A full-patch member of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle club has been sentenced in connection with two lengthy RCMP investigations into drug trafficking.
On October 18, 2021, Emery Joseph "Pit" Martin was sentenced in the Bathurst Court of Queen's Bench to six and a half years for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and one year for commission of an offence for a criminal organization. He will serve both sentences consecutively, minus time already served. He was returned to the custody of the Correctional Service of Canada following his appearance.
Martin was arrested on June 25, 2018 as part of J-Thunder and J-Thunderstruck, two investigations led by the RCMP New Brunswick Federal and Serious Organized Crime Unit (FSOC) with the assistance of L'Escouade nationale de répression du crime organisé (ENRCO), which includes police officers from Montreal City and Laval as well as Sûreté du Québec and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The investigations began in 2016 and focused on the trafficking of cocaine on the Acadian Peninsula and in Restigouche, Madawaska and Victoria Counties. During the course of the investigations, police seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, and more than $900-thousand in Canadian currency.
On June 24, 2021, Martin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine, and commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
Throughout the investigation, seven other people have been sentenced in connection with the two investigations, receiving sentences ranging from two to 12 years in prison:
- Daniel Duguay from Saint-Irénée, sentenced to two years in prison on June 11, 2019.
- Eric Degrace from Évangéline, sentenced to eight years in prison on June 26, 2019.
- Jason Poirier from Inkerman, sentenced to four years in prison on March 11, 2020.
- Danny Smith from Allardville, sentence to 12 years in prison on September 11, 2020. He also received a $90-thousand fine.
- John Watson from Allardville, sentenced to three years in prison on January 11, 2021.
- Simon Dupuis from Québec, sentenced to 18 months in prison on January 19, 2021.
- Raymond Bertrand from Québec, sentenced to two years in prison on May 10, 2021.
Two other individuals who were arrested in connection with the investigations have not been sentenced yet. Eric Doucet from Chamberlain Settlement plead guilty to charges in connection with the investigation and will be sentenced on March 18, 2022. Normand Godbout from Grand Falls is scheduled to appear in court on October 21, 2021.
The New Brunswick RCMP continues to work collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies and the province of New Brunswick to disrupt and dismantle organized crime groups that are harming our communities with illegal activities. Anyone with information about, or who suspects, illegal drug activity in their neighbourhood is asked to contact their local police. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.