TORONTO - A former Hells Angels treasurer and point-man for the Toronto-area says he’s never been in trouble with police or collected welfare and should be spared deportation from Canada.
Mark Alistair Stables, 49, of Toronto, a former nine-year full-patch member of the world’s largest bike gang, said he’s been fighting deportation to his native Scotland for five years.
Stables came to Canada at age seven and never obtained citizenship. He does not have a criminal record.
“The border services want to deport me before Christmas,” Stables said in an interview at his lawyer’s office on Tuesday. “I haven’t broken any laws and have never been in trouble with the police.”
The black-belt and professor of Brazilian jiu-jitsu owned a Queen St. W. gym, now called Mecha MMA, for more than 10 years before being forced to sell out as his work permit was yanked. Many MMA fighters train at the facility.
“It feels like I am being persecuted and attacked for no good reason,” Stables said. “I have been fighting this and it feels like someone is picking on me to send a message.”
He joined the Toronto chapter of the Hells Angels and rose to become a Sergeant at Arms and then president of Hells Angels Ontario Corp., in which he acted as treasurer for 10 chapters over a seven-year span. Stables joined the gang in 2000 and quit in 2009.
Stables claim the treasurer role included picking up dues from members and depositing the funds into an account.
His immigration problems began in 2006 after he was found by officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) carrying gang paraphernalia and phone numbers written on a business card as he arrived at Vancouver airport from a MMA tournament in Asia.
“It feels like I have been thrown under the bus,” he said. “I think the intended target of this action is the bike club and not me.”
A report for his removal was filed by the CBSA on the grounds that he belonged to the Hells Angels, which is deemed a criminal organization by Ottawa. The CBSA ruled Stables is inadmissible to Canada due to his membership in the group.
Stable refuses to sign any document that denounces the club, even if it meant it can halt his deportation.
“The club is made up of many people,” he said. “I can guarantee you 100% that they are not all bad.”
He left riding Harley’s and wearing his patch to teaching jiu jitsu to families, police officers, firefighters and other emergency services workers.
Stables holds a first-degree black belt in jiu jitsu and karate and was a member of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team.
Other MMA fighters who train at the club includes Kid Yamamoto, a Japanese fighter and kickboxer; Sergei Juskevic, of Lithuania, who has a record of 11 wins and six losses; Igor Caetano, of Brazil, with two and two; and Alex Ricci, of Woodbridge, with four wins.“Nobody had a problem with me,” he said, with girlfriend, Candice Noakes by his side. “The border services can’t get past the club and talk to me and those who know me.”
Stables has been ordered to report to a CBSA on Dec. 13 to set a date for removal.
Noakes said she sobs continually and hasn’t been able to sleep due to the deportation.
“I have health issues and I am having a hard time coping with this,” she sobbed. “I wouldn’t know what to do if he is gone.”
His lawyer Chantal Desloges said Stables has never been charged by police and there are a number of legal options remaining to try and keep him here.
“He was a low-hanging fruit that the government thought they could grab,” Desloges said. “I think Ottawa is picking on him to try and set an example for others.”
She said Stables has been caring for his ailing parents, who reside in Markham and are in their 80s.
“He would have never been involved in Hells Angels if he knew it would have led to this,” Desloges said. “He doesn’t know anyone in his home country which is foreign to him.”
The case has attracted the attention of many, including Rev. Majed El Shafie, of One Free World International, a church that champions human rights.
“This deportation is a violation of his human rights,” El Shafie said. “He has been living in Canada for 42-years and he has an impact on the lives of many people.”
El Shafie said he’s investigated Stables’ claims and has talked to his friends and clients.
“I do not support the Hells Angels or what they do but I know this is an abuse of process,” he said. “He has the support of many in the community.”
CBSA officials said its only a matter of time before Stables is removed because he is inadmissible to Canada due to membership in the Hells Angels.
There are dozens of letters of support for Stables on his Facebook page from fighters and others he has trained over the years.
“As a person with a physical disability, Mark has been very sensitive to my needs; developing an action plan that will address long-term solutions,” wrote Wayne Heirwegh, of Simcoe, Ont.
