Latest news with #McIlquham
Hamilton Spectator
11-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Brazen' killing at Mandarin restaurant near Toronto shines light on Hells Angels' changing business model
Craig (Truck) McIlquham of Oakville thrived as a member of the Hells Angels as the organization moved from loud acts of public violence to quiet, online money-making. McIlquham, 55, and fellow outlaw bikers learned that there's plenty of money to be made if you're relatively low-key, skilled on the computer, and feared. McIlquham — who was also known as Craig Brown, according to Halton Regional Police — got his nickname, 'Truck,' because of his formidable size, just short of 300 pounds. He was shot to death at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, while leaving a Mandarin family-style restaurant in Burlington, about a five-minute drive from the Queen Elizabeth Way. His killing remains unsolved, but police say it was targeted. Investigators have appealed to the public for anyone with dashcam footage of Fairview and Brant Streets between the hours of 4 and 10 p.m. on April 29. They are particularly interested, they say, in a late model, dark Honda Civic with tinted windows. McIlquham's killer is either very lucky or very experienced, Larry Tronstad, a retired organized crime specialist with the RCMP, said in an interview, noting that the killer's drive out of the narrow parking lot could have been challenging, especially if someone had accidentally blocked his way. 'It's brazen, brazen,' Tronstad said. McIlquham, a father of three, had just dined with his wife and family. Police have given few details of his shooting and no explanation has been offered to explain how McIlquham's killer knew he would be at the restaurant. Certainly, no clues come from his fellow Hells Angels, who have been notably low-key in the wake of the shooting. There were no apparent threats of retaliation and relatively few words of grief on his online memorial , with a notable absence of condolence messages from the Quebec arm of the Hells Angels, considered the club's power base. There is online love from Switzerland, Denmark and the Caribbean on a memorial site — but so far nothing from any Canadian bikers. There is online love from Switzerland, Denmark and the Caribbean on a memorial site — but so far nothing from any Canadian bikers. Back when McIlquham was starting out with the Angels decades ago, the club's Quebec arm was locked in a loud and bloody war with the rival Rock Machine and then Bandidos clubs, a conflict that killed 160 people and injured another 300. The battle was over drug turf and its casualties included Daniel Desrochers, an 11-year-old boy killed by flying shrapnel. That accidental death spurred the passage of tougher anti-organized crime legislation and saw the Hells Angels designated as a criminal organization. Drugs are still an important source of revenue, but the Angels have also moved into less risky — but sometimes more profitable — enterprises like gambling and loansharking, experts say. That sometimes puts them in partnerships with traditional Mafia groups, like the 'Ndrangheta out of Calabria, Italy. 'Online gambling has been a venture for some 'Ndrangheta clans, including those in the Toronto area and that was done with (outlaw motorcycle gangs),' Mafia expert Anna Sergi said in an email. The rough reputation of Canadian Hells Angels has helped them expand their international reach in online gambling since the end of the biker wars, added author and academic Declan Hill Canadian Hells Angels. 'The Canadian chapters are spoken of with fear and renown as the most violent of all the biker groups,' Hill, an associate professor in criminal justice and investigations at the University of New Haven, said in an email interview. 'The Quebec wars created long shadows.' The internet has also greatly benefited Canadian Hells Angels in the 2000s, he said. 'It is a globalized world and organized crime got the message sooner than most corporations of how to work and move in a new world.' Before his murder, McIlquham was most notable for being charged in 2019 with being a leader in a major international, multimillion-dollar gambling and loansharking operation. That arrest came in the ill-fated Project Hobart investigation, which saw police allege a strong partnership between GTA Hells Angels and mobsters before the case fell apart over delays. For a man with a sparse legitimate resume, McIlquham had plenty of possessions. Investigators in the 2019 Project Hobart case alleged he had a series of properties in the GTA, where he kept some of his cash in secret compartments and used trap doors to hide away gold, silver and jewelry. The Crown also alleged in 2019 that he hid $11,000, a gun and a cellphone in a trap compartment in one of his vehicles. McIlquham, who once ran a cheque-cashing service, spent much of his time lately in the Caribbean, where police said the Hells Angels had a hand in at least four illegal gambling websites; at the time of his murder, Revenue Canada was seeking $2 million in back taxes from 2014 to 2018. That's a far step up from McIlquham's early days as a bodyguard for Walter (Nurget) Stadnick of Hamilton, once widely considered Canada's top Hells Angel. In September 2004, Stadnick was convicted in Montreal on a variety of organized crime offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to traffic drugs and involvement in gang activities. