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B.C. files application to seize motorcycle club’s Campbell River clubhouse

Location was site of the 2016 murder of John Dillon Brown
33127008_web1_copy_181031-CRM-Clubhouse-search
Police executed a search warrant at the Devils Army Clubhouse on Petersen road in Campbell River on August 10, 2017. Campbell River Mirror file photo

The B.C.government has applied to have convicted murderer Richard Alexander turn over ownership of the Campbell River clubhouse of the Devil’s Army Motorcycle Club where John Dillon Brown was killed in 2016.

On Wednesday, June 14, the director of civil forfeiture filed a claim in B .C. Supreme Court to have the property at 70 Petersen Road be forfeited to the B.C. government under the Civil Forfeiture Act as proceeds from unlawful activity.

Alexander, a resident of Maple Ridge, B.C., was convicted on March 15 of first-degree murder in the killing of Brown inside the clubhouse and then leaving his body in the trunk of a car near Sayward.

The director’s claim says Alexander is a “founding, full-patch member, and president of the Devil’s Army Motorcycle Club (the “DAMC”).”

The statement of claim alleges that the DAMC is a “puppet” or “support” club sponsored by the Haney chapter of the Hells Angel Motorcycle Club (the HAMC) which operates out of Maple Ridge and that the DAMC and HAMC are “criminal organizations.”

The claim alleges that “R. Alexander has been a member of an organization comprised of more than three persons, inside or outside Canada, and which has as one of its main purpose or main activities the facilitation or commission of one or more serious offences, that, if committed, would likely result in the direct or indirect receipt of a material benefit, including a financial benefit, by the group or any of the persons who constitute the group.”

In addition, the claim states, “Alexander has a criminal record that includes convictions for possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition and murder.”

Alexander also became owner of property on or about Aug. 20, 2015, the claim says.

The unlawful activity involved, the claim says, includes the property being used “as the clubhouse for the DAMC and was not occupied as a permanent residence.”

The claim continues, “At all material times, the property was made available for use and temporary occupation to members of the DAMC and the HAMC.”

The claim also says, “The Property has been customized to impede access by law enforcement and rival groups.” It also says that “On March 11, 2016, R. Alexander used the Property to commit murder” and that “On March 15, 2023, R. Alexander was convicted of murder.”

Alexander has appealed his conviction.

The director alleges in the claim that “The Property is proceeds and an instrument of unlawful activity.”

Those unlawful activities include, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada, murder; conspiracy to commit murder; participation in a criminal organization; committing an indictable offence “for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization;” instructing an indictable offence for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization; possession of the proceeds of crime; laundering the proceeds of unlawful activity; and, contrary to the Income Tax Act, failure to declare taxable income.

The director’s claim also says the property “is likely to be used to facilitate Unlawful Activity in the future.”

Alexander or his representatives are eligible to file a defence but have not done so yet.

READ MORE: Former Campbell River Devils Army president convicted of 2016 first-degree murder


@AlstrT
editor@campbellrivermirror.com

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Alistair Taylor

About the Author: Alistair Taylor

Alistair Taylor has been a writer and editor with Black Press since 1989, most of those years spent as editor of the Campbell River Mirror.
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