Ernie Dew, alleged former president of the Hells Angels in Manitoba, has been convicted on seven charges of drug trafficking related to a sting operation involving a controversial undercover police agent.

Queen's Bench Justice Brenda Keyser handed down a conviction Monday in Winnipeg on a charge of cocaine trafficking. Dew was convicted in February on three other charges of drug trafficking and three of possessing the proceeds of crime.

Monday's conviction was related to a cocaine deal involving Dew's wife, but which the judge ruled had been orchestrated by Dew. Vera Dew has already pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and was sentenced to four years in prison.
 
Ernie Dew's lawyer, Sarah Inness, filed a motion in February alleging he was a victim of police entrapment.

Keyser will begin hearing the entrapment argument April 24. If she accepts the argument, all seven of Dew's convictions would be nullified.

Dew and 12 others were arrested in February 2006 as part of Project Defence, an investigation by the RCMP and police in Winnipeg and Brandon into suspected drug dealers.

Civilian agent

Much of the evidence in the Project Defence cases centres around Franco Atanasovic, a civilian agent for the police who wore recording devices during meetings with suspected criminal targets.

Last year, Atanasovic was a star witness at the trial of Hells Angels member Ian Grant, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison on eight charges — including drug trafficking, extortion and possession of proceeds of crime — in another Project Defence case.

Eight others have also been sentenced to jail terms in connection with Project Defence charges.

Part of the reason Atanasovic was able to get close to the outlaw bikers was his decades-long friendship with Dew.

Atanasovic was paid more than $500,000 for his role in Project Defence and is now in witness protection.