Gangster sent to slammer for dealing drugs - Winnipeg Free Press

Gangster sent to slammer for dealing drugs - Winnipeg Free Press: "Winnipeg gang member has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being caught dealing drugs and weapons in two separate police sting operations.
On Tuesday, Andrew Coffin pleaded guilty to several charges stemming from his arrests in 2008 and again in 2009 while out on bail.
In the first case, dubbed Project Beehive, Coffin was caught on video surveillance and telephone wiretaps arranging illicit deals with other gang members and associates. Police followed him to the parking lot of Red River College and watched as he delivered a .45-calibre semi-automatic handgun in exchange for cash.
Investigators pulled the vehicle over in Charleswood, seized the weapon and took Coffin and the other man into custody.
Coffin, 25, was granted bail but returned to his criminal ways. He became a target of Project Divide in which city police used the services of a paid informant to infiltrate members and associates of the Hells Angels.
Coffin was ultimately caught being a courier for a deal between two other gang members for 1,000 percocet pills, court was told.
Defence lawyer Danny Gunn said Tuesday his client is 'actually a fairly decent human being' who found himself in desperate need of cash following the slaying of a former gang leader in Manitoba.
Bekim Zeneli, founder of the LHS (loyalty, honour, silence) gang, was gunned down inside his Thompson, Manitoba apartment in 2007. Coffin, who was associated with the gang, suddenly found himself on the hot seat as a result.
'He ended up holding the bag. People who wanted payment (of Zeneli’s existing debts) turned to him,' said Gunn. 'He became responsible for that and started making some very poor decisions.'"