A former lawyer for the Hell's Angels who later joined the notorious biker gang was sentenced to four and a half years in prison Friday for cocaine trafficking and gangsterism.
Louis Pasquin was immediately released on bail pending his appeal. He had been convicted in March and has since been disbarred.
The Crown had demanded six years in prison for Pasquin and the defence wanted one year.
Pasquin, 49, was a lawyer for more than 20 years, representing many gang and mafia members.
Swept up in 2006
Provincial police arrested Pasquin in March of 2006 as part of Operation Piranha, which targeted a drug-trafficking ring.
Pasquin acted as a liaison between the leader of the ring and a pilot who is alleged to have made cocaine runs. He's believed to be the first lawyer in Quebec to be convicted of gangsterism.
Brother comes to his defence
Pasquin's brother Richard defended his brother's actions at the Montreal courthouse on Friday.
"When you're a criminal lawyer there's always a line not to cross but it's always very difficult," he said.
"It's easy to get caught in suppers, they'll send a limousine to pick you up ... it's a question of friendship but where does it end?"
The executive committee of the Quebec Bar Association had a different view on Pasquin.
It said in March that it disbarred him to protect the public.
