Crown seeking 6 to 7 years in prison for Hells Angel
Bryan Oldham, a sergeant at arms for the Kelowna chapter of motorcycle club found guilty of a role in cocaine conspiracy trial
Amember of the Hells Angels who was convicted in connection with a major cocaine conspiracy should spend six to seven years behind bars, a prosecutor argued Friday. In September, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Carol Ross found Bryan Oldham, sergeant at arms for the Kelowna chapter of the notorious motorcycle club, guilty of one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Court heard that Oldham played a limited role in the conspiracy that saw the sale of 500 kilograms of cocaine negotiated following a reverse sting operation conducted by the RCMP between January 2011 and August 2012.
David Giles, also a member of the Hells Angels, brought Oldham into the scheme after the undercover cops told him that the deal would only be possible if he arranged for two other members of the motorcycle club to fill in for Giles if need be.
Despite the limited role, the Crown argued that it was still very serious because without Oldham, the deal could not have happened.
“Mr. Oldham was prepared to do whatever was necessary to ensure that the deal went through and the cocaine was delivered,” Crown counsel Chris Greenwood told the judge during Friday’s sentencing hearing in Vancouver.
“The inevitable consequence of that was going to be the dissemination of 500 kilograms of cocaine into the community.”
Noting that there were no prior criminal cases that were similar, Greenwood argued that there was a “pressing need” for deterrence in the case, with Oldham being a mature individual and not a drug user.
“He had time to think about this and he had time to discuss it in advance with Mr. Giles. And the moral culpability lies in his willingness to facilitate this massive deal to suit his own purposes and those of Mr. Giles.”
Ian Donaldson, a lawyer for Oldham, told the judge that a sentence of four years would adequately meet all of the principles of sentencing.
He argued that Oldham’s involvement was more “generic” than the Crown’s submission that without him the deal would not have happened.
Donaldson said that the police didn’t care who Giles brought to the meeting and for investigative reasons insisted that he bring members of the Hells Angels.
“But it wasn’t that it had to be high-ranking, low-ranking (members),” he said. “Certainly, it wasn’t, ‘You better bring Mr. Oldham.'” Donaldson said there was no evidence that Oldham was going to be paid for what he did and wasn’t involved in the transportation or delivery of the drugs.
“He isn’t trusted in any of those ways. He isn’t part of those sorts of aspects of the bigger scheme.”
Donaldson said that apart from a criminal record dating back to when he was 19 years old, Oldham was “essentially” a law-abiding citizen until he became involved in the criminal scheme with Giles and the others.
“He became a motorcycle enthusiast with others out of a sense of enjoyment and camaraderie and loyalty, but was not a person who was committing criminal offences.” Oldham is expected to be sentenced at a later date. Giles and two other men were convicted along with Oldham following a lengthy trial. A fifth accused was acquitted. Three others pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.