12-year sentence for Kamloops man in ‘support club’ for Kelowna chapter of Hells Angels

All three men who were charged following a five-year investigation into gang activity in Kamloops have now been sentenced to jail time.

The final sentence was handed down on Thursday, July 18, as 54-year-old Zale Coty of Kamloops received 12 years in prison as well as a 10-year firearms and weapons prohibition.

Coty, along with Shawn Carlisle of Falkland and Jacob Cavanagh of Kamloops, were arrested and charged with several offences in July 2022.

That came after a lengthy investigation between the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) and Kamloops RCMP’s Targeted Enforcement Unit (TEU).

Carlisle was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison in February 2023, while Cavanagh received a four-year prison term in December 2023.

All three men were members of the Throttle Lockers Motorcycle Club, which the CFSEU-BC called a “support club” for the Kelowna chapter of the Hells Angels.

“This investigation stopped the establishment and expansion of the Throttle Lockers Motorcycle Club in Kamloops and their influence on behalf of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club,” said Supt. Kevin O’Donnell from the CFSEU-BC.

Supt. Jeff Pelley with the Kamloops RCMP said he’s please to see closure brought to the investigation that started seven years ago, but the city once again sees itself in the midst of a drug-trafficking conflict.

“We want to assure the public that results such as this, which began as a proactive project by the Kamloops RCMP TEU, remain a priority for our detachment as they directly impact public safety,” Pelley noted.

“With the continued support of our partners such as the CFSEU-BC, our officers will remain steadfast in the interruption and suppression of violence caused by drug traffickers, and work tirelessly to hold those responsible to account.”