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, reduced to about 14 for time served. For a time in the early 2000s, GTA Hells Angels attempted to tackle the gang's rough image as a manageable public relations challenge. They offered a rare public apology in 2004 when one of their members was arrested after taking part in an attempted underworld hit at a California Sandwiches shop in North York that left bystander Louise Russo paralyzed from the waist down . Court later heard that North Toronto Hells Angel Paris Christoforou and underworld enforcer Antonio (Jelly) Borrelli were shooting at mobster Michele Modica, who was suspected of attempting to skip the country while owing $240,000 in gambling debt to an online gambling site based in Costa Rica, with Hells Angels and mob ties. While the site's web server was offshore, its muscle is in the GTA and southern Ontario through its biker and mob connections, police said. 'What makes it local is how you collect the money,' Acting Supt. Keith Finn of the RCMP said. 'You need to be able to back up the threats.' Christoforou's arrest pushed the local Hells Angels to a rare public apology, saying the club 'extends our heartfelt sympathy' to Russo and her family. (Christoforou was kicked out of the club and stripped of his gambling enterprise while he was sent to prison.) Meanwhile, the club's public relations offensive continued into fall 2004 with a billboard next to the Don Valley Parkway noting that the original members of the Hells Angels were servicemen returning from the Second World War — 'Still fighting for democracy and freedom,' it read. The public relations blitz quickly fizzled, as the bikers focused on low-risk, high-reward crimes like gambling and loansharking. Project Hobart — the investigation that nabbed McIlquham in 2019 — accused the Hells Angels of taking part in an international gambling ring with members of the GTA 'Ndrangheta. Police touted 28 arrests and the disruption of an $131-million illegal gambling network linked to the Figliomeni crime family. McIlquham's charges included possession of a restricted weapon, bookmaking and the commission of an offence for a criminal organization. Another target of Project Hobart was Niagara Hells Angel Michael (Diaz) Deabaitua-Schulde, a reputed debt collector who was murdered in broad daylight on March 11, 2019 , after leaving a Mississauga gym. In making the arrests, the OPP announced they had seized more than $12 million in assets, including sports cars, two golf carts, seven residences, nine illegal handguns, jewelry valued at approximately $300,000, $330,000 in precious metals, $1.2 million in financial accounts and about $1.7 million in cash. Gamblers were allowed credit limits as high as $20,000, but they were also expected to settle debts within a week, police said. But the complex case was eventually thrown out of court after prosecutors took too long to bring it to trial amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic didn't dry up the gambling partnerships or sever links between GTA Hells Angels and local mobsters, even though their favourite cafes, restaurants and gyms were closed and travel restrictions meant they couldn't jet off to Italy or Mexico — or even Montreal or New York — to make deals. Some GTA gamblers took advantage of the shutdown of government-run casinos during the pandemic to set up illegal luxury gambling spots of their own. That included a Markham casino on Decourcy Court near Warden Avenue and Major MacKenzie Drive that was busted in the fall of 2020. It served forbidden delicacies like braised shark fins served by waiters in tuxedos, police said. It was a 'high-end operation for high-end clientele,' Det. Sgt. Ahmad Salhia of the York Regional Police organized crime bureau said. The 53-room, cut-stone mansion was surrounded by a high, electronically-controlled metal fence and patrolled by armed guards with large German shepherd dogs. Supt. Mike Slack of York Regional Police then said illegal gambling spots had also prospered after the province shut down legal casinos over COVID-19 fears. 'It opened up an opportunity for these more extravagant locations,' Slack said. It didn't hurt police that two of the guards outside the casino were playfighting when they were supposed to be watching for police or attackers from rival gambling organizations or street gangs. After the Project Hobart case fizzled, McIlquham quietly moved to the Caribbean and closer to the club's web servers. It's not clear when he returned to Canada but, clearly, he told one person too many of his return and his dinner plans on April 29. One of the few people to give a tribute on his memorial page identified himself only as 'John HAMC Caribbean,' for John, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. 'Brother, you are going to be a great loss in this world,' John HAMC Caribbean wrote. 'We had a lot of laughter and fun. Going to miss you terribly. Strength to family and friends.'
