Claude Gauthier discovers the cop camera at his home.
Hells Angel Claude Gauthier, 59, was stabbed with a pair of scissors last month in a halfway house in Quebec City. In April 2021, he was sentenced to 9 years for drug trafficking, gangsterism and receiving stolen goods. Gauthier was released at two-thirds of his sentence. The Parole Board released a decision which noted that Gauthier placed a 10% tax on contraband, managed institutional trafficking, and oversaw his own drone smuggling network. They gave a grim prognosis for his rehabilitation. Due to their 'bleak' assessment they imposed strict conditions which will remain until the end of his sentence.
It was all over for HA Claude Gauthier when he was sent off to the big house to serve a 9 year sentence. The jargon used in conversations by Gauthier, Pascal Facchino, Todd Bissett and Denis Savoie were all on tape. "I'm paying him 51-52." means he pays $51k to $52k for a kilogram of cocaine. “two packs and 60 pucks a month”. Means that they drain (sell) 2 kg and 60 ounces per month. 'Pack' refers to a kilo.
'Puck' refers to an ounce of cocaine.
Claude Gauthier had setbacks in his quest to prove his innocence. A serious blow came when the wiretap evidence was accepted into evidence. Co-accused HA Pascal Facchino, who plead guilty, visited Gauthier 20 times during the investigation. Some of the videos showed the men counting wads of cash.
In the fall of 2018 traffickers linked to the HA wanted to sell at least 2.5 kg per month in the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu region. In order to do this, they needed to get dealers to buy their product and they wanted all the cocaine cut to the same purity.
HA Pascal Facchino and Todd Bissett were recorded. "If you can bring me $8,000 for the cuts, bring me $8,000. If you can bring me $10,000, bring me $10,000” said Facchino, referring to the monthly tax paid to the Hells Angels for the territory. Claude Gauthier pleaded not guilty and was the last man standing.
