According to the federal indictment, Cochran and others
employed by or associated with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, between January of
1988 through at least May of 2001 committed “murder, attempted murder, conspiracy
to commit murder, arson, attempted arson, conspiracy to commit arson,
extortion, attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion and narcotics
trafficking in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin — with the
defendants agreeing that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of
racketeering.
During this time period, the indictment says Cochran was a
member or president of the Chicago Southside Chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle
Club — part of the “Midwestern White Region” of the international organization.
The indictment says the Outlaws had a longstanding rivalry
with the Hell’s Angels biker club and their affiliates, and until around 1993,
the Outlaws controlled the Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana territory — with the
closest Hell’s Angels chapter located in Minneapolis. In late 1993 or early
1994, leaders of the Outlaws believed the Hell’s Angels might be trying to gain
a presence in the Outlaw’s “White Region” territory by “patching over” one of
their affiliates that was present in Chicago, Rockford, Calumet City, Ill. and
South Bend, Ind.
Outlaws members agreed “they would engage in a series of
assaults” against the “Hell’s Henchmen” and other affiliates to discourage them
from becoming Hell’s Angels chapters, and to prevent the Hell’s Angels from
infiltrating their territory. They also agreed they would support other Outlaws
chapters dealing with similar rivalries — considering themselves to be “at war”
with rival biker clubs.
According to federal prosecutors “in furtherance of this
war, various members of the White Region committed racketeering offenses.”
In June of 1994, Cochran and other Outlaws traveled to the
Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind. “to assault rival bikers” at an
event known as “Summer Madness.” The then-Outlaws VP told investigators the
“assaults” could include beating the rival bikers, running them over with a car
or motorcycle or shooting them “to discourage Hell’s Angels affiliate club
members from continuing to associate with the Hell’s Angels — and send a
message to the Hell’s Angels that their presence would not be tolerated in
Outlaws territory.
The indictment notes Outlaws members from Milwaukee and
Wisconsin planned to attend this event — with CCW permit holders “directed to
arm themselves” and two vans, one armored from Milwaukee, containing firearms
and other weapons, were brought to Indiana as part of the “Outlaws caravan” to
the speedway.
The night before the event, the indictment says Outlaws
members learned their regional boss had been shot and seriously injured while
riding on the Dan Ryan expressway in Chicago after leaving an event at the Gary
clubhouse in Indiana. Outlaws members believed the Hell’s Henchmen were
responsible — with the Hell’s Angels courting them. The Outlaws’ animosity for
the Hell’s Angels grew after this incident.
On June 26, 1994, the boss of the Gary Outlaws assembled the
group in Gary for the ride to the speedway. There, they set up their two
armored vans, and duties were assigned to the members in attendance. An Outlaws
member said the Indianapolis chapter boss said if rival bikers were present,
Outlaws “were to shoot to kill.”
According to the indictment, during the event, Outlaws
approached an ATF agent and some sheriff’s deputies and asked why the ATF
wasn’t in Chicago “arresting Hell’s Henchmen,” stating that if rival bikers
showed up “there would be dead bodies all around.”
As it turned out, no rival bikers showed up, and the Outlaws
packed up and left. The procession was followed, and the second armored van
ended up stopped by police. A driver and five passengers from the Milwaukee
Outlaws chapter were inside, along with numerous weapons and rounds of
ammunition.
In June of 1996, the indictment says Cochran and other
Outlaws traveled to the US 41 International Dragway in Morocco, Ind., “to
assault and kill members of rival biker groups.” This, after the Outlaws
learned the Hell’s Angels had a big presence at this event in 1995, and they
reserved several hundred tickets for 1996. Two old surplus-type police vehicles
were used for security by the Outlaws at the event — with firearms concealed
inside.
Ultimately, rain resulted in the cancellation of the event —
and most people left, but the Outlaws remained for three days. No rival bikers
showed up.
Cochran faces up to 20 years in prison, and $250,000 in
fines, along with a $100 special assessment and three years of supervised
release.
SOURCE: Fox6 Now