Toronto Star
11-05-2025
- Toronto Star
‘Brazen' killing at Mandarin restaurant near Toronto shines light on Hells Angels' changing business model
Craig (Truck) McIlquham of Oakville thrived as a member of the Hells Angels as the organization moved from loud acts of public violence to quiet, online money-making. McIlquham, 55, and fellow outlaw bikers learned that there's plenty of money to be made if you're relatively low-key, skilled on the computer, and feared. McIlquham — who was also known as Craig Brown, according to Halton Regional Police — got his nickname, 'Truck,' because of his formidable size, just short of 300 pounds. He was shot to death at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, while leaving a Mandarin family-style restaurant in Burlington, about a five-minute drive from the Queen Elizabeth Way. His killing remains unsolved, but police say it was targeted. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Investigators have appealed to the public for anyone with dashcam footage of Fairview and Brant Streets between the hours of 4 and 10 p.m. on April 29. They are particularly interested, they say, in a late model, dark Honda Civic with tinted windows. McIlquham's killer is either very lucky or very experienced, Larry Tronstad, a retired organized crime specialist with the RCMP, said in an interview, noting that the killer's drive out of the narrow parking lot could have been challenging, especially if someone had accidentally blocked his way. 'It's brazen, brazen,' Tronstad said. McIlquham, a father of three, had just dined with his wife and family. Police have given few details of his shooting and no explanation has been offered to explain how McIlquham's killer knew he would be at the restaurant. Certainly, no clues come from his fellow Hells Angels, who have been notably low-key in the wake of the shooting. There were no apparent threats of retaliation and relatively few words of grief on his online memorial, with a notable absence of condolence messages from the Quebec arm of the Hells Angels, considered the club's power base. Gta Hells Angel shot dead outside Mandarin receives online tributes from abroad There is online love from Switzerland, Denmark and the Caribbean on a memorial site — but so far nothing from any Canadian bikers. Gta Hells Angel shot dead outside Mandarin receives online tributes from abroad There is online love from Switzerland, Denmark and the Caribbean on a memorial site — but so far nothing from any Canadian bikers. Back when McIlquham was starting out with the Angels decades ago, the club's Quebec arm was locked in a loud and bloody war with the rival Rock Machine and then Bandidos clubs, a conflict that killed 160 people and injured another 300. The battle was over drug turf and its casualties included Daniel Desrochers, an 11-year-old boy killed by flying shrapnel. That accidental death spurred the passage of tougher anti-organized crime legislation and saw the Hells Angels designated as a criminal organization. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Drugs are still an important source of revenue, but the Angels have also moved into less risky — but sometimes more profitable — enterprises like gambling and loansharking, experts say. That sometimes puts them in partnerships with traditional Mafia groups, like the 'Ndrangheta out of Calabria, Italy. 'Online gambling has been a venture for some 'Ndrangheta clans, including those in the Toronto area and that was done with (outlaw motorcycle gangs),' Mafia expert Anna Sergi said in an email. The rough reputation of Canadian Hells Angels has helped them expand their international reach in online gambling since the end of the biker wars, added author and academic Declan Hill Canadian Hells Angels. 'The Canadian chapters are spoken of with fear and renown as the most violent of all the biker groups,' Hill, an associate professor in criminal justice and investigations at the University of New Haven, said in an email interview. 'The Quebec wars created long shadows.' The internet has also greatly benefited Canadian Hells Angels in the 2000s, he said. 'It is a globalized world and organized crime got the message sooner than most corporations of how to work and move in a new world.' Before his murder, McIlquham was most notable for being charged in 2019 with being a leader in a major international, multimillion-dollar gambling and loansharking operation. That arrest came in the ill-fated Project Hobart investigation, which saw police allege a strong partnership between GTA Hells Angels and mobsters before the case fell apart over delays. