Heavy sentences for 2 actors in the conflict between criminalized groups

Two criminals admitted Friday their responsibility in several violent episodes of the drug war. Kevin Bédard-Morin and Vince Bergeron both received long penitentiary sentences for their crimes.

• Also read: Three suspects arrested in Beauce: arrested while going to commit a murder?

The two offenders were arrested together on December 6, 2023 after the car driven by Bergeron was chased by the police.

According to information from the Bureau of Investigation, the two men and accomplices were arrested at this time because authorities feared that they were traveling to Beauce to commit a violent crime, possibly murder. According to police sources surveyed during the investigation, Bergeron and Bédard-Morin could have acted on behalf of Dave ''Pic'' Turmel, head of the Blood Family Mafia.

At the end of a short chase, the vehicle swerved onto Route 173. A handgun was then found in the back seat.

Vince Bergeron pleaded guilty Friday to dangerous driving for pursuit and swerving, while Bédard-Morin admitted possession of the firearm.

Shootings on the highway

Bergeron was under surveillance at the time because police suspected him of being involved in a shooting that occurred in broad daylight on Highway 40 in Quebec, a month earlier.

The 27-year-old admitted that he was the one who held the weapon which was used to pierce four bullets into the car of two individuals to whom the group “wanted to send a message”. One of the 9 mm pistol projectiles also hit one of the victims in the leg.

In this case, Vince Bergeron was sentenced to seven and a half years in penitentiary on Friday.

Bullet in the leg

For his part, Bédard-Morin was sentenced to nine years in detention for his role in an assault and theft that occurred in November 2023, in Beauce. Accompanied by an accomplice, the 30-year-old man went to his victim's house, beat her and stole drugs, jewelry and a laptop.

At gunpoint, he then took the victim to another person's house and threatened her, saying that “it was over for [elle]».

The offender returned to the scene the next day and when an altercation broke out, he fired a shot straight into his victim's leg.

Crimes filmed

And as if that were not enough, the analysis of the defendants' phones seized during their arrest made it possible to elucidate two other violent events, which occurred in the preceding weeks.

Videos found in the devices showed Bergeron and Bédard-Morin inflicting assault on two individuals, during two separate events. In one of the videos, the victim appears tied with electrical wires and is violently beaten.

In these two cases, the victims refused to cooperate, but the images seized from the accused's phones allowed the charges to be filed.

All of these events are linked to organized crime, according to the authorities. Given the pre-trial detention, the first will have seven and a half years to serve, then a little less than six years for the second.