undercover investigation by Medicine Hat police has stopped an Edmonton-based gang with ties to the Hells Angels from putting down roots in the southern Alberta city.
The investigation, dubbed Project Vortex, netted police 1.25 kilograms of cocaine and resulted in the arrest of three men allegedly involved with the White Boy Posse a gang that includes white supremacist members with a fondness for Nazi symbols.
Although the gang continues to operate, Medicine Hat police said their operation last week has foiled the White Boy Posse's nascent bid to sell cocaine in the city of 60,000.It was a huge impact in Medicine Hat," said Sgt. Brent Secondiak of the organized crime section. "They were in the process of finding clientele and we stopped them."Police in Edmonton who have observed the White Boy Posse said being a white supremacist isn't a requirement for being in the gang, but the racist ideology is shared by many of its members and associates."People of that mentality do gravitate to that group," said Acting Det. Dale Johnson of the Edmonton Police Service.Some members have Nazi-style swastikas tattooed on their bodies, and police have found flags and other white supremacist paraphernalia.In March, a joint Edmonton-RCMP investigation called Project Goliath ended with the arrest of 14 White Boy Posse members and 10 others believed to be associates.Police alleged the suspects were responsible for street-level cocaine dealing in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray and Yellowknife.Law enforcement agencies have identified the White Boy Posse as a puppet gang associated with the Hells Angels.
The Hells Angels, an international outlaw biker gang with three chapters in Alberta, are believed to be responsible for wholesale drug sales to street-level gangs.
In the Medicine Hat case, three men have been charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and possession of prohibited weapons.The accused are Christopher Scaglione, 21, and Chase Calihoo, 20, of Edmonton, and Douglas Hurton, 29, of Medicine Hat.