Paroled Terror Squad leader back in city

A man who served as leader of a violent Saskatoon street gang has returned to the city after serving time in federal prison.

Michael McNab, who was taken off the streets in March 2011 after a police investigation into the operations of the Terror Squad gang, was let out of custody on statutory release in mid-August after a Parole Board of Canada review in July that resulted in several release conditions.

Now in his mid-40s, McNab received a sentence of seven years and seven days for “high-level trafficking of illicit drugs” in May 2011 after he pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking and directing a criminal organization.

Parole board documents indicate McNab, who ran a large group of loyal Terror Squad members, is required to stay in a halfway house, abstain from alcohol and drugs, disclose financial information to a parole supervisor, and avoid people involved in crime, gangs or drugs.

As well, he is also not allowed to possess a cellphone without permission.

“Your associations and attitude continue to be a concern when considering your risk,” the parole board’s decision stated.

“Your (case management team) note you also lack in the area of victim empathy and appear to only be concerned with the affect that your actions have had on your family, instead of society at large.”

Most offenders are entitled to statutory release after serving twothirds of their sentence. While the parole board does not determine whether an offender will be set free, it determines the conditions of their release to “manage an offender’s risk,” parole board spokeswoman Michelle Goring said.

“Once an offender is on statutory release, if the board receives information and a recommendation from the Correctional Service of Canada, the board can venture to revoke the release,” she said. “If that happens ... then the offender would be entitled to another period of statutory release after serving two-thirds of whatever is remaining.”

Parole board documents state McNab shows the ability to run a “highly organized criminal organization” — and was able to continue to do so while incarcerated.

However, they also indicate McNab has said he wants to leave the life of a gang leader behind.

The board noted he claimed to have plans to leave the gang after his release, but added the claim is considered “questionable at best,” based on previous information and instances on his file. McNab’s current relationship with the Terror Squad, if any, is unclear.

When reached by phone earlier this week at the Salvation Army men’s shelter in Saskatoon, McNab — who responded to his nickname of Michael ‘Keema’ McNab — declined an interview request. When asked in general about how it feels to be released, he said: “It’s good, it’s good.”

The parole board’s report does not name the Terror Squad as the criminal organization McNab was associated with, but his involvement with the group was outlined in numerous court documents, including transcripts of hundreds of recorded phone calls between McNab and various people involved with Terror Squad activities.

The parole documents also detail a life of struggle.

Raised in an unstable home, McNab was placed in the custody of his grandparents. He reported that he was sexually abused, that family members were placed in residential schools, and that his substance abuse “began at a very young age.”

He was previously let out on statutory release in January 2016, but it was revoked after he breached his release conditions.

While a facilitator feels McNab has the “insight and skills to live a pro-social lifestyle,” he has “shown no motivation to apply these skills” to his life or distance himself from the criminal organization, the parole board noted, adding that while he was encouraged to interact with institutional elders to address his childhood issues, he declined to participate.

The board noted McNab completed the Alternatives, Associates and Attitude programs and appeared “committed to his education” during his sentence, completing the equivalent of a high school diploma.

In a prepared statement, city police spokeswoman Alyson Edwards said police would not be able to comment specifically about McNab’s release.

“We typically have not done that in the past unless there was a violent or sexual offender being released and a public disclosure had been applied for and granted by a provincial committee,” Edwards wrote, noting McNab will be monitored by the police force’s Serious Violent Offender Response Unit.

“In a general sense I can say that we have members of our Criminal Investigation Division and in patrol who are aware of people who have been paroled and are living in the community. We are also made aware of the conditions they must abide by and will be paying close attention to whether those conditions are being met.”

Your (case management team) note you also lack in the area of victim empathy.