Six Members of Hells Angels MC Arrested

New Roc Hells Angels facing federal drugs, racketeering charges

NEW YORK, NY ( March 16, 2017) – Six members and associates of the Hells Angels operating in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties are facing several federal drug and racketeering charges.

Joon Kim, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said on Thursday that six members of the New Roc Hells Angels, which operated primarily in and around Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties from at least 2008 to August 2014, had been arrested.

Kim said most of their activities included narcotics trafficking, extortion, money laundering, contraband cigarettes, and prostitution and altered motor vehicle parts.

Thomas Schmidt, Joseph Kaplan, John Calvacchio, Jeff Amato and Gary Paganelli were arrested in New York Thursday morning, Kim said, and Michael Picchone was arrested near Los Angeles. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel in White Plains federal court.

An unknown Hells Angels MC member

The six members of the New Roc Hells Angels were charged with various racketeering, narcotics and money laundering offenses, including assault of a rival club member with a hammer, Kim said.

“As alleged, through the sale of cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana and their violent conflict with rival gangs, members of the New Roc Hells Angels wreaked havoc on the streets of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties," Kim said in a statement. "Together with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to combat gang and drug violence throughout the Southern District of New York.”

The assault happened in December 2012, Kim said, when members of the New Roc Hells Angels beat a rival motorcycle club member over the head with a hammer in a crowded restaurant in Poughkeepsie in retaliation for encroaching "on their territory."

FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney said clubs like the Hells Angels often use violence and intimidation to protect their turf and "establish themselves."

"In this case, they allegedly used those tactics by attacking a rival club member with a hammer in the middle of a restaurant and placing innocent people in danger," Sweeney said in a statement. "Regardless of the name these men operate under, the FBI Westchester Safe Streets Gang Task Force works daily to remove these alleged violent members of our society and to create a safer community for everyone."

NEWS SOURCE: The Journal News

PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Attorney’s Office

Easyriders Magazine on Auction Block

Domains, Trademarks, Subscription Files, Facebook Page is listed.

Agoura Hills, CA (March 9, 2017) – Paisano Publications owner and publisher Joe Teresi, 76, announced last week that he’s retiring after 46 years at the helm of the company that was founded in 1971.

All assets of the company including 'In The Wind Magazine', V-Twin Magazine' Tattoo Magazine and the iconic 'Easyrider Magazine' are up for auction.

The auction package also includes: V-Twin Expo, Easyriders Events and 46 years of compiled and copyrighted photos, art, fiction and editorial articles. 

Books out of Print

Over the years, Paisano has published a variety of books sold on the newsstand and through retail channels. All of these are available to be reprinted.

Not included in auction but available for sale:

Other assists not included in the auction package but available for sale include the Easyriders Streamliner, over 400 pieces of original artwork by the legendary Biker Artist David Mann.

David Mann Original Artwork

David Mann was the Norman Rockwell of the biker world. His lifestyle paintings graced the pages of Easyriders and other Paisano titles as centerfolds, advertisements and accompaniment to fiction pieces. Paisano owns a collection of approximately 400 pieces of this original artwork.

..

INFORMATION:

Seller’s Reserve: $3,000,000

Sale Estimate: $5,000,000 to $7,000,000

Terms of Sale: Cash by wire transfer

For further information, please contact: bwood@paisanopub.com

Source and list of assets: Paisano Publications Auction

Hells Angels MC video help police catch suspect

Hells Angel Club House video helps catch man wanted for attempted murder

SPOKANE, WA ( March 3, 2017) – Video surveillance from multiple businesses along the Sprague corridor helped detectives find the man accused of shooting a man in the back of the head near the Bel Air Motel on January 9.

According to court documents, suspect Brice Bailey, 43, was driving erratically on Sprague Avenue just before midnight on Jan. 8. A witness told police Bailey had pulled up alongside his car, with his windows rolled down and proceeded to cut him off. The witness said the man, who he did not know, continued to drive strangely in front of him. He said Bailey turned his turn signal off and on, or merged in the wrong direction repeatedly.

Brice Bailey 

The witness said eventually he turned off Sprague and headed home to his house near 7th and Thierman. When he got out, the suspect was sitting in his car and fired in his direction, the witness said. Another witness said he was awoken by loud music coming from the suspect’s car and watched an arm exit the front passenger window of the car and fire at the first witness.