Ed Doucet Jr. credits Stables for helping him get into top shape.
“Mark has been beneficial in keeping me in the gym consistently,” Doucet Jr. said. ”I am in the best shape I have ever been.”
But, police officers have said the Hells Angels are involved in drug trafficking, importation of drugs, manufacturing and distribution of drugs, and other offences of thefts, extortions, firearms, prostitution, money laundering and murder.
“The organization collects intelligence on policing, and it operates a number of clubhouses that make it safe to conduct illegal business,” a Federal Court of Canada judge recently ruled in a failed appeal of the case.
“Chapters are usually opened for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing drugs.”
(VIDEO AVAILABLE AT )
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/12/07/former-hells-angels-member-fights-deportation
“It feels like I have been thrown under the bus,” he said. “I think the intended target of this action is the bike club and not me.”
A report for his removal was filed by the CBSA on the grounds that he belonged to the Hells Angels, which is deemed a criminal organization by Ottawa. The CBSA ruled Stables is inadmissible to Canada due to his membership in the group.
Stable refuses to sign any document that denounces the club, even if it meant it can halt his deportation.
“The club is made up of many people,” he said. “I can guarantee you 100% that they are not all bad.”
He left riding Harley’s and wearing his patch to teaching jiu jitsu to families, police officers, firefighters and other emergency services workers.
Stables holds a first-degree black belt in jiu jitsu and karate and was a member of the Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team.
Other MMA fighters who train at the club includes Kid Yamamoto, a Japanese fighter and kickboxer; Sergei Juskevic, of Lithuania, who has a record of 11 wins and six losses; Igor Caetano, of Brazil, with two and two; and Alex Ricci, of Woodbridge, with four wins.“Nobody had a problem with me,” he said, with girlfriend, Candice Noakes by his side. “The border services can’t get past the club and talk to me and those who know me.”
Stables has been ordered to report to a CBSA on Dec. 13 to set a date for removal.
Noakes said she sobs continually and hasn’t been able to sleep due to the deportation.
“I have health issues and I am having a hard time coping with this,” she sobbed. “I wouldn’t know what to do if he is gone.”
His lawyer Chantal Desloges said Stables has never been charged by police and there are a number of legal options remaining to try and keep him here.
“He was a low-hanging fruit that the government thought they could grab,” Desloges said. “I think Ottawa is picking on him to try and set an example for others.”
She said Stables has been caring for his ailing parents, who reside in Markham and are in their 80s.
“He would have never been involved in Hells Angels if he knew it would have led to this,” Desloges said. “He doesn’t know anyone in his home country which is foreign to him.”
The case has attracted the attention of many, including Rev. Majed El Shafie, of One Free World International, a church that champions human rights.
“This deportation is a violation of his human rights,” El Shafie said. “He has been living in Canada for 42-years and he has an impact on the lives of many people.”
El Shafie said he’s investigated Stables’ claims and has talked to his friends and clients.
“I do not support the Hells Angels or what they do but I know this is an abuse of process,” he said. “He has the support of many in the community.”
CBSA officials said its only a matter of time before Stables is removed because he is inadmissible to Canada due to membership in the Hells Angels.
There are dozens of letters of support for Stables on his Facebook page from fighters and others he has trained over the years.
“As a person with a physical disability, Mark has been very sensitive to my needs; developing an action plan that will address long-term solutions,” wrote Wayne Heirwegh, of Simcoe, Ont.
Ed Doucet Jr. credits Stables for helping him get into top shape.
“Mark has been beneficial in keeping me in the gym consistently,” Doucet Jr. said. ”I am in the best shape I have ever been.”
But, police officers have said the Hells Angels are involved in drug trafficking, importation of drugs, manufacturing and distribution of drugs, and other offences of thefts, extortions, firearms, prostitution, money laundering and murder.
“The organization collects intelligence on policing, and it operates a number of clubhouses that make it safe to conduct illegal business,” a Federal Court of Canada judge recently ruled in a failed appeal of the case.
“Chapters are usually opened for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing drugs.”
(VIDEO AVAILABLE AT )
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/12/07/former-hells-angels-member-fights-deportation