Alleged Hells Angel arrested by Quebec provincial police

Sret du Qubec officers arrested a man Wednesdaythey say is an "influential member" of the Hells Angels.

Andr Sauvageau, 60, was at a restaurant in Longueuil when he was picked up. According to Radio-Canada, he was with another member of the Hells Angels, Gilles Lambert, at the time, but Lambert was not arrested.

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Sauvageau was interrogated and is expected to appear Thursday at the Montreal courthouse to face charges of gangsterism, drug traffickingand for instructing someone to commit anoffence for a criminal organization.

He joined the Hells Angels in 2001 after leaving rival gang the Rock Machine, eventually becoming aninfluential member, according to Radio-Canada.

Sauvageau was arrested as part of operations Magot and Mastiff, which were launched last November and have resulted in the arrests of 47 alleged street gang, Mafia and biker gang members in the greater Montreal area so far.

Among those picked up at that time wasLeonardo Rizzuto, son ofVito Rizzuto, longtimepatriarch of the local Mafia clan.

Quebec provincial police have in the past described the goal ofMagotand Mastiff as breaking up the unionof Hells Angels, Mafia and street gangs.

A warrant had been issued for Sauvageau's arrest. Jesse McCarthy, 39, of Montreal and Patrick Williams, 41, of Mascouche are also being sought in connection to the same investigation.

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