Police dismantle Calgary-based crime group
Posted Dec 7, 2016 12:09 pm.
Last Updated Nov 28, 2018 6:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Editor’s Note: Charges against Larissa Cowan were stayed on May 3, 2017.
Ten people from Calgary are facing over 100 charges in connection to an alleged gang in the city that was trafficking drugs and weapons in Western Canada.
Police say the criminal network extended from Alberta to B.C. and had ties to Manitoba.
The ALERT investigation lasted a year and it included the arrest of an apparent prime suspect, 40-year-old Timothy Varga. He is accused of recruiting members for a criminal organization, trafficking cocaine and firearms offences. Varga has criminal history dating back to 1999, when pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 14 years behind bars.
During the investigation, officers searched homes in Calgary and B.C.’s Okanagan, where they seized drugs, as well as a loaded handgun, which was previously reported stolen.
One of the 10 suspects, 41-year-old Andrew McGuire, has not yet been found, and it’s believed he’s in the Calgary area.
Antonio Chavez, Jason Hamilton, Larissa Cowan, Jared Kennedy, Spencer Allan-Elliott, Corey DeBakker, Alex Wawia and Justine Brind-Suchar have also been charged.
Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.
