A member of the Red Scorpions gang and three associate members have been arrested by police after search warrants turned up weapons and drugs at several southern Alberta residences.
Red Deer RCMP, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), Calgary Police Services, and Airdrie RCMP members launched an investigation into the Red Scorpions drug trafficking operation and their infiltration of the Alberta market in June and executed a number of search warrants on July 23.
Police say Cory James Lesperance, from BC, is a member of the Red Scorpions and is alleged to be at the centre of a drug trafficking network operating in Alberta.
Lesperance, 29, was arrested at a home in Balmoral Heights, just outside the Red Deer city limits. Two firearms and a large amount of drugs were found in the residence.
Lesperance is now facing 14 drug and weapons related charges and is currently bound by two firearm prohibitions and a recognizance order from a drug and weapons investigation back in November 2013.
Three Red Scorpions associates were also arrested in the search warrants:
- Robin Joseph Stewart, 52, faces eight charges
- Nicholas David James White, 21, faces six charges
- Amber McLeod, 23, faces four charges
Search warrants were also executed at a home in the Calgary community of Thorncliffe and at a home in Airdire’s Channelside area.
A number of firearms and drugs were seized including:
- 512 grams of methamphetamine
- 517 grams of cocaine
- 52 grams of heroin
- 264 grams of marihuana
- 80 grams of psilocybin
- 13 vials equaling 130 milliliters of anabolic steroids
- A cocaine conversion lab
- Scales, packaging, and other drug paraphernalia
- Loaded semi-automatic handgun
- Stolen shotgun with ammunition
- Three replica handguns
- $8,955 cash proceeds of crime and two vehicles.
Police say there could be additional charges and arrests in the coming days.
