Yves Buteau

Yves Buteau (also known as, Yves "le Boss" Buteau) (1951–1983) was known for being a part of motorcycle gangs such as the Hells Angels in Canada, and was murdered by a drug dealer with ties to a rival gang. He began his life of organized crime as a member of the Montreal-based motorcycle gang called, the Popeyes Motorcycle Club. By the mid-1970s, he became president. Buteau would soon play a significant role in establishing the Angels as a major criminal force in Quebec.

History

On August 14, 1976, at the age of 25, Buteau was among the many arrested at a Hotel in St-Andre-Avellin when almost fifty Popeyes entered and trashed the place.

While president of the Popeyes, Buteau was personally courted by Sonny Barger to persuade his fellow Popeye members to join the Angels. The Popeyes, Montreal's strongest biker club, become Canada's first Hells Angels chapter on December 5, 1977. Hells Angels legend, Barger, awards Buteau his colors and respects him so much that he is the only Canadian authorized to use the title of "Hells Angels International".

Buteau changed the chapter from a group of beer drinking brawlers to an organized criminal empire. He aspired to have his members to appear clean-shaven, keep lower profiles, and avoid hassles. In the Spring of 1982, at a meeting of Quebec Hells Angels, he demanded group members quit the use of cocaine but the ban didn’t work.

September 8, 1983, Yves Buteau was shot and killed while he was the Hells Angels Canadian National President. The shooter was a 22-year-old drug dealer named Gino Goudreau. Also shot and killed was Guy Gilbert. Goudreau had ties to a rival biker club. His brother was a member of the Quebec Outlaws. After the shooting, Goudreau went into hiding but was arrested a few months later. He was charged with two counts of second degree murder but was acquitted after claiming self-defense due to situations leading up to the event. He claims Buteau had threatened him on many occasions and in this situation they had both pulled guns but Goudreau beat Buteau to the draw.

A day after Buteau’s funeral, a young boy discovered a bomb on the route where the funeral procession had past (made of many bikers). Police theorized that it was placed and camouflaged the night before the funeral. Buteau was replaced by Michel (Sky) Langlois.

References

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