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW For a man with a sparse legitimate resume, McIlquham had plenty of possessions. Investigators in the 2019 Project Hobart case alleged he had a series of properties in the GTA, where he kept some of his cash in secret compartments and used trap doors to hide away gold, silver and jewelry. The Crown also alleged in 2019 that he hid $11,000, a gun and a cellphone in a trap compartment in one of his vehicles. McIlquham, who once ran a cheque-cashing service, spent much of his time lately in the Caribbean, where police said the Hells Angels had a hand in at least four illegal gambling websites; at the time of his murder, Revenue Canada was seeking $2 million in back taxes from 2014 to 2018. That's a far step up from McIlquham's early days as a bodyguard for Walter (Nurget) Stadnick of Hamilton, once widely considered Canada's top Hells Angel. In September 2004, Stadnick was convicted in Montreal on a variety of organized crime offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to traffic drugs and involvement in gang activities. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, reduced to about 14 for time served. The rise of online gambling For a time in the early 2000s, GTA Hells Angels attempted to tackle the gang's rough image as a manageable public relations challenge. They offered a rare public apology in 2004 when one of their members was arrested after taking part in an attempted underworld hit at a California Sandwiches shop in North York that left bystander Louise Russo paralyzed from the waist down. Court later heard that North Toronto Hells Angel Paris Christoforou and underworld enforcer Antonio (Jelly) Borrelli were shooting at mobster Michele Modica, who was suspected of attempting to skip the country while owing $240,000 in gambling debt to an online gambling site based in Costa Rica, with Hells Angels and mob ties. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW While the site's web server was offshore, its muscle is in the GTA and southern Ontario through its biker and mob connections, police said. 'What makes it local is how you collect the money,' Acting Supt. Keith Finn of the RCMP said. 'You need to be able to back up the threats.' Christoforou's arrest pushed the local Hells Angels to a rare public apology, saying the club 'extends our heartfelt sympathy' to Russo and her family. (Christoforou was kicked out of the club and stripped of his gambling enterprise while he was sent to prison.) Meanwhile, the club's public relations offensive continued into fall 2004 with a billboard next to the Don Valley Parkway noting that the original members of the Hells Angels were servicemen returning from the Second World War — 'Still fighting for democracy and freedom,' it read. The public relations blitz quickly fizzled, as the bikers focused on low-risk, high-reward crimes like gambling and loansharking. Project Hobart — the investigation that nabbed McIlquham in 2019 — accused the Hells Angels of taking part in an international gambling ring with members of the GTA 'Ndrangheta. Police touted 28 arrests and the disruption of an $131-million illegal gambling network linked to the Figliomeni crime family. McIlquham's charges included possession of a restricted weapon, bookmaking and the commission of an offence for a criminal organization. Another target of Project Hobart was Niagara Hells Angel Michael (Diaz) Deabaitua-Schulde, a reputed debt collector who was murdered in broad daylight on March 11, 2019, after leaving a Mississauga gym. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In making the arrests, the OPP announced they had seized more than $12 million in assets, including sports cars, two golf carts, seven residences, nine illegal handguns, jewelry valued at approximately $300,000, $330,000 in precious metals, $1.2 million in financial accounts and about $1.7 million in cash. Gta Massive gambling case against GTA Hells Angels falls apart over trial delay Police announced Project Hobart in December 2019 with 28 arrests and claims of disrupting of a $131-million illegal gambling network with links to Gta Massive gambling case against GTA Hells Angels falls apart over trial delay Police announced Project Hobart in December 2019 with 28 arrests and claims of disrupting of a $131-million illegal gambling network with links to Gamblers were allowed credit limits as high as $20,000, but they were also expected to settle debts within a week, police said. But the complex case was eventually thrown out of court after prosecutors took too long to bring it to trial amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The years since Project Hobart The pandemic didn't dry up the gambling partnerships or sever links between GTA Hells Angels and local mobsters, even though their favourite cafes, restaurants and gyms were closed and travel restrictions meant they couldn't jet off to Italy or Mexico — or even Montreal or New York — to make deals. Some GTA gamblers took advantage of the shutdown of government-run