Later that night, just after midnight, Spokane Police officers responded to a call of a man being shot in the head in the area of East Sprague Avenue. A man staying at the Bel Air Motel called 911 after hearing gunshots and seeing a person lying in the middle of the motel parking lot. That witness described the same car as the witnesses in the previous shooting.

The motel guest went outside to the victim after calling 911 and saw that he had been shot in the back of the head.

SPD identified the shooting victim as Dakota Runge, 17. Runge was taken to Sacred Heart and initially listed in critical condition. As of Thursday afternoon, Runge was not listed as a patient.

Unknown Hells Angels MC Member

Police got video from the Hells Angels Club House across the street – along with other businesses in the area – and were able to track the involved car to Brice Bailey, according to court documents.

Bailey has a criminal history for theft and controlled substances, according to court documents. He was on supervision with the Washington State Department of Corrections and had recently refused to attend a mental health assessment.

“During a routine DOC visit, Bailey was slightly agitated and disturbed, and his mental health stability was a concern,” reported an officer in court documents.

Officials believe Bailey’s actions were random acts of violence. He is being held in Spokane County Jail on charges of first degree attempted murder, as well as a theft charge.

SOURCE: KREM2

Bandidos MC Leaders arrested

Arrest made here after new indictments returned against top Bandidos

WACO, TX (March 2, 2017) – Authorities arrested four top officials of the Bandidos motorcycle club Thursday, one of them in Central Texas, after a federal jury in San Antonio returned a second superseding indictment against the highest-ranking leaders of the club, adding four new defendants and additional murder-related charges, federal prosecutors said.

Thursday morning, authorities arrested the following:

Bandidos National Sergeant at Arms Johnny Romo, 47, of San Antonio; 

Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter member Robert Romo, 45, of San Antonio; 

Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter Sergeant at Arms Jesse James Benavidez, 40, of San Antonio, 

and Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter member Norberto Serna, Jr., 35,  of San Antonio for their roles in the 2006 murder of Anthony Benesh.

Johnny Romo was arrested in Waco and the other three were arrested in San Antonio.

They remained in custody Thursday night pending detention hearings next week before United States Magistrate Judge John Primomo in San Antonio.

An unknown Bandidos MC Member

The 12-count indictment, unsealed late Thursday afternoon in San Antonio, charges all four with one count of discharging a firearm during a murder in aid of racketeering.

Johnny Romo and Robert Romo are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering, prosecutors said.

Benesh was attempting to start a Texas Chapter of the Hell’s Angels in 2006 in Austin, but was warned by members of the Bandidos to abandon the effort, the indictment says.

Benesh ignored the warning.

The indictment charges that the four murdered him on March 18, 2006, outside an Austin restaurant “to protect the power, reputation and territory of the Bandidos enterprise.”

The new indictment includes previous federal charges filed against Bandidos National President Jeffrey Fay Pike, 61, of Conroe, and National Vice President John Xavier Portillo, 57, of San Antonio.

Portillo also faces a new charge of discharging a firearm during a murder in aid of racketeering for his role in the retaliation murder of Robert Lara in January 2002 in Atascosa County for killing one of their own, prosecutors said.

Javier Negrete, a member of the same Bandidos chapter as Portillo, was killed in October 2001 outside a San Antonio bar.

Pike and Portillo are charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt or RICO) statute; one count of conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering or VICAR, and one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.

Portillo is also charged with: one count of VICAR (murder); two counts of aiding and abetting VICAR (assault with a deadly weapon); one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and, one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

The two are accused of sanctioning and directing members of the Bandidos to carry out such acts as murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, intimidation, extortion and drug trafficking, prosecutors said.

Jury selection is currently scheduled for August 7, 2017.

SOURCE: KWTX

Outlaws MC rolls into Kingston

Biker club rolls into town – Outlaws MC open new clubhouse

KINGSTON, ONTARIO, CANADA (January 17, 2017) – For years, Kingston has marketed itself as a place to do business. 

Centrally located between Montreal and Toronto with border crossings close by. But it seems that marketing ploy has also caught the attention of a famous biker club.

The Outlaws — the world’s third largest motorcycle club — have set up a clubhouse in this non-descript building — across from the Kingston Centre. The only signage is this Harley Davidson logo and a warning not to take photography of any kind.

According to a former cop and expert on biker clubs, a chapter usually starts with 6 members on probation — before being elevated to full ‘patch’ status after a year.

The Outlaws aren’t hiding the fact they are opening a chapter in the Limestone City — it’s even listed on their website. Outlaws MC Canada

Morganne Campbell:

“I spoke with one club supporter and business owners who operate near the new clubhouse and they say the Outlaws have been good neighbors so far.

