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| Wolodumyr "Nurget" Stadnik |
| Wolodumyr Stadnik, called "Walter" or "Nurget" by friends, was born on August 3, 1952 to parents Andrew and Valentina. His father worked as a tree-cutter and the family lived in Hamilton's working class North End. Stadnik, along with his two older brothers, Eric and Gordon, attended Hill Park Secondary School. Classmates remember him as a quiet boy who spent a lot of time in the automotive shop. After school, Stadnik belonged to a youth gang for a short period, before joining the now defunct Wild Ones Motorcycle Club. The gang, based in a clubhouse on Hamilton Mountain on West Avenue, sold drugs and was often used as enforcers for the Italian Mafia. |
In 1978, Stadnik and another Wild Ones member travelled to Montreal to present themselves to the newly established Montreal Hells Angels Chapter. But the Outlaws biker club, the Hells Angels arch enemy, learned of the meeting and sent a hit squad to Quebec. As Stadnik and his friend sat drinking in an east-end bar, hitmen walked into the establishment and blasted at the two Wild Ones. Stadnik was left untouched but his friend was killed. After three Wild Ones were murdered and another seriously injured in a four month period, the gang dissolved. Stadnik became a hang around for the Hells Angels Montreal Chapter and, on May 26, 1982, he was formally inducted into the organization. Statnik was almost killed on September 8, 1984 as he and a group of Angels rode their bikes. A priest, rushing to see the Pope's visit to Montreal, ran a stop sign and crashed into the pack. Angels |
| prospect Daniel Mattieu was killed and Stadnik received severe burns and lost several fingers. The priest escaped unharmed. As the Angel laid recovering in Hamilton's St. Joseph's Hospital members of the 13th Tribe biker gang of Halifax flew over and stood guard during visiting hours. The display earned the club their Hells Angels colors. Walter Stadnik was arrested on August 23, 1988, at t he home of Douglas Freeborn, former president of the Hamilton chapter of the Satan's Choice. Both individuals were charged with possessing about 11 ounces of hashish for the purpose of trafficking. He was acquitted of all charges in November 1989 when Freeborn admitted that the hash seized belonged to him. "Nurget" was stopped in January, 1992, at the Winnipeg airport with more than $80,000 cash in a bag. He was charged with possessing the proceeds of crime but was acquitted during the trail. In 1993, as Stadnik and some associates drank in Winnipeg's Rolling Stone bar, two off-duty police officers entered. The duo began verbally taunting the group until the manager kicked them out of the establishment. Later on, when the bikers left, the cops were outside waiting. A brawl errupted and Stadnik was again arrested. He was again acquitted however, when it was discovered that police had started it. |
Stadnik, who served eight years as the club's national president and was extremely influential, left the Montreal chapter and was one of the nine founding Nomads chapter members. The group, led by Maurice "Mom" Boucher, comprised the club's elite members and their mission was to establish Hells Angels chapters in Onatrio. The influential Hells Angel still calls Hamilton home. Stadnik lives in a modest red-brick bungalow in a quiet neighborhood and also has a residence in Sorel, Quebec. He attends church on Sundays and works out regularly. He owns several Harvey Davidsons motorcycles and wears tailored clothing and custom-made jewelry. He avoids the spotlight and remains on close terms with national president Maurice "Mom" Boucher. Stadnik, who has successfully avoided serious jail time, was among the over 100 bikers rounded up in Opération: Pringtemps 2001. He was arrested in Jamaica while lounging by the pool at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He faces 13 counts of murder and could spend the rest of his life in prison. |