Pascal Facchino, the member of the Hells Angels from Trois-Rivières who recently told parole commissioners that the Hells Angels were a group of friends who liked to ride motorcycles and party, thus causing his hearing to end abruptly, will soon be released automatically – after serving two-thirds of his sentence – under strict conditions.
Facchino, 49, has been serving an eight-year prison sentence since March 2020 for gangsterism, conspiracy and cocaine trafficking after being arrested in an investigation by the National Organized Crime Repression Squad (ENRCO).
Last April, Facchino appeared before the Commission to ask to go to a halfway house, something surprising for a Hells Angels, since they generally prefer not to approach parole commissioners and wait for their automatic release.
When asked the first question by a commissioner, Facchino responded that the Hells Angels were a group of friends who liked to ride motorcycles and party. When the commissioner responded with outrage, the biker decided to waive his right to a hearing.
Compromising electronic eavesdropping
These words may not have helped Facchino, because he did not want to be sent to a halfway house, but this condition was imposed on him nonetheless, for a period of one year, whereas it is usually evaluated every six months.
Facchino may not frequent drinking establishments – except SAQ branches –, may not associate with any person involved in criminal activities or drug trafficking, must seek or keep a job, may not possess more than one communication device – without an encrypted messaging application – and more than one SIM card, may not erase the information and messages contained in this same device, and must disclose all of his financial transactions to his release agent.
“The Commission also notes that information from electronic surveillance appears to confirm that you have been associating with members of security threat groups (STGs) during your current incarceration and may have given your approval to have an inmate beaten.”
Although you now take full responsibility for your criminal acts, you deny that they are connected to the Hells Angels (redacted in the text). You describe this group as a social club and that the people you associate with in this group are law-abiding citizens.
Text of the decision of the commissioners
“It appears that your sense of belonging to the Hells Angels (redacted in the text) is strong. Your current recidivism, of the same nature as during your previous federal sentence, added to your desire to continue to be affiliated with a group threatening security, seem to indicate the absence of real motivation on your part to dissociate yourself from crime, which aggravates your risk factor for recidivism,” the commissioners wrote in their 11-page decision.
To contact Daniel Renaud, dial (514) 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.