Kelowna Hells Angel Bryan Oldham was sentenced Friday to four years in jail for his “integral part” in brokering a deal for half a tonne of cocaine in 2012. Oldham was only involved in one meeting with undercover police posing as South American drug brokers in a reverse sting over 18 months in 2011 and 2012, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Carol Ross noted.
But she said Oldham’s role was critical to finalizing the purchase of the first 200-kilo load of cocaine from the purported drug lords. He was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking last September. Ross said Oldham was brought into the deal by his gang-mate David Giles, who was sentenced on March 31 to 18 years for conspiracy to import and traffic the cocaine.
During the negotiations for the cocaine, undercover officers demanded that Giles get someone from his Hells Angels “family” to back the deal in case anything happened to aging and ailing biker.
So Oldham agreed to attend a Vancouver meeting on Aug. 24, 2012 — the day before the fake cocaine was delivered to a Burnaby warehouse.
“At the meeting, he confirmed that Mr. Giles had explained why they were doing this. He confirmed that he was a brother and a member of Hells Angels and showed his tattoo,” Ross said. “He confirmed he would take over if something happened to Mr. Giles.”
At first, police told Giles he needed to bring two Hells Angels to the table to back the deal, which was going to involve ongoing purchases of 500 kilos of cocaine every month to month and a half.
Hells Angel Bryan Oldham PROVINCE
“He was observed meeting with various members of Hells Angels over the next days,” Ross noted.
Giles then told police he couldn’t get two Hells Angels involved, so they lowered their demand to a single biker backer.
“Mr. Oldham chose to participate in the belief that Mr. Giles was down to one and he attended at the meeting in order to assist Mr. Giles in obtaining possession of the cocaine,” Ross said.
“From this perspective, his participation was an integral part of a conspirator’s plan for the release of this continuing stream of cocaine into the community with the addiction, misery, crime and violence that would be the inevitable accompaniment. This suggests a higher moral culpability.”
She noted that Oldham, 49, has been running a successful construction business while out on bail over the last five years. And she said he was clearly remorseful for his role in the cocaine deal.
But she also said Oldham should have known better than to get involved.
“I note that Mr. Oldham was a mature man, a father. He was not a drug addict. He had time to consider and reflect on his decision,” she said.
As Oldham was led away by sheriffs, three supporters in the gallery waved and gave him the thumbs up. Oldham was the last to be sentenced of seven men convicted in the cocaine conspiracy.
Ross also imposed a firearms prohibition for 10 years and ordered Oldham to provide a DNA sample.
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But she said Oldham’s role was critical to finalizing the purchase of the first 200-kilo load of cocaine from the purported drug lords. He was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking last September. Ross said Oldham was brought into the deal by his gang-mate David Giles, who was sentenced on March 31 to 18 years for conspiracy to import and traffic the cocaine.
During the negotiations for the cocaine, undercover officers demanded that Giles get someone from his Hells Angels “family” to back the deal in case anything happened to aging and ailing biker.
So Oldham agreed to attend a Vancouver meeting on Aug. 24, 2012 — the day before the fake cocaine was delivered to a Burnaby warehouse.
“At the meeting, he confirmed that Mr. Giles had explained why they were doing this. He confirmed that he was a brother and a member of Hells Angels and showed his tattoo,” Ross said. “He confirmed he would take over if something happened to Mr. Giles.”
At first, police told Giles he needed to bring two Hells Angels to the table to back the deal, which was going to involve ongoing purchases of 500 kilos of cocaine every month to month and a half.
Hells Angel Bryan Oldham PROVINCE
“He was observed meeting with various members of Hells Angels over the next days,” Ross noted.
Giles then told police he couldn’t get two Hells Angels involved, so they lowered their demand to a single biker backer.
“Mr. Oldham chose to participate in the belief that Mr. Giles was down to one and he attended at the meeting in order to assist Mr. Giles in obtaining possession of the cocaine,” Ross said.
“From this perspective, his participation was an integral part of a conspirator’s plan for the release of this continuing stream of cocaine into the community with the addiction, misery, crime and violence that would be the inevitable accompaniment. This suggests a higher moral culpability.”
She noted that Oldham, 49, has been running a successful construction business while out on bail over the last five years. And she said he was clearly remorseful for his role in the cocaine deal.
But she also said Oldham should have known better than to get involved.
“I note that Mr. Oldham was a mature man, a father. He was not a drug addict. He had time to consider and reflect on his decision,” she said.
As Oldham was led away by sheriffs, three supporters in the gallery waved and gave him the thumbs up. Oldham was the last to be sentenced of seven men convicted in the cocaine conspiracy.
Ross also imposed a firearms prohibition for 10 years and ordered Oldham to provide a DNA sample.
Canada - BN.
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