High-ranking Hells Angel charged with breach of trust for allegedly accessing Ontario Ministry of Transportation computers

Senior Ontario Hells Angel Rob Barletta has been charged with multiple counts of breach of trust for allegedly tapping into an Ontario Ministry of Transportation computer.

Barletta, 50, was charged with three counts of breach of trust, three counts of conspiracy to commit breach of trust, three counts of unauthorized use of a computer and one count of mischief to data, Staff-Sgt. Scott Wade of the provincial Biker Enforcement Unit said on Monday.

Barletta, who is originally from London, Ont., now lives in an undisclosed address after an attempt on his life by two gunmen in Cabbagetown last spring.

The latest charges against the long-time biker follow an investigation into the computer use of former Ministry of Transportation employee Richard Pereira, 36, of Oshawa.

In the latest set of charges, Pereira was hit with 10 counts of breach of trust, seven counts of conspiracy to commit breach of trust, 10 counts of unauthorized use of a computer system, two counts of mischief to data, one count of identity theft and one count of fraud on government.

Pereira was among 28 people — including Barletta and two other Ontario Hells Angels — who were charged in December in Project Hobart, an investigation into which police call a multimillion-dollar illegal offshore gambling enterprise.

Pereira was charged last December with criminal breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer in the police operation, which police said was linked to York Region mobsters as well as outlaw bikers.

Pereira was the only civil servant charged.

The OPP charges by the OPP anti-rackets branch follow an investigation into a breach of personal information within the Ministry of Transportation.

Also charged in the latest arrests are Tanya Uhlmann, 34, of Pickering, who faces three counts of breach of trust, three counts of conspiracy to commit breach of trust, four counts of unauthorized use of a computer and one count of fraud on government.

Carsten Uhlmann, 39, of King City was charged after the latest investigation with four counts of breach of trust, four counts of conspiracy to commit breach of trust, four counts of unauthorized use of a computer and one count of mischief to data.

Before the latest charges, Barletta was already facing 11 charges, including illegal firearms possession, bookmaking and commission of an offence for a criminal organization regarding a massive probe into illegal gambling called Project Hobart.

While on bail on the original charges, Barletta survived an attack by two gunmen on Ontario Street, just south of Gerrard Street East, in Cabbagetown.

Barletta was originally a member of the Toronto North Hells Angels in 2002, then helped found the London charter of the biker club in 2003, serving as president. He then moved on to become president of the Niagara Region arm of the biker organization.

At the time of the original arrests last December, police said Barletta was involved in a complex gambling network was controlled by Ontario Hells Angels bikers with ties to York Regional mobsters.

The operation pulled in more than $131 million in gross revenues over a five-year span and included the websites Ultimate SB, Titan SB, PlaytoWin WB, Privada SB and Players SB, OPP Chief Supt. Paul Beesley told a news conference after the arrests last December.

Gamblers were allowed credit limits as high as $20,000, but they were also expected to settle debts within a week, police said.

The groups also operated a gaming house in Mississauga, police said.

Aside from Barletta, the other full-patch Hells Angels who were charged were Craig (Truck) McIlquham, 50, of Oakville; and Eugenio (Gino) Reda, 56, of King City.

McIlquham’s dozen charges include possession of a restricted weapon, bookmaking and commission of an offence for a criminal organization.

Canada - BNN.