Accused in Kelowna fentanyl bust was former Hells Angels 'middleman'

A Kelowna man charged in connection with a massive fentanyl bust was a former 'middleman' for the Hells Angels, according to parole documents.

Leslie John McCulloch was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking this summer following a raid in which RCMP seized two industrial pill presses and hundreds of fake OxyContin and Percocet pills made out of fentanyl.

According to parole documents obtained by the CBC, the 38-year-old was on parole from a four-and-a-half year sentence for possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine at the time of the alleged offences.

'A frightening person'

McCulloch is slated to appear in Kelowna provincial court on Wednesday.

Last month, B.C.'s director of civil forfeiture sought possession of his truck in B.C. Supreme Court. Both the lawsuit and the parole documents provide details about his previous conviction and the new allegations.

A parole review which resulted in McCulloch's release on full parole in July 2014 described him as "a 'middleman' who transported drugs for the Hells Angels for about one year."

His conditions of release included an order not to have any contact with members of the gang.

According to the civil forfeiture claim, members of the Kelowna RCMP's drug section put McCulloch under covert surveillance in September 2015.

Later that month, police claimed to have seen him meet at his business with a senior full-patch member of the Hells Angels from Calgary. As a result, McCulloch's parole was suspended.

"During the post-suspension interview you stated that this person showed up at your shop unexpectedly and that you were very scared of him," the parole document reads.

"You described him as a frightening person and that he was a high ranking Hells Angel from a chapter in Alberta. You claimed you were given a 'no good' designation by this group, and therefore you could not understand the rationale behind the visit."

Fake Percocet and Oxycontin pills

McCulloch was released again, but his parole was revoked in May after the police raids.

In addition to the fentanyl pills and the presses, RCMP allegedly seized score sheets, gold bars, four bundles of cash totaling $35,600 and miscellaneous Hells Angels '81 Support' clothing.

The parole documents state that police believe McCulloch was importing fentanyl from China and then making fake Percocet and Oxycontin pills. His girlfriend, Rebekka Rae White, also faces charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

A Calgary Police Service news release issued at the time of the busts said the joint investigation which resulted in the raids led police to believe the "drug operation may have shipped as many as 100,000 fentanyl tablets per month to Calgary."

Police said a 25-year-old Calgary man was also facing charges. But Calgary police said this week that Crown Counsel declined to approve the charges.

None of the current allegations against McCulloch or White have been proven in court.

According to the parole board documents, McCulloch claimed he had sub-rented the top portion of this building to two people who were manufacturing something he believed to be legal.

His parole was revoked in May, but last month a full hearing was ordered to allow McCulloch to present his version of events, in which he claims police are out to get him.

"You argue that police illegally entered your home and business and found money and cash and pill-making equipment. You submit that there are legal explanations for these items and that the police jumped to conclusions by calling it a fentanyl lab," the parole document states.

"You submit that the pills found in your home were legal, that the powder found at your shop was not fentanyl, that the two men who rented your shop were not making illegal drugs, that the cash found on you was legal and that you have receipts."

No date has been set for the new parole hearing.