A concessionaire converted into an informant was motivated to help the police demolish a high -level angel angel of anger after his drug nest, squirrel left to help him out of trafficking, he was stolen in an unrelated incident, the court heard.
On Monday, a man who carries the pseudonym of Agent 66 testified at Damion Ryan’s trial in Winnipeg, an RCMP man has called one of the “most prolific organized crime members in our country.”
Agent 66 initially agreed to cooperate with RCMP for more than $ 380,000 for a part of the investigation, more than $ 200,000 more at the end of the procedures. Court listened to its amount after learning about Ryan’s reputation. RCMP finally agreed to pay a total of more than $ 900,000.
“The key players had changed and felt that I was more at risk of moving forward, so I had asked for a bigger payment,” said the agent. “It was Damion Ryan.”
His name is under a publication prohibition and remains in the protection of witnesses.
Ryan is a member of the Wolfpack gang and a full member of the Hells Angels, which was between almost two dozen arrested in 2022 as part of a several -year RCMP drug trafficking investigation called Divergent project, according to the police. He was 41 years old at that time.
Manitoba RCMP said they confiscated $ 70 million of drugs in a scheme to eliminate an organized criminal network that covered provinces with connections abroad.
The trial was launched in front of the Judge of the Bank of the King Bank of Manitoba, Chris W. Martin, last week. The lawyers of the Kate Henley and Janna Hyman crown are processing the case. Ryan currently has no advice in court and is assisted by a court friend, lawyer Amanda Sansriget.
The court heard that Monday 66 began to treat cannabis at age 12 and progressed to sell cocaine in his adolescence. He tried to “clean” $ 368,000 of the money he earned as a distributor through a supplier that says he stole it. The agent hoped to charge that and get out of the drug game.
“I was angry,” he told the court. “The goal of me cleaned it was because I wanted to leave.”
After its release from prison in 2019, agent 66 became an informant of Project Divergent in 2020.
The court heard that four officers worked with agent 66 at all times, helping with logistics, payment and training through communications with objectives. They paid for their food, housing, vehicle and provided a stipend of $ 1,100 per week through the investigation.
He kept notes, recorded calls and took message screenshots on a cell phone provided by RCMP, as well as through messaging applications encrypted such as Signal and Whisper.
Shared conversations in court
On Monday, the court heard to call Agent 66 discussing a drug agreement with a man that researchers say Andre Steele.
In the call, the man identified as Steele tells Agent 66 that he can provide 30 ounces of methamphetamine.
Agent 66 paid Steele $ 10,000 for allegedly connecting it with a supplier in BC, audio suggests in the court.
The court heard the audio of a meeting in person between agent 66 and that contact, identified as Benito B in the Court. He and Agent 66 work for the agent to buy three kilograms of methamphetamine from him to $ 17,000 per kilo, and discuss the possibility of larger agreements in the future.
The audio of an April 2021 conversation between Steele and Agent 66 was reproduced where the agent asks to connect with “Damion”.
“It’s a bit exclusive … I will hit it … In sign”, a man who identified the agent as Steele says in the recording.
Agent 66 also asked about calls about obtaining Hells Angels or Wolfpack “Gear” or clothing of those organizations to show support in future agreements, he told the Court.
The undercover officers were involved, and in 2021 they began to buy drugs on behalf of Agent 66 outside the province, including an agreement for three kilograms of methamphetamine and other drugs, according to the court.
The additional call audio of 2021 included exchanges between agent 66 and Steele discussed by fentanil and other possibilities of agreements, and some of those conversations take place on Facebook Messenger with Steele or someone who communicates in his name, said the agent.
Some exchanges with Steele continued while in jail in Milner Ridge.
In an audio recording shared in the court, agent 66 and a goal discuss concerns about Steele’s facebook while imprisoning as presenting “red flags” that could expose it and put others at risk.
The Hyman Crown Lawyer continued to walk for Agent 66 through several additional communications between him, Steele and Benito B, and undercover officers.
In a recording, Benito B claims to be connected to “Ha”, or Hells Angels, and can provide protection to an associated agent 66 wants to send to the province to collect drugs, including carpsons, a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than fentanyl. In another, they discuss an order of fentanil of one kilo, according to the court.
Agent 66 is expected to testify all week.
Prosecutors estimate that the trial will last until mid -October.
