Maurice Boucher, former boss of the Hells Angels of Quebec, died at 69

Former Hells Angels boss Maurice « Mom » Boucher, considered one of the most infamous criminals in Quebec history, has died.

Boucher suffered from generalized throat cancer while serving a life sentence at the Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines penitentiary north of Montreal. He was in medical care at the time of his death. He was 69 years old.

Boucher was one of Quebec’s most notorious criminals. After joining the Angels in the late 80s, he co-founded a local chapter in the 90s and grew to control a multi-million dollar drug empire.

On May 6, 2002, he was imprisoned for having ordered the assassination of two Quebec prison guards in 1997, Pierre Rondeau and Diane Lavigne.

While in prison, he also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to kill rival mob figure Raynald Desjardins, who himself was jailed after being convicted of conspiring to murder mob boss Salvatore Montagna in 2011.

At the time of his death, he had been convicted of two counts of first degree murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault with a weapon and carrying a weapon with a dangerous purpose.

« My first thought when I learned of Boucher’s death today went to the prison guards, » said Guy Ouellette, a former provincial police officer who over his three-decade career worked to catch members of the Angels, including Boucher.

« We talk about Boucher, (but) we must never forget these two prison guards who were innocent victims of this biker war. »

A photograph of Maurice Mom Boucher’s vest was filed in evidence on Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at the Quebec biker’s trial. Boucher, leader of the Hells Angels in Quebec, faces two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder for allegedly ordering the deaths of two prison guards in 1997. (CP PHOTO)

This « biker war » began in 1994 and lasted eight years as the Hells Angels battled for distribution territory against rival band Rock Machine. It is considered one of the most violent gang conflicts in Quebec history.

“Boucher wanted to control the drug market in certain neighborhoods in Montreal,” said Ouellette, who is now the MP for Chomedey, Quebec.

He added that Boucher’s death is just « one more page » in the legacy of the biker war.

« I’m just sorry for the victims. »

READ MORE: Remembering Daniel Desrochers, Boy Killed During Quebec Biker War

While in prison, reports surfaced suggesting Boucher was stabbed in a 2010 fight involving four people, two of whom were stabbed.

In 2002, the year of his arrest, Boucher survived a makeshift knife attack after other inmates came to his defense and killed his attacker.

« Why? We were never sure of the perpetrator’s intentions, » said crime reporter Daniel Renaud, who wrote about Boucher’s time in prison for La Presse.

It’s possible, he said, his attackers were « seeking to prove their worth ».

The coroner will investigate the death of Maurice Boucher, and « as is always the case with the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service of Canada will review the circumstances of the incident, » CSC said in a statement.