casinos during the pandemic to set up illegal luxury gambling spots of their own. That included a Markham casino on Decourcy Court near Warden Avenue and Major MacKenzie Drive that was busted in the fall of 2020. It served forbidden delicacies like braised shark fins served by waiters in tuxedos, police said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW It was a 'high-end operation for high-end clientele,' Det. Sgt. Ahmad Salhia of the York Regional Police organized crime bureau said. The 53-room, cut-stone mansion was surrounded by a high, electronically-controlled metal fence and patrolled by armed guards with large German shepherd dogs. Supt. Mike Slack of York Regional Police then said illegal gambling spots had also prospered after the province shut down legal casinos over COVID-19 fears. 'It opened up an opportunity for these more extravagant locations,' Slack said. It didn't hurt police that two of the guards outside the casino were playfighting when they were supposed to be watching for police or attackers from rival gambling organizations or street gangs. After the Project Hobart case fizzled, McIlquham quietly moved to the Caribbean and closer to the club's web servers. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW It's not clear when he returned to Canada but, clearly, he told one person too many of his return and his dinner plans on April 29. One of the few people to give a tribute on his memorial page identified himself only as 'John HAMC Caribbean,' for John, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. 'Brother, you are going to be a great loss in this world,' John HAMC Caribbean wrote. 'We had a lot of laughter and fun. Going to miss you terribly. Strength to family and friends.'
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Memorial service Sunday for Hells Angels member gunned down in Burlington
Police will be watching the funeral of a full-patch Hells Angels Motorcycle Club member in Oakville on Sunday, after the 55-year-old was gunned down in a targeted hit outside a Burlington restaurant late last month. Craig (Truck) McIlquham, who police said also went by Craig Brown, was shot to death around 8:30 p.m. April 29 as he left the Mandarin restaurant on Fairview Street, near Brant Street. The shooting has all the hallmarks of a targeted hit, with the killer or killers seemingly waiting for the well-known biker to leave the restaurant where he had been dining. His death is being investigated as a homicide by Halton Regional Police. Investigators have declined several interview requests and have not answered numerous questions posed by The Spectator. Police probing deadly attack outside Mandarin restaurant; no arrests made and no suspects named Police have said they are looking for a late model, dark Honda Civic with tinted windows and black alloy rims. McIlquham, from Oakville, was well-known to police as the reputed president of the Niagara chapter of the notorious Hells Angels. His history with the Hells Angels includes connections with other clubs, including Windsor, and once acting as bodyguard for former boss Walter Stadnick of Hamilton. Most recently, McIlquham was charged in 2019 in Project Hobart, a multi-jurisdictional case targeting an international gambling ring. At the time, police described him as one of the leaders, with more than a dozen sports betting sites and an illegal gambling house in Mississauga. Police alleged the Hells Angels were working with a Mafia group in York Region. However, the charges were later dropped due to delays in court. Investigators will have to look across the GTA, into Quebec and down to the Caribbean to According to his obituary , McIlquham's visitation and memorial service is scheduled for Sunday at Glen Oaks Funeral Home on Ninth Line. 'The Halton Regional Police Service is aware of the service taking place in Oakville and remains prepared to respond to any emergencies, should they arise,' spokesperson Const. Ryan Anderson said in an email to The Spectator. There are no further updates on the ongoing investigation, he added. It is common practice for police, including the OPP-led biker enforcement unit, to closely watch funerals of high-profile figures — not just for safety, but also to gather intelligence, including documenting who shows. McIlquham's obituary describes him as a devoted and loving father of three, beloved husband, cherished son and dear brother. 'He also leaves behind a wide circle of lifelong friends and his brothers in the club,' it says. There is online love from Switzerland, Denmark and the Caribbean on a memorial site — but so far He is described as deeply loyal, and a larger-than-life presence. McIlquham had a 'true passion' for motorcycles and cars, it says. Condolence messages posted on the funeral home memorial page have poured in from across the globe.
