Michael Sandham portrayed himself as the guy in charge and the Bandido biker with the plan to save the organization in Canada.

A month after eight men connected to the Toronto chapter of the gang were found shot to death in Elgin County on April 8, 2006, Sandham was busy dissing a remaining Toronto Bandido, recruiting more members for the Winnipeg chapter and schmoozing with the American superiors to boost his status within the organization.

He used e-mail addresses with aliases, switching back and forth in a trail shown to the jury yesterday at the first-degree murder trial of six men, including Sandham.

Everything began to crumble in early June 2006 after Sandham went to Texas to visit Bandido leaders. They discovered Sandham, known as Bandido Taz, was an ex-police officer.

"Taz was here in Houston last week. Within 10 hours of meeting him, the OPP and Biker Enforcement Unit from Canada was at my door," wrote "Bandido Jeff" in a stern

e-mail ordering the suspension of all Bandido membership in Canada.

"As it turns out, Taz is or was a police officer in Winnipeg. When asked about it, he said 'Everybody in Toronto knew about it and didn't have a problem with it.' WE DO NOT HAVE OR NEVER WILL HAVE COPS OR EX-COPS IN OUR CLUB!!!"

Through the testimony of OPP Det. Sgt. Bernard Miedema, a computer forensics expert, the jury was shown the correspondence that hinted at the ultimate downfall of the Canadian biker gang.

The e-mails show Sandham was recruiting to the Winnipeg chapter, collecting money and charting a new Bandido club course in May 2006.

Meanwhile in Toronto, a Bandido known as Carlito, identified to the jury as Pierre Aragon, was trying to salvage what was left of the No Surrender Crew -- the name given to the Toronto chapter -- and find more members.

And both Sandham and Aragon were trying to denigrate the other in the eyes of their American superiors.

All appeared to be bewildering to the Americans, who seemed at a loss as to why two members of their brotherhood were at each other's throats.

Carlton Bare, known as Bandido Pervert in Texas, was told Aragon and others who had been in the Toronto chapter never owned motorcycles and did not ride, a direct violation of the group's bylaws.

The trial continues Tuesday.

Jane Sims is the Free Press justice reporter.