Two Red Deer men are facing charges connecting them with organized crime after a series of raids at residences within the city on Thursday.
Six people were arrested, but only two were charged and the rest were released after raids on three Red Deer homes. Warrants for searching the three homes were sought after a three-month investigation by Red Deer City RCMP.
Jordan Michael Hoelscher, 30, and Croft Monroe-Bowes, 33, made their first court appearances in Red Deer provincial court on Friday on a variety of charges arising from the investigation.
Hoelscher, who is to stand trial in January on older charges, remains in custody on the following three charges — trafficking drugs for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization; conspiracy to supply drugs for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization; and breaching conditions of his bail.
Hoelscher will be held in custody pending his next court appearance, when Crown prosecutor David Inglis said he will oppose his release and ask that his bail be revoked. He is due back in court on Jan. 3.
Monroe-Bowes faces the same two gang-related charges as Hoelscher, plus three other charges: one count of possession of illegal drugs and two counts of unauthorized possession of firearms in relation to a .22-calibre rifle and a .303-calibre rifle seized during the searches.
Monroe-Bowes was granted release on strict conditions, including $5,000 bail with no cash deposit, a curfew, and a prohibition from possessing or using a cellphone, pager or other means of electronic communication.
He is to return to court on Jan. 30 to enter a plea.