An alleged member of the Fallen Saints Motorcycle Club pleaded guilty to charges of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine trafficking during the second day of his trial in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.
Justin Murray Smith, 34, changed his pleas Tuesday afternoon after hearing testimony from Noel Harder, a police agent who said Smith sold him pills during a meeting in November 2014.
Harder turned 510 pills over to police, according to an admission of facts. They were tested and found to contain both fentanyl and heroin.
Harder was the Fallen Saints vice-president before signing on to work with police on Project Forseti, a drug and weapons investigation that targeted members of the Fallen Saints and Hells Angels motorcycle clubs in 2014.
Court heard secret recordings of conversations between Harder and Smith discussing how to make fentanyl pills look like real OxyContin pills. Harder said he didn’t think the pills they had looked professional, but Smith assured him that people “love them.”
Video surveillance from Harder’s office — which was also used as the Fallen Saints clubhouse — shows Smith entering the building carrying a small box on Nov. 20, 2014. Harder testified the pills were in that box.
The box also contained a note. Harder said it stated the amount of money Smith would pay to him, the club and Smith’s lawyer. Smith allowed Harder to delay payment while Harder had the pills checked out, court heard. The Crown alleges Harder paid Smith the next day.
Harder testified that during a recorded conversation that same day, Smith said he was still waiting on a kilogram of cocaine. Smith is a “highly connected individual to the highest level players in the drug trade and motorcycle clubs,” Harder testified.
Defence lawyer Patrick McDougall said entering the guilty pleas was the “most appropriate route” and will shorten the trial. Smith is still charged with unauthorized transfer of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm for the purpose of transferring it, possessing a firearm while prohibited to do so, possession of an unauthorized, prohibited firearm and transporting a firearm without lawful excuse.
On Monday, Harder testified that Smith gave him a .24-calibre handgun as payment for a drug debt. The defence has yet to cross-examine Harder.
This is the second trial in connection with Project Forseti. Hells Angels member Robert Allen was convicted of cocaine trafficking earlier this month, following a trial in December.
Smith’s trial is expected to continue on Wednesday. Sentencing on his drug trafficking charges will take place after a trial decision on his gun charges is delivered.
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