‘Wingspan’ of gangster’s criminal ties land him back in prison
As soon as Jeffrey Colegrove landed back in prison, influential inmates started doing stuff for him, including cooking and cleaning.
The parole board has revoked the 57-year-old Montreal gangster’s statutory release. Charged in 2019 for managing a distribution network from his Quebec prison cell that moved cocaine, cannabis and fentanyl destined for Nova Scotia, Colegrove is back behind bars after he was caught with a second cellphone that looked like it had been buried in the ground.
He was arrested as part of what police dubbed Operation Hackberry. But drug trafficking charges filed here against Colegrove were dropped in the spring of 2022 because some of his telephone calls from the Donnacona Institution, a maximum-security prison near Quebec City, were recorded illegally.
He’s still doing time due to his previous criminal exploits.
West End Gang
A judge sentenced Colegrove in January of 2017 to nine years and nearly eight months for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Colegrove is part of Montreal’s West End Gang, which the parole board identifies as Irish organized crime.
“However, according to information on file, you have taken steps to disaffiliate yourself,” said the parole board.
When police arrested Colegrove in February 2015 for being unlawfully at large they seized items that revealed he was “involved in a sophisticated criminal operation ranging from false identifications to equipment to follow police frequencies and to thwart surveillance,” said his parole decision.
“Police found money and a large quantity of illicit drugs (cocaine, cannabis, hashish, methamphetamine pills). You were also charged for the possession of three firearms, but you were eventually acquitted.”
‘Career criminal’
Colegrove was using a home “in a quiet residential area” to move drugs and had developed into “a career criminal with a specialty in narcotic trafficking,” said the parole board.
Between 1985 and 1988, Colegrove “accumulated several convictions for non-violent acquisitive offences, namely, mischief and obstruction of police officers,” said his parole decision.
“Then, convictions of a more violent nature were recorded, such as assaults, reckless use of a firearm, assault with intent to resist arrest, assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats, in addition to a multitude of convictions for offences linked to narcotic trafficking.”
While he wasn’t always found guilty, Colegrove was “arrested several times in contexts where weapons were found and (his) lack of cooperation with the police was noted. In short, (his) record is long, varied and contains no crime-free periods, other than while incarcerated.”
Multiple disappearances
Colegrove escaped from a minimum-security penitentiary in March of 2003, “and was only found six years later, in June 2009,” said the parole board.
“Moreover, (he) went unlawfully at large two other times, namely from May 2012 to January 2014 (626 days) and from October 2014 to February 2015 (144 days).”
Colegrove has demonstrated “difficulties in complying with … conditions imposed by the court.”
“According to your caseworkers, your current suspension follows the same pattern, as you were unable to comply with your special conditions.”
‘Dominant figure’
Brought up in a criminal environment where he reported having to steal food to feed his family, Colegrove has “spent most” of his life engaged in criminal activities to meet his financial needs, “but also for the adrenaline rush and the prestige that comes with drug trafficking,” said the parole board, which notes he was “considered a dominant figure in the drug trade between Canada and the United States.”
Colegrove’s case workers noted he used to have a drinking problem, which they believe could make him aggressive.
“According to them, alcohol disinhibits you, which increases your potential for violence.”
Colegrove got out of prison on statutory release – the law requires federal offenders who have served two-thirds of a fixed-length sentence be released from prison under supervision – June 21, with special conditions, including that he live in what’s dubbed a community correctional centre, a federally operated community-based residential facility that provides a structured living environment with 24-hour supervision.
“In the most recent correctional plan update (January 2023), the main contributing factors related to your criminality are identified by your case management team as attitude and associates, which require high need for intervention.”
‘Impromptu visit’
Colegrove’s statutory release was suspended after he was paid “an impromptu visit at a park” on July 13, said the parole board, which revoked it entirely on Dec. 22.
“You were asked to hand over your cell phone so that your caseworkers could confirm that you were complying with your telecommunication special condition. Upon verifying your cell phone, they discovered that you had the ‘Telegram’ application installed. When questioned regarding how you used it, you stated that you did not use it to send encrypted messages, but rather to watch news about the war in Russia.”
When his handlers delved further into Colegrove’s phone, they noticed he’d been searching for news articles containing his own name and that of a man he claims to be a threat to his safety.
