Jury: Hells Angels not criminal group

But the jury, which spent three days in verdict deliberations, returned only nine guilty verdicts on a 28-count indictment against Ronaldo Lising, Randy Potts, John Virgil Punko and Jean Joseph Violette, who were charged with various counts of assault, extortion and weapons offences.

The jury rejected a guilty verdict on the charges alleging the bikers committed crimes in association with or for the benefit of a criminal organization -- the East End chapter of the Hells Angels.

If the jury would have convicted on a criminal organization charge, it would have been the first of its kind in B.C. against the Hells Angels, which has always maintained it is just a motorcycle club.

It was the second failed test case of the anti-gang law against the Hells Angels in B.C. arising from the same $10-million police investigation. The verdict was a blow to the Crown and the police, who promised to pay $1 million to key witness Michael Plante, who worked as a police agent and infiltrated the East End chapter of the Hells Angels.

"It's unfortunate the jury wasn't able to conclude what judges in other parts of Canada found -- that the Hells Angels is a criminal organization," prosecutor Mark Levitz said outside court.

The jury did find the accused guilty of some extortion and weapons offences "and we're pleased to that extent," he said.

The Hells Angels laughed and shook hands with their lawyers after the verdict. Three of the bikers -- Potts, Punko and Lising -- will remain in custody until sentencing July 22. Violette will remain on bail until he is sentenced Oct. 28 by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly.

Potts was convicted of four crimes: having control of illegal grenades, possessing a loaded Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol, possessing an Intratec 9-mm semi-automatic pistol, a Ruger .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle and Voere bolt-action rifle and a .44 Ruger revolver.

Lising was convicted of possessing two loaded prohibited firearms: a Rossi .357 Magnum revolver and a Walther PPK/S .380-calibre semi-automatic pistol.

Violette was found guilty of the extortion of Glen Louie, a drug dealer who was beaten for using the Hells Angels name without permission.