Red Deer man's trial set for January 2027 in $1M auto theft, re-vinning case
Quinn Richard Olson faces attempted murder and firearms charges tied to a sprawling auto theft ring that ALERT says exported stolen vehicles overseas.
Why it matters
The case highlights how organized vehicle theft rings can operate across provincial jurisdictions and export stolen cars internationally, affecting insurance costs and public safety.
A trial date has been set for Quinn Richard Olson, 50, of Red Deer, one of six people charged following a year-long investigation into an alleged organized auto theft and re-vinning operation based near Evansburg in Parkland County. Olson will stand trial in Calgary Court of King's Bench from Jan. 4-15, 2027, facing charges of attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent, and causing bodily harm by criminal negligence, after a March 2026 preliminary hearing found sufficient evidence to proceed.
Co-accused Joseph Chlala, 25, of Calgary, is scheduled for a jury trial in Edmonton Court of King's Bench on Feb. 1, 2027. Chlala had been wanted for murder since September 2023, and police say the case originated when a stolen vehicle linked to an Edmonton homicide investigation was traced to the rural Parkland County property.
Two other co-accused have already been sentenced. Michael Edward Labar received a two-year conditional sentence and 18 months probation in April 2026 after pleading to trafficking in property obtained by crime, while Sherry Mackenzie, 69, received a 12-month conditional sentence in September 2025 for laundering proceeds of crime. Charges against Cherie Baptiste were withdrawn, and a warrant remains outstanding for Zarina Mir-Wais.
ALERT's Auto Crimes unit says the operation, disguised as an auto detailing business, was used to re-VIN and reprogram stolen vehicles for resale and export, with some vehicles suspected of being shipped to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Investigators identified 20 stolen vehicles and one stolen trailer, recovering 11 vehicles worth roughly $1 million.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.