Colegrove told his handlers he’s been trying to figure out if the man – whose name is redacted from parole documents – was still behind bars.
‘Raised concerns’
He also couldn’t explain an open conversation he’d had on his phone with an unnamed figure, who refused to identify themselves when one of Colegrove’s caseworkers called them, “which raised concerns,” said the parole board.
“As per their observations, you looked anxious during the meeting, constantly looking at the bag on your chest. When asked what was in the bag, you opened it and showed its contents. A second cell phone was inside, wrapped in three ‘Ziploc’ bags with soil and leaf residue on top, suggesting that it had been previously buried in the ground. You first explained that it was an old cell phone and that your caseworkers knew about it, which was immediately refuted. You refused to unlock the device despite being reminded of your special condition regarding telecommunications, namely, not to own more than one cell phone and to have the device unlocked. The cell phone had a SIM card and appeared to be active, as notifications appeared during the impromptu visit.”
At his post-suspension interview, Colegrove had nothing to say, other than that he still hoped to go live at his cottage rather than the community correctional centre. No halfway house in the country would take him.
“When questioned regarding your second cell phone, you justified your breach of condition by the fact that (Correctional Service of Canada) denied your permission to go to meet with your lawyer. As a result, you got a second phone so you could talk to him in private. In addition, you mentioned that the security measures put in place by CSC were disproportionate.”
‘Designed’ to fail
Colegrove complained that his jailers had prevented him from meeting with his lawyer, seeing his family and having a follow-up with a neurosurgeon. He told the parole board his release plan was “designed” for him to fail and land him back in prison.
Colegrove said the unidentified man in his contacts is one of his wife’s friends, who he goes fishing with.
“You reiterated that no one in your cell phone contact is known to have a criminal record or was criminally active. You also denied that this person could be connected to any security threat groups.”
The Correctional Service of Canada later identified the phone number as “still active and known to belong to (a person) related to the traditional Irish organised crime, in relation with the Colombian clan,” said his parole decision.
“This indicates to your (case management team) that you are still maintaining questionable associates, which is of concern, considering the nature of your criminality.”
‘Saw no problem’
Colegrove admitted that he had only contacted the man, whom he’d met in prison, to offer his regards. He “saw no problem in maintaining ties with this person.”
Colegrove was caught again with a cell phone on Sept. 16, when he was back behind bars.
“It was also observed that soon after your return to incarceration, influent inmates were already doing things for you, such as cooking and cleaning, which demonstrates your important standing,” said the parole board.
“You are otherwise polite and respectful of staff.”
A security intelligence report produced June 20 indicates the man Colegrove fears is “an individual linked to Irish organised crime,” said the parole board.
Travel risks
Colegrove asked for permission to travel to a location redacted from his parole decision, but the risk was deemed too high, said the parole board.
“At the hearing, you indicated that (not being allowed to travel) would not prevent anyone from the organised crime (group from killing) you if they really wanted to, as anybody could find you.”
The parole board didn’t buy it.
“You breached your special conditions regarding telecommunication and lacked transparency. You also appear to maintain contact with individuals connected to criminality.”
A Dec. 18 support letter from a lawyer indicating Colegrove was denied the authorization to travel to meet with him doesn’t seem to have helped his case.
‘Illegally intercepted’
“He also submits that your telephone communications were previously illegally intercepted by the (Correctional Service of Canada) and therefore, both yourself and himself wanted to ensure your conversations would remain confidential.”
The parole board revoked Colegrove’s statutory release believing he presents “an undue risk to society.”
“To come to this conclusion, the board does not lose sight of the persistent nature of your criminality, your involvement at a high level in the drug trade, and your previous difficulties in the community to respect your release conditions, by going unlawfully at large on several occasions and reoffending in that context.”
It didn’t note any progress since Colegrove was released from prison June 21, “considering you were out for less than three weeks before your suspension.”
Criminal ‘ties’
Refusing to unlock the phone he’d hidden from his caseworkers increases Colegrove’s risk level significantly, said the parole board.
“While you claim this cell phone was only obtained in order to communicate privately with your lawyer, this could not be verified, and raises serious concerns for the board, considering your ties to the criminal world and the wingspan of your criminality.”
The Telegram app on Colegrove’s phone – known to be used for encrypting messages – “also raises concerns about your transparency level, as it prevents the verification of your messages in accordance with your special condition” to not contact known criminals.