Judge grants bail to man wanted by U.S. in laundering case
Clean record during previous releases plays in suspect’s favour
A B.C. man being sought by the United States on charges of laundering millions of dollars has been ordered released on $500,000 bail until his extradition hearing.
Glenn Sheck faces charges that between June 2007 and April 2012, he was involved in co-ordinating several dozen money transfers alleged to be the proceeds of drug trafficking activity.
He also boasted to an undercover police officer about his importance in the criminal world in B.C., talked about funding terrorism and about corrupting officials, court was told.
The money-laundering offences are alleged to have occurred while he was out on bail facing a firearms possession charge on which he was eventually convicted and sentenced to 18 months in jail.
When his application to appeal his firearms conviction was rejected by the Supreme Court of Canada in May, he surrendered to authorities to serve the jail sentence. While in custody the extradition warrant was served on him.
He then appealed the length of the sentence and was to be released until that appeal is heard.
At his bail hearing, a Canadian government lawyer, representing the United States, argued that Sheck was a flight risk and at risk of re-offending and that it would shock Canadians to release him on bail until his extradition hearing.
His lawyer said Sheck had been out on bail both before and after his firearms conviction, and had lived up to his bail conditions for more than four years. The defence lawyer argued there was no evidence he was currently involved in crimes.
In reaching his decision Friday, Associate Chief Justice Austin Cullen of the B.C. Supreme Court said the key issue was the allegation Sheck had offended while on bail for the firearms case.
He said that the fact that Sheck had been granted bail twice by the B.C. Court of Appeal during appeals for his conviction and sentence on the drug case and had complied with bail conditions for four years worked in his favour.
Cullen said he would order Sheck released on tough conditions and a substantial bail.
The federal lawyer sought a bail of $1 million while Sheck’s lawyer argued for $200,000. The judge settled for bail of $500,000.
Cullen also ordered that he obey a curfew between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for medical emergencies or medical appointments, or with written permission of his bail supervisor to leave the home in Langley where he will be staying.
Sheck was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in B.C. except with permission from his bail supervisor. The texting function on his cellphone must be disabled and he is under instruction not to place any international calls except to his lawyer in the United States.
He is to provide his bail supervisor with his cellphone number and records.