Mike on Crime

By Mike McIntyre
Winnipeg Free Press

He was a trusted associate of the Hells Angels, tasked with overseeing their puppet club’s substantial profits.

But the lure of even greener pastures was enough to convince Zig Zag gang member Michael Satsatin to turn his back on the gang and accept a dangerous job as a secret police snitch.

Court documents obtained by the Free Press on Friday reveal Satsatin as the mysterious “Agent 22” — the key figure in a 13-month undercover sting operation that resulted in 34 arrests this week.

Satsatin, 34, was paid $450,000 plus expenses for his work in Project DIVIDE, which police say was one of the biggest of its kind in Manitoba history.

“The agent was a full-patch member of the Zig Zag Crew, who purchased controlled substances and firearms from the targets of Project DIVIDE and was suited with a recording device during regular Zig Zag Crew meetings, using his position inside that organized crime group to facilitate the investigation,” police wrote in an affidavit filed in court.

Satsatin’s involvement in the case is now known by all the accused and his name is on the public record and not protected by any court orders. He is now in witness protection and has been relocated under a new identity. The Free Press is not publishing any photos of Satsatin.

Police don’t disclose exactly how they secured Satsatin’s services for Project DIVIDE, but say he went through an “appraisal” process before being accepted. Satsatin was given a “cover story” that included him pretending to sell drugs to students at the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg.

Satsatin has been an associate of the Zig Zag Crew since 2000, according to the court documents. The Zig Zag serve as a “farm team” to the Hells Angels, supplying them with future prospects and doing a lot of their dirty work. Police say every Zig Zag member is required to pay $1,000 each month to the Hells Angels, plus an additional $150 a month towards their monthly debt to the gang.

Satsatin became a full-patch Zig Zag Crew member in February 2007 after being “sanctioned” by Hells Angels member Sean Wolfe, who ended up being one of the prime targets of the police sting operation. Satsatin served as secretary-treasurer of the Zig Zag Crew throughout the investigation and allowed police incredible access to the inner workings of the gang.

He wore a wiretap during 37 official gang meetings in which various topics were discussed, including ongoing feuds with the Manitoba Warriors street gang, possible expansion of the Zig Zag Crew to British Columbia and even speculation on which members could be working as police informants.

Police also had a technical front-row seat as membership dues were collected, debts were paid and drug and weapons deals were arranged and later captured on audio and video surveillance devices. Satsatin was involved in about 36 monitored transactions during the operation for drugs including cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana, according to court documents.

Police also learned of a new Hells Angels policy, implemented in late 2008, to try beefing up their depleted ranks. Two prior sting operations in 2006 and 2007 had left the Manitoba Hells Angels dangerously close to the minimum six members required to maintain chapter status.

“As a result of them wanting individuals to successfully work their way to full membership, the Manitoba Hells Angels have changed the responsibilities of their prospects,” police wrote in their affidavit.

“The current prospects are now living a cleaner lifestyle to avoid prosecution. They now are only responsible for ‘bitch work’ such as mowing the grass at the clubhouse or carrying groceries. Prospect members are not being called upon for committing ‘dirty’ criminal activities, as this is what the Zig Zag Crew is for.”

Police also learned about the paranoia that runs rampant within the Hells Angels and Zig Zag Crew and requires them to always have members stationed outside of meetings on the lookout for police. Police also videotaped members and associates using various hand signals to communicate words like gun, cocaine and ecstasy.

Satsatin had no previous criminal record at the time he began working for the police operation in November 2008, according to court documents. However, he openly admitted to police he regularly sold drugs as part of his gang involvement.