REAL SCOOP: Gangster Clayton Eheler gets a nine-year sentence
Credit to Author: Kim Bolan| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 23:05:21 +0000
Fraser Valley gangster Clayton Eheler has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his role leading a drug trafficking organization shipping its product to B.C.’s north.
Eheler and his associate Matthew Thiessen were first charged in the case in 2015 after an investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C.
As part of their probe CFSEU officers executed search warrants at two properties in Chilliwack and seized eight firearms, prohibited magazines, silencers and more than $200,000 in cash. Also seized was over $2-million-worth of drugs, including a large amount of fentanyl.
But Eheler and Thiessen were only convicted in June 2018 of possessing just under 10 kilograms of cocaine in various forms found inside a Chilliwack apartment that police searched in November 2014.
After their conviction, Eheler and Thiessen applied to have their charges stayed due to the length of time the case took to get to trial. But in January 2019 Judge Richard Browning rejected arguments made by their lawyers that their Charter rights had been violated.
Browning said the prosecution was “a particularly complex case,” meaning the length of time the case took was reasonable.
Thiessen was sentenced to six years. Two other associates, Kyle Harrower and Andrew Vithna Va were also convicted. Harrower got 18 months while Va was sentenced to three years.
Eheler is considered a Hells Angels associate and was formerly close to members of the Independent Soldiers and the Bacon brothers.
“This was a complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation affecting several areas throughout the province,” CFSEU Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said. “Illegal drugs, more specifically fentanyl, is an extremely dangerous drug that is proving to have widespread consequences in our province. This investigation is a testament to the dedication and tenacity of our investigators to hold those, who deal in drugs and are involved in criminal activity, to account and brought to justice.”
She said CFSEU worked closely with several other agencies including RCMP detachments in the upper Fraser Valley, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Prince George and Quesnel.
Three more people charged in the case are scheduled to be sentenced next week.