A recently retired, high-ranking Montreal police officer faces four charges for allegedly selling secrets to the Hells Angels.
Surete du Quebec officers arrested Benoit Roberge Saturday night on Montreal's South Shore while he was in the company of several members of the criminal gang.
“For a few months, different information has led us to believe that certain leaks were occurring during our investigation into organized crime,” said SQ Inspector Michel Forget, who explained that the SQ became suspicious when investigators began to notice irregularities.
According to police, Roberge was telling the Hells Angels information on current criminal investigations, as well as giving the gang general information about how police conduct their undercover and surveillance work.
Roberge is accused of telling individuals that they were the subject of wiretaps, and in some cases reportedly told people exactly what information police had collected.
Forget said Roberge was arraigned by videoconference on Sunday afternoon and in court Monday afternoon, he was charged with two counts of gangsterism, one count of obstruction of justice and with breach of trust.
He was arrested as a result of a collaboration between the Montreal police, the Surete du Quebec and Revenu Quebec, said the SQ.
“Any type of infiltration or intimidation on the part of organized crime on the investigations that are occurring will be taken seriously, investigated immediately, and brought to charges,” said Forget.
Former sergeant-detective Roberge had a lengthy career investigating organized crime before his retirement from the Montreal police force in August and joining Revenue Quebec's investigative arm as the chief of information services. Since his arrest, he has been relieved of his duties there.
His wife is a Crown prosecutor who who often handles organized crime cases involving the Hells Angels. That has forced the courts to bring in a Crown prosecutor from Quebec City for this case.
Roberge investigated the Hells Angels during his career and testified against them in court during their trials. He’s now believed to have switched loyalties for a price.
“The investigation demonstrated that he had transmitted pertinent information to organized crime figures in relation to ongoing investigations in return for money,” said Forget in a news conference Monday.
Forget said that, so far as the SQ can tell, Roberge's alleged actions appear to be limited to himself alone.
"This does not reflect, in any point, the engagement of the men and women who are dedicated to organized crime and different crime investigations. Everyone should take into account that in times of infiltration and intimidation on the part of organized crime into the investigation that were occurring will be taken up most seriously, investigated immediately and consequently put to charges," said Forget.
The former officer will remain in custody until he returns to court for a bail hearing Thursday.
