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Paul P. Rasmussen, 25, pleaded guilty Monday to instructing commission of an offence for a criminal organization, trafficking, criminal conspiracy and possessing proceeds of crime.Saskatoon police laid charges in August 2006 after a nine-month investigation that began after they learned the gang was establishing itself as a major seller of crack cocaine in Saskatchewan, Crown prosecutor Byron Wright said in Saskatoon provincial court.Rasmussen directed local activities of the sophisticated organization, which sold crack 24 hours per day, seven days a week using street-level sellers who worked in shifts, used cellphones and cars to take orders and make deliveries and stashed the drugs in public places, Wright said."They were trying to break their way into the Saskatoon market. They were a very busy group and they were certainly well-organized, with established practices and an established hierarchy," Wright said in an interview."In Edmonton they're causing a lot of trouble," Wright said, noting gang members there have been involved in drug trafficking and violent offences.Another person facing charges is Justin Howard, 25, of Edmonton, Rasmussen's alleged superior in the organization. Howard awaits trial in Edmonton on charges of instructing commission of an offence for a criminal organization, participating in activities of a criminal organization and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.Clinton Main, 25, who is alleged to have directed others, along with Rasmussen, will return to court Sept. 17. Main is also charged with criminal conspiracy, trafficking and possessing proceeds of crime.Daniel Aube, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to committing an offence for a criminal organization, conspiracy and trafficking. He will be sentenced on Nov. 17.Judge Marilyn Gray issued a warrant for the arrest of Curtis McCalla, 20, who failed to show up for court Monday. He is charged with committing an offence for a criminal organization, conspiracy, trafficking, possessing proceeds of crime and breaching court orders.Two other men, Jason Peterson, 21, and Dale Kaye, 23, previously pleaded guilty to trafficking, conspiracy and acting for a criminal organization. They will also be sentenced on Nov. 17.Rocky Domingo, 22, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and trafficking, will also be sentenced on Nov. 17.Charges against a woman who was arrested after the 2006 bust were stayed after she co-operated with police, Wright said.Police initially contacted the group by calling a cellphone with the number 880-DEAL, Wright told the court.RCMP and city police investigators eventually obtained a warrant to tap telephone lines, which resulted in their intercepting more than 20,000 conversations over 60 days. About 2,100 of those calls pertained to 600 drug transactions.Crack was being sold in half-gram, one-gram and "eight ball" or 3.5-gram quantities. One gram sold for about $100, Wright said. He estimated the group had revenues of at least $60,000 in that two-month period.
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