Two men charged for targeted attacks linked to Justice Institute of B.C.

One has alleged connections with the United Nations gang

BY GEMMA KARSTENS-SMITH, THE CANADIAN PRESS SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Two men have been arrested and charged for attacks on more than a dozen people linked, sometimes in the most tenuous way, to the institute that trains British Columbia's police officers and first responders.

SURREY — A mysterious reign of terror targeting 15 people who seemingly had no connection has resulted in arson and firearms charges against two men including an alleged gang associate, police say.

The pieces of a complex four-year investigation began to come together when random victims were linked to the British Columbia Justice Institute, which trains police officers and first responders.

Chief Supt. Kevin Hackett of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said some of the victims parked their vehicles at the institute’s parking lot to take their children to a function next door.

“Although the intent was to target people who were likely associated with law enforcement and the justice institute, other people who weren’t connected in any way to the (institute) were being targeted,” Hackett told a news conference Monday.

The justice institute received a threatening email in January 2011 referencing nine people, and eight of them had been targeted, police said.

Hacket said the victims lived across the Lower Mainland and their homes and vehicles were set aflame or shot at in 23 attacks between April 2011 and January 2012.

Police believe an Insurance Corp. of B.C. employee used the victims’ licence plate numbers to access their personal information.

Between December 2014 and January 2015, several victims received suspicious letters, one of which warned attacks would resume in the new year, Hackett said.

He said investigators reconnected with all the victims to ensure their safety while trying to solve the mystery of why someone would target them.

Hackett declined to provide details of a possible motive, saying they would emerge in court.

“This investigation was complicated and made even more challenging by the efforts of the accused to disguise their attempts through cunning and calculated misdirection,” he said.

Vincent Cheung, 40, of Langley allegedly orchestrated the attacks and is an associate of the United Nations gang, Hackett said.

Cheung faces 23 firearms and arson charges, while 54-year-old Thurman Taffe of Burnaby is accused of a single count of arson.

Both men were arrested Friday in Burnaby and appeared in a Vancouver court Monday. They are being held in custody until their next court date on Oct. 1.

“We know there are still people who have additional information about these offences and this investigation is continuing with further arrests and charges anticipated,” Hackett said.

The RCMP’s Lower Mainland Chief Supt. Jodie Boudreau said police from various jurisdictions joined forces to move the investigation forward and culminate in arrests.

“Ongoing intelligence work, information sharing and the expertise of investigators were instrumental in helping us figure out how the pieces fit together and how they contributed to the whole picture,” she said.

Boudreau said police are grateful for the victims’ patience.

“Many unfortunately were at home during the arsons of their residences and vehicles or when their homes and vehicle were shot at and I imagine many of the victims are still feeling the emotional impact of the crimes today, regardless of this outcome.”