, the province's liquor watchdog is trying to yank the booze licences of two London strip clubs because it believes they're associated with the outlaw biker gang.
"The issue is whether members of the Hells Angels should hold the privilege of holding a liquor licence," Lisa Murray, a spokesperson for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, said.
It's the first time the agency has tried to take advantage of Supreme Court of Canada rulings that the Hells Angels are a criminal organization.
Ontario's Liquor Licence Act prohibits anyone getting a licence if their "past or present conduct" suggests they won't carry on business with "integrity and honesty."
The agency's argument: a member of a recognized criminal organization, by that membership itself, cannot act with honesty and integrity.
The effect of the decision could be significant in London and across Ontario.
Police maintain outlaw bikers use legitimate businesses to launder millions of dollars from criminal work, as well as support gang activities.
If the first effort succeeds, the commission could target other bars or restaurants owned by suspected members of bike gangs.
Murray could say little else about the commission's efforts to revoke the licences, because the notices of proposal that set licence hearings into action aren't public.
The hearings to revoke licences are public, as are the decisions, but the AGCO doesn't publicize hearing dates and locations.
Quietly last winter, the commission filed notice it was revoking the liquor licences of Famous Flesh Gordon's on Dundas St. and the Beef Baron on York St.
A few weeks ago, the final of three days of hearings into Famous Flesh Gordon's finished, with a two-person panel reserving decision.
The hearing into the Beef Baron is on hold, pending that decision, Murray said.
According to documents filed with the province, Famous Flesh Gordon's is operated by a numbered company, 751809 Ontario Inc.
The president of that numbered company is Robert Barletta.
In the hearing for Famous Flesh Gordon's, Barletta acknowledged in an agreed statement of facts that he is a member of the Hells Angels, Murray said.
QMI Agency was unable to get a comment from Barletta or his lawyer.
His lawyer, Richard Posner of Toronto, wouldn't accept a phone call about the case from QMI Agency.
A receptionist said he had no comment to make.
An employee of Famous Flesh Gordon's said, "I haven't seen Rob in months."
There was no one at his home Friday.
Robert Barletta's name has been associated with the Hells Angels in London in the past. When police seized a suspected clubhouse in 2008, they identified Barletta as the home's owner. But they didn't charge him with anything.
The commission's Murray said the hearing into the Beef Baron would focus on "similar issues" as the Flesh Gordon's hearing.
But a spokesperson for the Beef Baron said the two bars are separate companies run by separate owners.
Neither the Beef Baron nor any managers or owners has anything to do with any criminal organization, the spokesperson said.
According to documents filed with the province, the president of the Beef Baron is a member of the Barletta family, but not Robert.
The liquor watchdog's move comes after the Supreme Court of Canada decisions in March 2010 upholding lower court decisions that the Hells Angels are a criminal organization.
randy.richmond@sunmedia.ca
