Jayme Russell alleged leader of the local chapter of the Independent Soldiers is expected to return to a Kamloops courtroom

alleged leader of the local chapter of the Independent Soldiers is expected to return to a Kamloops courtroom today to be sentenced after he was convicted earlier this year of drug trafficking.Jayme Russell’s sentencing comes days after another high-ranking Independent Soldier — Kelowna resident Donald Lyons — was handed more than eight years in prison for his part in another drug-trafficking ring.On Jan. 20, a judge found Russell, 27, guilty of conspiring to sell a kilogram of cocaine to a pair of undercover Mounties in 2007.At trial, the man Kamloops RCMP have called the leader of the local cell of the Independent Soldiers said he had no idea where to get drugs, and was joking when he agreed to sell a kilogram for $35,000.B.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Powers called Russell’s story “simply incredible” and refused to accept his evidence.Lyons, 36, pleaded guilty in Winnipeg Friday to trafficking cocaine to undercover cops in a separate investigation, and was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison.
Lawyers there have said the Independent Soldiers are connected with the Hells Angels in B.C., citing wire-tapped phone calls in which a high-ranking Hells Angels member in Kelowna said the two gangs “look after” each other.Lester Jones, the vice-president of the Kelowna Hells Angels chapter, was close friends with Lyons, and was sentenced last summer to 10 years in jail for his part in the dope-dealing scheme.
Russell had been free on bail since last spring, when attempted murder charges against him were stayed after witnesses refused to testify against him and he was released from custody.However, he was arrested March 10 at the conclusion of another undercover RCMP investigation and is now facing four new charges — three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and a lone possession for the purpose of trafficking charge.At a press conference the following day, Kamloops Mounties said they seized three kilograms of cocaine, a loaded handgun, body armour, three vehicles and thousands of dollars in cash in connection with the sting.Russell is not expected to seek bail.

Don Bryce Lyons, 36, pleaded guilty yesterday to one charge of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Don Bryce Lyons, 36, pleaded guilty yesterday to one charge of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. He was among 18 drug dealers and Hells Angels associates arrested in late 2007 after a year-long undercover police investigation targeting organized crime, dubbed Project Drill. Lyons, a resident of Kelowna, came to the attention of Manitoba investigators through his association with Project Drill target Lester Jones, then vice-president of the Kelowna Hells Angels. Court heard Jones was a longtime friend of Scott Robertson, a career criminal who was paid more than $600,000 to buy drugs from Project Drill suspects while police recorded the proceedings.
Lyons belonged to a gang of drug dealers who called themselves the Independent Soldiers, said Crown attorney Chris Mainella. He was also Jones' primary source for drugs. Robertson purchased several kilograms of cocaine through Jones before arranging a drug buy with Lyons in a Kelowna hotel room. Police video cameras captured Lyons exchanging 1 kg of cocaine for $26,000. Police arrested Lyons in December 2007 and executed search warrants at two luxurious rental homes in Kelowna and Vancouver. Despite having a declared income that year of just $354, Lyons was living a life of lavish extravagance, Mainella said. The Kelowna home he shared with his common-law wife and young son cost $3,500 a month to rent, which he paid in cash. The couple drove luxury automobiles -- Lyons a 2007 Cadillac Escalade, his wife a 2006 BMW XS. Their fleet of vehicles also included three motorcycles and a new pickup truck. Police seized an arsenal of weapons from the homes, including 19 guns, two Tasers, several silencers and a grenade. Police also seized six handguns from hidden compartments inside the Escalade. Lyons had never set foot in Manitoba prior to his arrest, Mainella said. A stiff sentence was necessary to send the message "that this is not a friendly place for drug-dealing," Mainella said. As part of his sentence, Lyons agreed to forfeit $75,000 in property and paid a $26,000 fine. Justice John Scurfield gave Lyons double credit of 30 months for time served, reducing his remaining sentence to six years.