In fact, they haven’t had any issues since they moved into this clubhouse.

Now the Outlaws refer to themselves as a brotherhood and not a criminal organisation.”

A point highlighted on their website.

”We have families, jobs, and responsibilities just like everyone else and although the media like to portray us as being criminals, the truth is we share a common goal of enjoying life to the fullest.” Outlaws MC Canada

CKWS news reached out to the Outlaws to speak about their intentions locally.

“We respectfully decline your offer as Outlaws MC Canada does not do interviews. But thank-you and have a nice day.”

Outlaws MC Canada

A former cop and biker club expert who didn’t want to appear on camera says the arrival of the Outlaws in Kingston is a troubling scenario…. because the club could rapidly expand membership.

The last time biker clubs tried to make in-roads in Kingston was over a decade ago — but they left after covert police operations led to arrests … and the seizure of drugs, money and weapons.

So far, there’s no indication the bikers have done anything wrong… and there’s no risk to public safety. But police also made it clear — they’re watching.

SOURCE: CKWS

Former Hells Angel MC leader set free

Former HAMC leader named the ‘Teflon Biker’ after case fizzles

LONDON, ONTARIO (January 16, 2017) – A high-profile, multi-million-dollar gambling bust three years ago has sent one Londoner to jail and two more to trial, but allowed the former head of the city’s Hells Angels to keep his clean record.

The quiet withdrawal of charges against Robert Barletta last fall, the same day his trial began, adds to his reputation as the “Teflon biker” but raises many questions, biker analyst Yves Lavigne said.

“It’s highly suspect that a case in which police spent so many resources would end with the Crown withdrawing charges,” he said.

No one could blame those in Ontario’s underworld for thinking either the police messed up or Barletta played some get-out-of-jail-free card, Lavigne said.

“How can the cops bring to court the former president of the London chapter of the Hells Angels without having done their job properly? It’s incredible to me the former president would be free.”

Barletta, as usual, isn’t talking either directly, or via his lawyer, Richard Posner of Toronto.

About 400 police officers raided a Markham Super Bowl party in February 2013, busting up a multimillion-dollar online gaming site called Platinum Sports book.

Initial arrests were followed by raids a month later in 10 locations, including London, after which several London men faced charges.

The trial for Barletta and Andrew Bielli, also linked to the Hells Angels, began Sept. 12, 2016, in Toronto. Both pleaded not guilty to bookmaking for the benefit of a criminal organization and possessing proceeds of crime.

They then walked to another court to see Gordon Baird, 59, admit he was administrator of the illegal sports ring that grossed more than $103 million in 2009-13. With no criminal record and because he pleaded guilty to bookmaking as participation in a criminal organization, Baird received an 18-month conditional sentence, to be served in his home, and a $400,000 fine.

 Asked by the judge if was pressured by anyone to take the plea, Baird said, “No, sir.”

According to a clerk with the Superior Court of Justice, charges against Barletta were withdrawn the same day.

On Jan. 5, Bielli pleaded guilty to possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000 and was sentenced to 15 months in custody, the clerk said, in response to recent Free Press questions about the status of the trials. Two other London men, David Hair and Christopher Rutledge, have trial dates set for January 2018.

There were no records in the computer system for two more London men charged in 2013, Jeffrey Fuchs and Hiesam Kadri, the clerk said. Still facing trial is William (Billy) Miller, former president of the London chapter of Hells Angels, now living in Toronto.

Barletta has long balanced leadership in the Hells Angels with a squeaky clean record. He was a founding member of the London chapter when it was established in 2003 and ran a strip club that became the target of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

A protracted legal battle ended with Barletta losing his liquor license, despite not having a criminal record, because of his association with the Hells Angels.

SOURCE: IFPress

Old Snag's Tank

Close up of Old Snag's Gas Tank

Australian bikie clubs heading to Capital

Australian Bikie clubs heading to Canberra because of soft laws 

SYDNEY, AU (January 15, 2017) – Bikie Clubs have declared Canberra a “free for all” zone, with one outfit targeting the nation’s capital because of its lack of consorting laws.

The Dutch Satudarah is among a number of Bikie clubs which have been given legal advice that the ACT would be easier to operate out of rather than other states, where tough anti-bikie laws are in place.

The development is a reflection of the “free for all” declaration — which basically means gangs do not need permission from rival gangs to operate in the area, usually a necessary requirement under loose bikie protocols.

