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Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Gypsy Joker MC Member dies
Gypsy Joker MC Member dies in motorcycle crash in Spokane
SPOKANE, WA (August 29, 2016) – A member of the Gypsy Jokers
Motorcycle Club identified as William C. Casteel, 47, was involved in a wreck pronounced
dead at the scene.
A post on a Facebook page associated with the Jokers
identified Casteel as the Spokane chapter president. A source familiar with the
club also said he was the president.
FBI Special Agent Christian Parker said he couldn’t confirm
or deny that. No one could be reached for comment at the Jokers’ east Spokane
clubhouse Monday afternoon.
Gypsy Jokers MC
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office identified
Casteel as the crash victim on Monday. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he
was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle east on Broadway Avenue when a truck
turned in front of him near Havana Street.
Casteel is believed to have been speeding; he laid his bike
down and slid a long distance before striking the truck, Deputy Mark Gregory
said. The driver of the truck has not been cited, although the crash is still
under investigation, Gregory said.
SOURCE: The Spokesman-Review
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Outlaws MC member denied club’s seized property
Outlaws MC member denied club’s seized property
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (August 24, 2016) – A member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club who wanted to intervene
in a forfeiture action involving paraphernalia bearing the Outlaws insignia
couldn’t convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that a federal court was
incorrect in denying his motions.
The FBI with search warrants raided the Outlaws’ clubhouses
in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne in 2012 and seized numerous items bearing the
Outlaws name, such as vests, flags, and signs. All members of the Indianapolis
chapter were criminally charged, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations charges. All but one pleaded guilty, and as part of the plea
agreements, each agreed to forfeit the Outlaws paraphernalia seized by the FBI.
Bradley W. Carlson tried to intervene while the government
was in the process of finalizing the forfeiture with the last Outlaws
defendant. The government sought to dismiss the motion as untimely as the final
forfeiture orders had already been issued. Carlson contended that he had a
property interest in all of the paraphernalia and the government failed to
provide him with direct notice of the forfeiture actions. He claimed that he
had been elected by the collective membership of the club to protect, manage
and oversee all memorabilia of the Outlaws, and that the property is not owned
by the individuals but collectively by the members.
The government provided notices to all of the defendants and
also posted notice of the forfeitures on the official government forfeiture
site for 30 days. The district court denied Carlson’s motion as well as his
motion to alter or amend the judgment pursuant to Federal Civil Procedure Rule
59(e).
“Although he has alleged an understanding that property
cannot be transferred to non-members, he does not identify what type of
interest, if any, in that property was retained by the Outlaws –whether an option
to purchase back, a right of first refusal, a termination of bailment or least,
etc. – and whether that interest is a legal interest that grants standing or an
equitable or other interest that does not,” Judge Ilana Rovner wrote. “He fails
in fact to cite to Indiana law at all to establish the legal interest in the
property despite recognizing that property interests are defined by state law.”
The judges also rejected Carlson’s request that the court
hold in a criminal forfeiture, an assertion of ownership, without more, is
sufficient to alert the government that he has a property interest in the items
as against those who were in possession of the items and conceded their
forfeiture.
SOURCE: TheIndianaLawyer.com
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Hells Angels MC still in the city
2006 raid effectively spelled the end of the Thunder Bay chapter
THUNDER BAY, CANADA (August 23, 2016) – Thunder Bay police say despite a raid 10 years ago that shut down the local chapter, the Hells Angels motorcycle club continues to have a presence in the city.
Spokesperson Chris Adams told CBC News there are still members of the organization in town, but they're connected with the Hamilton chapter.
"The Hells Angels obviously still see Thunder Bay and the members here as having some viability and I'm sure they would like to see their full chapter status back at some point," he said.
He also expressed concern that the city could become the site of "turf wars" between rival groups.
"Any time you have the potential to make money illegally, you're going to have these groups sort of butting heads from time to time," Adams said.
"We're fortunate we haven't seen a full turf war here but the potential exists and this is definitely what we're concerned about."
The group's Thunder Bay chapter was effectively shut down in 2006 after a large-scale investigation, involving city and provincial police, as well as the RCMP, led to several arrests and the seizure of the organization's club house on Heron Street. Thunder Bay police also raided a Simpson Street building in 2014 they claimed was a club house for the group.
Looking at a 'potential marketplace'
City police have said the area is a lucrative market for the drug trade, and Adams said the Hells Angels motorcycle club continues to eye Thunder Bay because of it.
"They essentially are looking at their potential marketplace, and when there's vacuums that are created from time to time, with organized crime, other groups come in and try and fill that vacuum."
THUNDER BAY, CANADA (August 23, 2016) – Thunder Bay police say despite a raid 10 years ago that shut down the local chapter, the Hells Angels motorcycle club continues to have a presence in the city.
Spokesperson Chris Adams told CBC News there are still members of the organization in town, but they're connected with the Hamilton chapter.
"The Hells Angels obviously still see Thunder Bay and the members here as having some viability and I'm sure they would like to see their full chapter status back at some point," he said.
Police spokesperson Chris Adams said the Hells Angels have their eye on the city as a lucrative place to do their drug trade
"Any time you have the potential to make money illegally, you're going to have these groups sort of butting heads from time to time," Adams said.
"We're fortunate we haven't seen a full turf war here but the potential exists and this is definitely what we're concerned about."
The Hells Angels Ontario logo appeared at a building on Simpson Street in Thunder Bay.
The group's Thunder Bay chapter was effectively shut down in 2006 after a large-scale investigation, involving city and provincial police, as well as the RCMP, led to several arrests and the seizure of the organization's club house on Heron Street. Thunder Bay police also raided a Simpson Street building in 2014 they claimed was a club house for the group.
Looking at a 'potential marketplace'
City police have said the area is a lucrative market for the drug trade, and Adams said the Hells Angels motorcycle club continues to eye Thunder Bay because of it.
"They essentially are looking at their potential marketplace, and when there's vacuums that are created from time to time, with organized crime, other groups come in and try and fill that vacuum."
SOURCE: CBS.CA