Shots fired at Hells Angels New Clubhouse

New York City, New York, USA (January 4, 2020) BTN — Several shots were fired at the Hells Angels new Bronx headquarters, sparking concerns that the motorcycle club has brought violence and chaos to a once quiet neighborhood.

Police said the clubhouse was damaged in the hail of bullets at the Longstreet Ave. building in Throggs Neck about 10:30 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured.

“Everyone’s worst fears have materialized,” Bronx Community Board 10 District Manager Matt Cruz said. “For this to happen after the holiday, and children are not back in school — it’s now a serious concern for this community.”

Related | New Hells Angels Clubhouse Upsets Nosy Neighbors 
Related | Former Hells Angels MC Clubhouse Sold

“The community is upset and scared,” Cruz said. “We are on heightened alert for this and we’re hoping the NYPD can get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible and we’re sure they will.”

Over 14 shots were fired, according to a post on the Facebook group “Friends of Community Board #10." Responding officers found shell casings in front of the building, but no arrests were made.


The Hells Angels bought the fenced-off, two-story brick building near Wissman Ave. in early December. The building sits on a quiet, tree-lined street of middle-class homes.

Neighbors had complained earlier this month about a noisy gathering at the Bronx headquarters — one of many clashes that have plagued the Angels in recent years.

SOURCE: Spectrum News 

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Regional Prez of Outlaws MC Pleads Not Guilty

Boston, Massachusetts, USA (January 4, 2020) BTN — An East Bridgewater man described by prosecutors as the regional boss of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club pleaded not guilty Friday to a federal gun charge, records show.

Bruce “Monster” Sartwell, 48, entered his plea in US District Court in Boston to a sole count of possession of an unregistered firearm, according to legal filings. He was returned after the arraignment to federal custody, where he’s remained since his October arrest in the case. A federal grand jury indicted Sartwell last month.

In an October affidavit submitted to the court in Sartwell’s case, Special Agent Michael Belli of the Department of Homeland Security wrote that the Outlaws were locked in a “violent feud” with the rival Hells Angels.

Sartwell, a convicted felon with an arrest record dating back to 1987, is barred from possessing firearms, according to legal filings.

Prosecutors said in October that “a search warrant executed at Sartwell’s residence" resulted in “the recovery of an AR-15 styled ‘ghost gun’ — a firearm without any manufacturing or serial numbers — and firearm manufacturing tools and assembly parts including milling equipment, buffer spring, buffer tube, air-powered water dremel polish and a drill press.”

In addition, prosecutors said, two “firearm silencers concealed in false bottom compartments, a guide for assembly and disassembly of an AR-15 rifle, 20 knives, a black powder handgun, a flare gun, and various ammunition compatible with the AR-15 styled rifle were also found."

Related | Outlaws MC Prez indicted on firearm charges

In November, Sartwell’s lawyers tried unsuccessfully to free him on bail, writing in court papers that he “has a loving wife and two young children, he is a local business owner in the city of Brockton, and ... his criminal history, such as it is, ended more than ten years ago.”

His lawyers wrote that while the charge he faces is serious, “he is not a ‘serious’ risk of flight or a danger to the community simply because he happens to be the Regional President of the Brockton/E. Bridgewater Chapters of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club (‘MC’) and or goes by the nickname ‘Monster.’ ”

The defense said Sartwell and his wife also runs a tattoo parlor. And, the defense maintained, the feds haven’t tied Sartwell to any recent violence.

A status conference in Sartwell’s case is slated for March 2.

SOURCE: The Boston Globe

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New Hells Angels Clubhouse Upsets Nosy Neighbors

New York City, New York, USA (December 31, 2019) BTN — Roaring motorcycle engines and late-night carousing have bedeviled the once-quiet Bronx neighborhood where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club have just set up their new New York headquarters.

The motorcycle club bought a two-story brick building in middle-class Throggs Neck, and a noisy gathering at the headquarters earlier this month disturbed neighbors.

“You could hear them, they were loud,” said Chris Fernandez, 36, whose home overlooks the new club at 241 Longstreet Ave. “Oh, my God, they were going the whole weekend, literally through the night.”

Fernandez said the group has been quiet since that weekend, though a man who identified himself as a club member said on Monday the club will continued to hold events.

Related | Former Hells Angels MC Clubhouse Sold

The Hells Angels sold the E. 3rd St. site to a developer in in June, and moved their base to the Bronx.

The Hells Angels recently bought a former American Legion property in the Bronx after the notorious motorcycle gang left their longtime club in the East Village. The staff lawyer for Councilman Mark Gjonaj repped the gang in the deal.

The Hells Angels recently bought a former American Legion property at 241 Longstreet Ave. in the Bronx. (Trevor Boyer/for New York Daily News)

“We’ll be reaching out to NYPD to discuss the matter at greater length,” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s spokesman John DeSio said of the Hells Angels’ new club.

The staff lawyer for Councilman Mark Gjonaj, whose district includes Throggs Neck, repped the Hells Angels in the August sale of the property, according to state records. The building sold for $1.25 million. The building was formerly occupied by an American Legion post.

