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Ex-Mountie guilty of gun-running

-- Joined Zig Zag Crew for its social events -- Judge sends him to prison for three years

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 05/29/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

A former Manitoba RCMP officer pleaded guilty to trafficking weapons for the Hells Angels, claiming he was desperate for money to pay for his young son's birthday party.

Wayne Shuttleworth, 40, was sentenced to the mandatory minimum three-year prison term Friday under a joint-recommendation from Crown and defence lawyers. He was also given an additional year behind bars on the charge of participating in a criminal organization.

Shuttleworth was one of 31 people arrested last December through Project DIVIDE, a year-long undercover sting operation in which police used a trusted gang associate to act as a secret agent.

Michael Satsatin captured dozens of illicit deals on audio and video surveillance, including a series of meetings with Shuttleworth in November 2009.

Shuttleworth had various conversations with Satsatin in which he discussed having a connection on the Sandy Bay First Nation that would allow him to buy firearms. Satsatin later paid Shuttleworth $500 for a sawed-off semi-automatic shotgun.

Defence lawyer Mark Wasyliw told court his client was struggling financially after leaving the RCMP because of post traumatic stress disorder and being unable to hold down another job because of his mental state, combined with physical injuries.

Shuttleworth was a single man who had joint custody of his eight-year-old son and desperately needed cash to spend on the boy's birthday party, Wasyliw said.

Along came Satsatin with an offer he couldn't refuse. "It was one of the worst decisions of his life," he said.

Shuttleworth was also a foster parent to two troubled teens from the isolated Manitoba reserve of Shamattawa. Social workers removed the boys from his care after his arrest.

"The chances of them ever trusting him again to be a foster parent are pretty remote," Wasyliw said.

Shuttleworth was an RCMP officer between 1991 and 1994 but quickly burned out and turned in his badge.

"About 10 years ago he was finally diagnosed with PTSD. There were numerous, horrific incidents he observed while working on northern reserves, including children being burned alive," Wasyliw told court.

Shuttleworth is still collecting an RCMP pension and went on permanent disability after suffering a crushed ankle while driving a truck several years ago.

Shuttleworth turned to the criminal world after being brought in by a friend, where he quickly rose up the ranks of the Zig Zag Crew, which is the so-called puppet club of the Hells Angels.

Wasyliw said his client enjoyed the camaraderie of the organization.

"They have spaghetti nights, watch UFC fights, football games. You have a sense of belonging," he said.

Shuttleworth managed to keep his past as a police officer hidden from the Hells Angels, who have a strict rule against allowing anyone into the organization with such a background.

He was quickly turfed from the gang when it became public following his arrest.

"He's not safe in jail. He will be going into Stony Mountain (penitentiary) with a target on his back," Wasyliw said.

Shuttleworth has spent six months in pre-trial custody, which was given double credit of one year.

The judge imposed another three years in prison.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 29, 2010 A4

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