SATUDARAH BIKIE CLUB  | FAST FACTS

* Formally founded in the Netherlands in 1990

* Name originated in Indonesia and translates to “one blood”

* Has 44 chapters with 2000 members in 19 countries

* Established in Australia in 2015

On December 3 and 4 last year the national conference of the Comancheros met and trucked in nearly 70 bikes before riding around Lake Burley Griffin in their colours..

Previously, the Rebels were the only bikie club in Canberra, but now the Nomads and the Comanchero club have established clubhouses and the Finks recently held a national meeting there.

ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay confirmed that while the ACT did not currently have specific consorting laws, it did have a dedicated task force called Nemesis to deal with gangs.

“ACT policing, through Taskforce Nemesis, has executed 131 search warrants across Canberra, seizing weapons, cash, drugs and anabolic steroids,” he said. “As of 30 October 2016, 71 OMCG members had been brought before the court, charged with a total of 217 offences.”

However, NSW Police sources have revealed their exasperation at how the ACT situation is hampering their battle against the bikie menace. “A lot of clubhouses have been closed down and bikies are no longer roaming in packs in NSW but it’s frustrating that they can still operate freely in Canberra,” a senior NSW officer said.

“It means they can have their state and national meetings and plan their criminal activities with less fear of being arrested.”

NSW’s tough consorting laws mean the traditional bikie “runs’’ and wearing colours in public had almost vanished.

On its website Satudarah claims to have chapters in Sydney and Glen Innes but the NSW Gang Squad said the clubs’s presence was nothing more than a “cyber” existence, with no clubhouse or even motorbikes.

“They tried to set up in Sydney and we shut them down. The same in northern NSW,’’ Superintendent Detective Debbie Wallace, head of the Gang Squad, said. “We have not seen physical evidence they are active apart from on Facebook.”

Detective Wallace said NSW’s tough consorting laws mean the traditional bikie “runs’’ and wearing colours in public had almost vanished.

Satudarah’s dream of establishing in Sydney was shattered in November 2015 when police raided a Bankstown garage being used as its first clubhouse.

SOURCE: Daily Telegraph

Iron Horsemen MC Members on Trial

Iron Horsemen MC Members trial to begin Jan 30

GEORGETOWN, Ohio (January 13, 2017) – Almost 10 months after an alleged altercation at an Aberdeen, Ohio, night spot, four of five men charged with alleged gang, assault and riotous activities are heading to a bench trial.

According to the indictments of Wesley A. Gibson, 34 of Hillsboro, Ohio, Robert Bowling, 59, of Cincinnati, John A. McIntosh Jr., 49, of West Union, Ohio, and Franklin Delano Griffith, 36, of Manchester, Ohio, the incident happened on April 17, 2016.

A fifth man is already serving his sentence. Lawrence Wayne Allen Jr. entered a guilty plea to a count of aggravated riot, in August 2016, and was sentenced to two years of probation.

All five are members of the Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Club of Cincinnati, who allegedly approached the business doorman at approximately 1:30 a.m., and were denied entry.

The business worker was allegedly assaulted and Aberdeen police and EMS were called to the scene.

The worker and one of the bikers were taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Aberdeen police filed the original complaint...

Security camera image from April 17, 2016

“We reviewed the security video and compared the timelines to determine who was doing what,” said Aberdeen Police Chief Fred Hampton, in April 2016. “We then took what we had to the Brown County Prosecutor, who also reviewed the video and decided to move forward with charges.”

According to Ohio Revised Code 2917.11, a riot is considered disorderly conduct with four or more individuals where violence is involved.

In October 2016, Brown County Prosecutors office requested to join the remaining four cases for trial purposes, which was approved by mutual agreement of the defendants' attorneys and ordered by Judge Scott Gusweiler, court officials said.

“The four cases are being tried at one time, in front of the judge, without a jury,” said Brown County prosecutor Zac Corbin. “The trial begins Jan. 30.”

All four are charged with second-degree participation in criminal gang, second-degree felonious assault with a criminal gang activity specification; fourth-degree riot with a criminal gang activity specification; misdemeanor assault; first-degree misdemeanor trespass; and fourth-degree misdemeanor aggravated criminal trespass.

According to police, security video at the scene helped identify alleged participants in the incident. 