The lawyer, Ted Pryor, did not respond to questions about his role in the sale or the Hells Angels’ plans for their new property, which features a pillar with the club name in bold red letters and the club’s eerie skull logo on the second story.

“This was a private transaction that had no reporting requirement to any elected official or the local community board,” Gjonaj’s spokesman Reginald Johnson said in a statement. “The Councilman was only recently made aware of the sale. He expects the group to abide by all quality of life laws and ordinances. If they do not, he will work with law enforcement to ensure their compliance.”

But the involvement of Gjonaj’s lawyer still raised eyebrows among neighbors. Gjonaj “knew what was going on from the beginning, so why’d he allow it?” speculated Awilda Cordero, president of social services nonprofit Emergency Rights. “He doesn’t have to live here.”

She said bikers gave her dirty looks and tried to stare her down when they moved into the club, which is surrounded by concrete and has a chain-link fence separating it from the street. “They were making us feel like, ‘We’re here, what are you gonna do about it?’” Cordero said.

“Like any other neighbor that owns property in our community, we welcome them,” Community Board 10 District Manager Matt Cruz said. “Of course, our board office is willing to meet and see how they can be helpful to our community. “We are hoping that ... they will be good neighbors,” he added.

SOURCE: New York Daily News

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Long Island Hells Angels donate thousands of toys

Patchogue, New York, USA (December 23, 2019) BTN — Sometimes even angels need a Christmas miracle. Debbie Loesch, founder of the Patchogue-based community outreach thrift store and group Angels of Long Island, was worried earlier this month when her warehouse was low on toys for their fifth annual toy giveaway. Every holiday season, the Angels of Long Island accept applications for local families who fell on hard times and need help giving their children gifts to put under the tree.

While she received a few dozen donations from the community, it just wasn’t enough compared to those in need of presents this holiday season.

“I had to stop accepting applications because I was worried about the lack of toys,” she said. Then she got a surprising phone call from another group of angels — the local chapter of the Hells Angels.

The motorcycle group heard about the struggle Loesch and her nonprofit was facing and offered their assistance. Normally secretive, members of the group have been quietly involved with helping nonprofits across Long Island, the group said.

And when they heard the Angels of Long Island’s story, the group sprung into action to help out their Patchogue neighbors.

“We got word that the Angels of Long Island needed toys and we wanted to help them out,” said Billy, a sergeant of arms for the group, who refused to state his full name. “We start collecting early on in the year with different events, including our Christmas party, where everyone brings an unwrapped gift to donate.”

The Hells Angels of Long Island moved into their new Suffolk County clubhouse located in Centereach this last year, and since then, they have been working with the community hosting food drives, clothing drives and this Christmas toy drive. “Love us or hate us, the Hells Angels are here to help,” said Billy.

After negotiating their partnership with Loesch last week, the motorcycle group was able to drop off eight truckloads of gift, toy and coat donations within a few days.

“We try to keep everything in the community,” Billy said last week looking at the shelves. “This place is going to fill up.”

Before the drop off, the Patchogue warehouse’s shelves were empty, enough items for maybe a toy or two per child. As of the morning of Sunday, December 22nd, thousands of items filled the shelves, turning the space into a pop-up, mini department store.

That day, Loesch decided she didn’t want to do a handout of toys but instead create a space where parents could come in and “shop” around finding the perfect gifts for their little ones. A dozen Hells Angels help people find things and to check the recipients in.

Distribution started at 10 a.m. and went until 4 p.m. Groups of Hells Angels rode their bikes into the lot to help Loesch and other volunteers set up. Helping 50 families shop was on the agenda throughout the day, with extra toys available to families who weren’t on the initial list.

“We don’t want to see any kids without toys this Christmas,” said Ronny, one of the volunteering Hells Angels. Over 500 stuffed animals, video games, dollhouses, action figures and teenage beauty items were set up around the space, neatly organized by category for easy shopping.

One donation consisted of several brand new bicycles for toddlers and teens, wrapped in a sparkly red bow. Each family also received a ham and food donation for their Christmas dinners.

“I feel like it’s a blessing that when times are hard, there are people out there who want to help others,” said a Patchogue mother who received gifts for her kids. “I’m very thankful for Angels of Long Island… and seeing the Hells Angels ride up was so cool!”

Mario, president of the Hells Angel Long Island chapter, said that all the local riding groups and their families will help donate whenever possible.

“We really couldn’t do it without the biker community across Long Island,” he said. “We do this for the kids… every year we do something for them and whoever needs help, we do what we can.”

By the end of the day, all different angels gave up their weekend to bring a little Christmas cheer. “I like helping out the kids,” said Lee, another Hells Angel helped hand out toys. “I’m blessed, so I wanted to pass it onto the community and make sure the kids have a good Christmas.”

Photos from Thursday’s drop-off and Sunday’s event taken by Julianne Mosher
SOURCE: Greater Patchogue

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