What’s believed to be one of the province’s biggest proceeds of crime and money laundering investigations has wrapped up with additional money laundering charges laid against two people.
Project Bustle, a major three-year investigation into drug and organized crime activity in the province was launched in February of 2021. Four homes – located in St. John’s, Gander, Appleton and Humber Valley, as well as a commercial storage unit in Corner Brook were searched by police late last year, resulting in charges of trafficking in cocaine against five people.
They include 52-year-old Sean Gibbons of Steady Brook, 25-year-old Patrick Hickey of Corner Brook, 43-year-old Stephen Kelly of Gander, 33-year-old Clifford Mugford of Appleton and 33-year-old Kathleen Pelley of Gander.
Staff Sergeant Dave Emberly provided the latest update this afternoon after a search was conducted of a storage facility in Gander this week resulting in the seizure of a range of property and drugs.
That included 8 kilograms of cocaine, more than $173,000 in cash, illicit cannabis and contraband tobacco as well as a Range Rover SUV, an Acura SUV, and a 2013 Yamaha twin engine boat, boat trailer as well as an undisclosed amount of gold bars and coins, along with high-end jewelry and encrypted cell phones.
Stephen Kelly is now facing additional charges of money laundering and four counts of possession of the proceeds of crime, while Kathleen Pelley is also facing charges of money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. They are expected to appear in court in early July.
The following items were seized during the investigation:
• approximately eight kilograms of cocaine
• more than $173,000.00 cash
• 1.7 kilograms of illicit cannabis
• a quantity of contraband tobacco
• drug paraphernalia and items consistent with drug trafficking
• a Range Rover SUV
• an Acura SUV
• a 2013 Yamaha SX 210 twin-engine boat
• a 2013 Shore Lander boat trailer
• a quantity of gold coins
• a quantity of gold bars
• high-end jewellery
• encrypted cellular phones
List of charges:
Stephen Kelly, age 43, of Gander
• Money Laundering
• Possession of the Proceeds of Crime (five counts)
• Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
• Trafficking Cocaine – five counts
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine – three counts
Kathleen Pelley, age 33, of Gander
• Money Laundering
• Possession of the Proceeds of Crime
• Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine
• Trafficking Cocaine
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Clifford Mugford, age 33, of Appleton
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Sean Gibbons, age 52, of Steady Brook
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Patrick Hickey, age 25, of Corner Brook
• Trafficking Cocaine
