| Jokers Saint-Jean Chapter |
| The Jokers Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Chapter was established in the south shore community on May 9, 1993. The group set up its clubhouse at 204, Chemin St-André, in Saint-Luc. The gang operated under the supervision of the Hells Angels Trois-Rivieres Chapter and usually consisted of about ten full-patch members. On September 20, 1995, three members of the rival Rock Machine biker gang - Benoit Grignon, Daniel Paul, and Pierre Patry - were blown to pieces as they attempted to bomb the Jokers' clubhouse. It remains unclear why the bomb exploded prematurely, but one theory suggests that a Jokers member or associate may have fired a shot, striking the bomb and triggering it. Almost a month and a half later, police arrested 20 people with links to the Jokers. Small quantities of cocaine, hashish, and marijuana were seized. During a raid of the gang's clubhouse, police discovered human flesh and bones kept in jars, as well as a small piece of a person's spine in another room of the building. The body parts are said to have belonged to the three Rock Machine members who had died in September. On December 7, 1995, members of the Jokers reportedly brawled with members of the Rock Machine at the Montreal court house's cafeteria. Jokers Paul Magnan and Luc Gauthier were arrested, as well as Rock Machine members Johnny Plescio, Peter Paradis, and Robert Paradis. Jokers president Robert Dubuc and an associate were found murdered in Delson on April 30, 1998. Serge Quesnel, a biker hitman who turned informant in 1995, claimed that he had previously been hired to kill Dubuc by Hells Angel Richard "Rick" Vallée, the then Jokers Godfather. Vallée allegedly felt that Dubuc was not loyal enough to the Hells Angels. Seven months later, on November 13, police arrested three alleged Jokers associates and seized seven kilos of cocaine, nearly eight kilos of marijuana, 100 grams of hashish, a loaded firearm, and five vehicles. Police struck again on June 28, 2001, arresting 19 men and five women, all reported to be Jokers associates. They were charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to traffic and weapons violations. On November 6, 2002, 350 officers from the Surete du Quebec, the RCMP, and the Saint-Jean police led a huge operation against the Jokers, arresting over 40 people and releasing warrants for six others. The police investigation, named Project Osmose, began in November 2000 and resulted in the arrest of every member of the Jokers, as well as several members of the Hells Angels Trois-Rivieres Chapter. Police seized three kilograms of cocaine, 170 marijuana plants, ecstasy, and magic mushrooms, as well as $20,000 in cash, 14 vehicles, and several weapons. Authorities allege that the gang distributed two kilograms of cocaine a week, bringing in a total of $800,000. The group had taken control of virtually every bar in the Saint-Jean area. The police investigation, named Project Osmose, began in November 2000 and resulted in the arrest of every member of the Jokers, as well as several members of the Hells Angels Trois-Rivieres Chapter. Authorities contend that this latest bust totally dismantled the gang, freeing Saint-Jean from the grip of an organization that has allegedly wrecked havoc in the south shore community for nearly a decade. |