| John McLean |
| John McLean was born on February 4, 1950 and has often been linked to the notorious West End Gang, a predominantly Anglo-Irish group that dominates rackets in sections of southwest Montreal, including Point St. Charles.
McLean, who has a criminal record that dates back to 1967, was said to be a close confidant of kingpin Gerald Matticks. McLean is said to sport a unique Irish claddagh ring, allegedly given by leaders to top ranking members of the group. McLean was among 14 people arrested during a crackdown on the West End Gang’s activities at the Port of Montreal. The group was accused of importing $2.1 billion worth of hashish and cocaine through the port between 1999 and 2001. Among those arrested was Gerald Matticks' son Donald, who worked at the port as a checker, verifying containers that arrived at the docks. |
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Former West End Gang member Luis Elias Lekkas, who turned informant after his arrest in 2001, claimed in court documents that McLean was responsible for delivering hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit payments to Gerald Matticks and finding workers to unload drug shipments that arrived at the port. After a shipment of 2,363 kilograms of hashish, Lekkas said that McLean was ordered to deliver 600 kilos of the drug to Hells Angels Normand Robitaille of the feared Nomads Chapter. McLean was allegedly paid $5,000 for the task. Lekkas also claimed in the court papers that he and McLean travelled to Colombia in 1999 to meet with members of the Cali drug cartel. Lekkas said Gerald Matticks paid for the trip by handing them $8,000 in cash. McLean pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import drugs in August 2003 and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Rumours quickly spread on the street claiming that McLean decided to cooperate with authorities and testify against his former associates. He didn’t have to take the stand however as Donald Matticks and two others pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import large quantities of cocaine and hashish through the Port of Montreal. According to a January 2005 news report, McLean was denied parole by the National Parole Board. Their decision was partially based on their belief that McLean’s life was in danger after he supposedly cooperated with authorities. It was determined that McLean’s presence at a halfway house would endanger the lives of both the staff and residents. |