Toronto Sun
07-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Alleged Hells Angels biker mourned after shooting in Burlington parking lot
Craig McIlquham, 55, died April 29 after he was shot outside the Mandarin restaurant Alleged Hells Angels member Craig McIlquham, 55, was fatally shot in a Burlington parking lot on April 29, 2025. (Obituary photo) An alleged high-ranking Hells Angels member who was gunned down in a Toronto-area parking lot is remembered for his dedication to his family and biker brothers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Craig McIlquham, 55, of Oakville, died in the hospital April 29 after he was shot outside the Mandarin restaurant at 1881 Fairview St. in Burlington around 8:30 p.m., Halton regional police said. McIlquham, who was known as Truck and also used the name Craig Brown, was the president of the Hells Angels Niagara chapter and a past member of the biker gang's Windsor chapter, police allege. A motorcycle enthusiast and father of three, McIlquham loved spending time at the family cottage and cracking 'corny dad jokes,' according to his obituary. 'Above all, Craig's greatest pride and purpose in life came from being a father, a husband, a son, and a brother. His family meant everything to him, and he made sure they felt that love every single day,' the obituary said. McIlquham's death drew online tributes from Hells Angels members from across the globe. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Brother Truck – You will be missed forever and always. The beautiful moments you shared with us will always speak of a great person that you were. Rest in peace my Brother!' a member from Zurich, Switzerland, wrote on a condolences page for McIlquham. A member from Randers, Denmark, wrote: 'Truck was an amazing brother and friend, he will be truly missed. I send my love and condolences to his family. Big love and respect. A visitation for McIlquham will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glen Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery, 3164 Ninth Line in Oakville, followed by a funeral at the same location. Funerals for Hells Angels members have a tradition of drawing patch-wearing members of the world's largest outlaw motorcycle gang and their various support and puppet clubs. The gatherings also draw police, including officers from local forces and the OPP-led biker enforcement unit, who monitor the events and record those in attendance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. McIlquham was one of two alleged Hells Angels members charged in December 2019 – a third was gunned down outside a Mississauga gym months earlier – as part of Operation Hobart, a two-year investigation into an alleged illegal gambling ring police contend was run by Hells Angels bikers and a Toronto crime family. Although the charges against McIlquham and the other alleged biker, Robert Barletta, were ultimately withdrawn, the Crown is still fighting to keep the nearly $40 million worth of assets seized as part of the investigation, including properties owned by McIlquham and Barletta. Barletta, 55, an alleged past member of the Niagara chapter and current member of the Montreal chapter, survived an attempt on his life on March 30, 2020, when two gunmen opened fire on him outside a Toronto home. No arrests have been made in the case. Halton police haven't made any arrests in McIlquham's death. Investigators released a photograph of a vehicle of interest – a grey, newer-model Honda Civic with dark-tinted windows and black alloy rims – and are asking anyone with information to come forward. dcarruthers@ Read More Columnists Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays Columnists
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Hells Angel shot dead outside Mandarin receives online tributes from abroad
