Nanaimo Hells Angel loses extortion, theft convictions appeal

Police urge players to ignore game app

Longtime Nanaimo Hells Angel Robert (Fred) Widdifield has lost an appeal of his convictions for extortion and theft.

B.C. Court of Appeal Justice Nicole Garson rejected Widdifield’s arguments that evidence used to convict him was “wafer thin” and that he was an innocent bystander to an incident during which a former friend and business partner was extorted.

In December 2014, a B.C. Supreme Court judge found that Widdifield was part of the plot to strong-arm his former friend into handing over money and property, including a yacht called Dream Chaser. The longtime pal, identified only as J.H. in court, went to police in 2010 after being repeatedly threatened by another Nanaimo Hells Angel named Rajinder Sandhu.

J.H.’s problems with the bikers dated back to an unpaid 1993 loan for $62,000 from a Nanaimo woman who later moved without providing a forwarding address.

For years, he heard nothing about the debt until Sandhu came knocking on his door in early 2010.

Sandhu told J.H. that he would have to repay the loan, as well as a “stupid tax” for his alleged unauthorized use of the club’s name and reputation. He said he was acting on behalf of the Hells Angel and demanded an immediate payment of $100,000. He warned J.H. about having used Widdifield’s name without authorization.

After months of meetings and text messages, J.H. was forced to turn over his yacht, which he had purchased for $137,000.

Widdifield was with Sandhu during the sale of the boat. And Widdifield later hosted a meeting at his house during which J.H. was assaulted and ordered to pay even more money.

On appeal, Widdifield’s lawyers argued that the trial judge was speculating about the senior biker’s involvement in the conspiracy and that there was not enough evidence to support his conviction.

“In particular, Widdifield challenges the judge’s conclusion that the ‘sin’ for which Sandhu was sent to exact retribution was J.H.’s alleged use of Widdifield’s name,” Garson noted in her ruling, released Friday.

Widdifield’s lawyers also argued that some inadmissible hearsay evidence was improperly used to convict him. Garson disagreed. “It is my view that the judge reasonably inferred: (a) that, on the basis of the evidence directly admissible against him, it was probable Widdifield was a member of the common unlawful design to extort money and property from J.H. and; (b) that his membership was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Neither of these inferences is plainly contradicted by the evidence, or incompatible with it,” she said.

“There was evidence to support the judge’s conclusion that Widdifield was in on the plan.”

She also said “the verdict reached by the judge was not unreasonable.”

Appeal Court justices Mary Saunders and David Harris agreed.

Widdifield is an original member of the Nanaimo chapter of the biker gang, which started in 1983.

He was sentenced to five years in jail for the extortion conviction.

COQUITLAM — Pokémon Go enthusiasts wandering around Coquitlam looking for significant sites in the hit game may find themselves at a surprising location.

The Hells Angels clubhouse, at 1041 Burnette Avenue, shows up as a designated gym, meaning Pokemon Go players are expected to congregate there for battles with rival players.

The Vancouver Sun was tipped to the bizarre gym location by a Pokémon player Friday. Sure enough, a visit to Coquitlam with the Pokémon Go application opened showed the special icon for a gym right on the biker clubhouse.

The spokesman for B.C.’s antigang agency said Friday that it’s totally inappropriate for the popular gaming application to send people to the clubhouse of the notorious biker gang.

“We think it’s highly inappropriate that this game would include a location that attracts all ages — including children — to the location of a gang that is not only is as well known as the Hells Angels is, but includes people who are involved in the highest levels of organized crime, including violent crime,” said Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

The Sun spoke to one young player outside the clubhouse who also expressed surprise at the gym location.

“They shouldn’t be sending people there,” said the youth, who asked not to be identified.

Hells Angels spokesman Rick Ciarniello did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The Coquitlam clubhouse is the base of the Vancouver chapter of the biker gang, which is one of the three oldest. It was founded on July 23, 1983.

Pokémon Go gym sites are locations in the game that are super-imposed on top of realworld landmarks. The landmarks are usually historical or hightraffic sites.

Police earlier raised concerns about the safety of players staring at screens distracted as they wander around city streets.

This week, a player jumped onto the SkyTrain tracks to catch one of the virtual monsters, setting off alarms and prompting a warning by Transit police.

And last week, Vancouver police expressed concerns when a civilian employee discovered a virtual “Venonat” was located inside the police department’s Cambie Street headquarters.

Players are not allowed to wander around the building.

In Victoria, police have nabbed at least one driver playing Pokémon behind the wheel.

HELENA, Montana — U.S. Border Patrol officials say two Coutts, Alta., teenagers were briefly apprehended after they crossed the U.S. border into Montana while playing Pokémon Go.

Border Patrol agent John South said the teens were engrossed in the game and wandered into the United States.

The agents then released the teens to their mother.