Grim Reapers MC involved in federal indictment

Evansville, Indiana, USA (February 6, 2020) BTN - Seventeen people have been federally indicted for allegedly operating a drug ring in Indiana and Kentucky with ties to the Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club.

Grim Reapers Clubhouse after police raid

The following have been charged as part of Operation Reapin Benefits:

• James Benton, 66, of Evansville
• Brian Eden, 40, of Evansville
• Gary Wayne Forston, 39, of Evansville
• Clarence Grubbs, 48, of Evansville
• Central Holman IV, 28, of Owensboro, Kentucky
• Demoreal Killebrew, 21, of Owensboro
• Adam Lafferty, 38, of Evansville
• Shane Lewis, 32, of Evansville
• April Martin, 45, of Evansville
• Matthew Meredith, 40, of Evansville
• Prince Moss, 34, of Owensboro
• Paul Overby, 45, of Evansville
• Derek Sander, 48, of Evansville
• Daniel Wiscaver, 61, of Winslow
• Jason Wilson, 42, of Evansville
• Jesse Wilson, 34, of Evansville
• Kimberly Wilson, 37, of Evansville

Some of the accused are members or associates of the Grim Reapers, which U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler called a criminal organization during a news conference Thursday morning in Evansville announcing the indictments.

Federal prosecutors believe Forston and Jason Wilson were the ringleaders of the group, which allegedly distributed methamphetamine in Evansville and nearby communities.

Forston, the Grim Reapers president, was previously indicted on weapons charges after a raid on the club in November. Holman was the ring's alleged supplier.

Almost all of the other defendants are believed to be mid-level distributors, accused of selling drugs to lower-level drug dealers or directly to users, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Related | Prez of Grim Reapers MC trial starts
Related | Feds Raid Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club

"Drugs, guns and money have been taken off our streets," Minkler said. "Armed drug dealers seeking to infest our cities and our towns with drugs have been taken off our streets."

Ten pounds of meth, 23 guns and $35,000 in cash were seized, Minkler said. The drugs, which now sit in evidence vaults, have an estimated street value of more than $250,000.

Fifteen of the accused are now in federal custody. Siblings Jesse and Kimberly Wilson are believed to be on the run. The indictments are the culmination of a sixth-month, multi-agency investigation, which included federal, state and local law enforcement.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding used the news conference as an opportunity to call for expanding the county's jail.

"I will tell you something that makes me sick to the stomach is we have legislators on the state and federal level saying that we have a problem of over-incarceration, that we need to let people out of jail," he said.

"I am pleading for a larger jail to be built here in Vanderburgh County so the dirtbags that we take off the street will have a bed to sleep in at night," he added.

Prosecutors said all defendants except Sander could face between 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Sander could be sentenced to up to 10 years.

The U.S. Attorney's Office will also consider pursuing forfeiture of the Grim Reapers' headquarters in the 1100 block of East Diamond Avenue in Evansville. "What we don't want is the Grim Reapers to come back and relocate in that clubhouse and start doing business again," Minkler said.

SOURCE: Evansville Courier Press

Indiana State trooper arrested for arson

Tell City, Indiana, USA (February 5, 2020) BTN — An Indiana State trooper has been arrested on allegations he set his own home ablaze.

Jeremy Galloway, 44, of Tell City faces two counts of felony arson, one count of felony insurance fraud and one count of felony arson with intent to defraud.

It was around 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, when firefighters were called to Galloway’s Tell City home after a passerby spotted a fire and called 911. Crews arrived and found two fires at the property – in the home and an outbuilding, according to a state police report.

The home sustained heavy smoke and fire damage. The outbuilding and two motorcycles in it were totally destroyed, the report said.

 
The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate, and it was determined the fire was caused by arson. A criminal investigation was initiated by the Indiana State Police in Jasper.

Late last month, the case was handed over to the Perry County prosecutor. On Tuesday, an arrest warrant was issued for Galloway and he was taken into custody.

Galloway is currently on administrative leave without pay, state police said.

SOURCE: Eyewitness News 25

Long Vagos MC trial continues in Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (February 5, 2020) BTN — A federal prosecutor spent a second day Tuesday telling a jury in Las Vegas that eight accused Vagos motorcycle club members were members of a broad criminal racketeering enterprise responsible for crimes including the killing of a rival Hells Angels leader from California in a northern Nevada casino in 2011.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Schiess drew frequent objections from defense attorneys as he pointed jurors toward evidence that he said showed Vagos agreed according to “laws of the street, not laws of society” to commit years of acts of murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and drug dealing in addition to the shooting death of Jeffrey Pettigrew.

Vagos members “operate by violence and by silence,” Schiess said. “The silence is to protect the violence,” and crimes were committed “as a pattern in order to run the business.”

Related | Judge rules Vagos MC members will face charges
Related | Star witness in Vagos MC trial lied
Related | Jury selection begins in Vagos MC case

Closings were expected to continue this week, with defense attorneys poised for chances to describe a case they say the government has not proved.

The trial has had a bumpy history and narrowly avoided a mistrial after prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro to throw out testimony of a central witness to the shooting who acknowledged after more than three days on the witness stand that he lied.

The jury had been told during opening statements in August that they would hear from ousted Vagos member Gary “Jabbers” Rudnick about a “green light” go-ahead issued by Pastor Fausto Palafox, the Vagos international president, to kill Pettigrew at the Nugget casino in Sparks.

Rudnick admitted in September, after more than three days of testimony, that there was no “green light.”

The eight co-defendants - Palafox, Albert Lopez, Albert Perez, James Gillespie, Bradley Campos, Cesar Morales and Diego Garcia - each face up to life in prison if they are convicted.

When Schiess referred during closings to Rudnick’s testimony, defense attorney Mark Fleming objected and accused the prosecutor of vouching for his own disavowed witness.

Navarro said the jury will decide what and whom to believe.

“The decision about credibility of a witness is yours,” Schiess told the panel. “You get to decide whether he’s credible. That’s your call.”

SOURCE: Associated Press

Bandidos MC member found not guilty

Abilene, Texas, USA (February 1, 2020) BTN - The first of three Abilene Bandido bikers arrested for allegedly violently robbing a rival club member who drove through their ‘turf’ while wearing the rival club’s vest has been acquitted on all charges.

Daniel Machado was found not guilty Thursday of aggravated robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity in connection to the incident that took place in July of 2018.

RELATED | Bandidos MC member on trial for taking cut

Two other suspects, Justin Aldava, and Jesse Trevino, are still waiting for their day in court.

SOURCE: Big Country
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