There is online love from outlaw bikers from Switzerland, Denmark and the Caribbean — but not from Canada — on the memorial site to Oakville Hells Angel Craig (Truck) McIlquham. McIlquham, 55, also known as Craig Brown, was ambushed and shot to death around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 as he left the Mandarin family-style buffet restaurant at 1881 Fairview Street in Burlington, about a five minute-drive from the Queen Elizabeth Way. Police described the murder as targeted. Investigators are probing how McIlquham's killer knew he would be dining that evening at the restaurant. There are also security cameras outside the front entrance. McIlquham was president of the Niagara chapter of the Hells Angels, but spent much of his time recently in the Caribbean . Hells Angel, shot dead outside Mandarin restaurant, had ties to Caribbean, GTA and Quebec 'Brother you are going to be a great loss in this world,' a biker identified as 'John HAMC Caribbean' posted on McIlquham's memorial page. 'We had a lot of laughter and fun,' John wrote. 'Going to miss you terribly. Strength to family and friends.' 'HAMC' stand for 'Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.' Another tribute is posted by someone who identified himself as 'Buller81,' from Randers, Denmark. 'Truck was an amazing brother and friend, he will be truly missed,' Buller81 wrote. 'I send my love and condolences to his family. Big love and respect.' The number '81' is used by bikers to stand for 'HA,' the club's initials, as 'H' is the eighth letter of the alphabet and 'A' is the first. Most of the tributes posted online were personal, like one by a woman who described him as 'like a second dad.' 'He was always so kind and gentle towards me and took us tubing, surfing, water-skiing, whatever the day called for he provided us with that,' she wrote. 'I will never forget him taking us on all of those adventures, they were a huge part of my life. He always told me that if I ever had a problem to give him a call. He will be missed so much by all. Truly a pure soul.' 'He left behind three beautiful kids that are amazing human beings that are loved very much,' another woman wrote. 'He has taught me a lot and I will cherish every single memory I have with him and everyone I've met through him, will love you always Truck!!' 'Craig was Bestman at our wedding,' another poster wrote. 'He graciously let us use his home for the event. My aunt was adamant that she went for a ride on his bike and made him promise not to go fast, all you could hear above the bike was my aunt screaming as he took her down the country road at top speed. When they got back he was in hysterics laughing at her. He was such an amazing man, I am so sorry for your loss. Sending lots of love to you and your family.' Police appealed to the public for anyone with dashcam footage of Fairview Street and Brant Street between the hours of 4 and 10 p.m. on the night of the fatal shooting. They are particularly interested in a late model, dark Honda Civic with tinted windows and black alloy rims. McIlquham got his nickname, 'Truck,' because of his powerful build. A long-time Hells Angel, he once served as a bodyguard for former Hells Angels boss Walter (Nurget) Stadnick of Hamilton, when Stadnick was widely considered the most influential outlaw biker in Canada. Longtime Hells Angel gunned down outside Burlington Mandarin Stadnick was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was convicted in Montreal in September 2004 of a variety of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to traffic drugs and involvement in gang activities. His sentence was reduced to 14 years and seven months for pre-trial time served, and was released from prison in 2019. McIlquham was charged in 2019 by Canadian authorities during a multi-jurisdictional, wide-reaching probe into international gambling and loan sharking called Project Hobart. He was then described by police as one of the leaders of an international gambling ring, with at least 14 sports-betting websites, including five illegal offshore sites based in the Caribbean. The ring also operated an illegal gambling house in Mississauga, police said. Police said at the time the Hells Angels were working in the gambling ring with an established Mafia group from York Region. The Project Hobart charges were ultimately dropped because of court delays, blamed in part on the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Canada Revenue charged him with failing to report revenues totalling over $2,000,000 from 2014 to 2018.
