A street gang that was about to be sentenced for running the drug trade in Little Burgundy and St. Henri is at the heart of a huge legal controversy.
It might lead to a stay of proceedings in several criminal cases.
Two years ago police arrested 38 people as part of an operation to break up the crack cocaine drug trade in downtown and the West Island.
Most of the cases have already made their way through the court system, but four men -- including Roy 'Capone' Haynes -- were working out a plea bargain that would see them plead guilty to gangsterism, conspiracy and other charges.
Haynes has already been acquitted of a weapons possession charges stemming from his 2008 arrest.
But earlier this year defence lawyers balked at continuing with the plea agreement, saying prosecutors had been bargaining in bad faith since they planned to appeal the weapons charge.
Defence lawyers are now contemplating filing stays of proceeding for all four accused.