SOURCE: The Ledger Independent 

Black Piston MC member jailed

Black Piston Motorcycle Club Member sentenced to nine years

St. Catharines, Canada (January 13, 2017) — Isaac Lucas, the second man in charge of the Black Pistons Motorcycle Club in St. Catharines, has been sentenced to nine years in jail for his involvement in a major drug dealing operation that had links to the Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

Following a lengthy trial last summer, Lucas, 39, was found guilty of three charges, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in heroin, and trafficking in cocaine.

On Friday, he appeared for sentencing in a Superior Court of Justice in St. Catharines in front of Judge Joseph Henderson.

Lucas was described by the judge as “a distributor and enforcer” for the Black Pistons and “the right-hand man” of leader Randy McGean, who in October was sentenced to 11 years behind bars. Once McGean’s pre-trial custody was factored in to the sentence, he was left with a seven-year, one-month jail term.

Court heard Lucas, who has a lengthy criminal record, was not a cocaine or heroin addict, but was involved in the ongoing commercial enterprise to make money.

“He has very little respect for the law,” said Henderson, noting his criminal record started in 1994 and he has two prior drug-related convictions. In 1998, he was convicted of two robberies and sent to the penitentiary for six years.

Defence lawyer Mike Wendl asked the judge to consider an increased credit for his client’s pre-trial custody because of the harsh conditions he was subjected to during the 10 months he spent at Maplehurst.

Wendl said the facility was on lockdown 70 per cent of the time Lucas was in custody and inmates didn’t get showers or time in the yard.

2013 Stuff seized by cops during various arrest

“You would think we were more advanced than that in Canada,” he said.

Wendl said the network was well established before his client became involved and he simply wanted to be a part of something that was his attraction.

Federal prosecutor Niall Gilks said Lucas never ran a bail hearing and that would have determined if he could be released. The Crown opposed any increase in credit for any pre-trial custody because no evidence was provided to the court, only submissions by the defense.

Gilks pointed out that when a lockdown occurs at a jail, it doesn’t mean every inmate is locked down, it could depend on certain units within the facility. 

“This was a high-level operation and the motivation is purely for profit,” said Gilks. “He should be viewed high up in the chain. If anyone wanted drugs they had to go through him.”

The judge said Lucas was dealing in hard drugs. He described heroin as being a pernicious, dangerous, highly-addictive drug that often ruins the lives of those who use it.

In total, Lucas received a nine-year sentence. However, because of his pre-trial custody he was given a credit of four years and 10 months, which leaves a sentence of four years and two months.

The Pistons had a clubhouse at 80 Page Street in St. Catharines. The future of that property is still in question because it’s under a corporation in the name of Daniel Carley, 35, who is currently in jail serving a two and a half year sentence. Carley was convicted in August for trafficking in crack cocaine.

Stuff seized by cops during Project Resurgence, a 2013 shakeup of Motorcycle Clubs

At age 24, Carley won $5-million on a lottery scratch ticket, but he became a drug addict and lost everything.

This investigation was dubbed Project Resurgence. On Nov. 6, 2013, police officers from across Ontario were involved in executing 30 search-and-arrest warrants in and around Niagara. The clubhouse was part of that raid. Police had received information that some members of the Black Pistons were soon going to be patched over as full-fledged members of the Outlaws. 

SOURCE: Niagara Falls Review

Hells Angel MC member arrested after fleeing

Hells Angel arrested after fleeing CHP down Cuesta Grade

San Luis Obispo, CA (January 4, 2017)  — A California Highway Patrol officer tried repeatedly to stop a trio of motorcyclists, at least one of whom was wearing a Hells Angels motorcycle club jacket, while they were riding on the Cuesta Grade Tuesday afternoon. 

But, two of the three bikers fled, and the CHP lost track of the third while searching for the fleeing motorcyclists.

RELATED | California Highway Patrol Arrest Biker

The officer tried to stop the bikers for an unknown reason around 2:30 p.m. Sometime after the two bikers fled, officers located one of them as he was coming out of the Shell gas station at Los Osos Valley Road and Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo and attested him.

Hells Angels MC Members Rolling

The other biker initially yielded turned up south of Arroyo Grande. Officers were speaking with the man, but it is unclear if they arrested him.

CHP officers are still looking for the motorcyclist who fled and evaded capture Tuesday.

Officials have not released the identities of any of the bikers. No one suffered injuries during the chase.

SOURCE: Cal Coast News

Chosen Few MC

Members of the Indiana chapter of the Chosen Few MC party

California Highway Patrol Arrest Biker

CHP arrests one motorcyclist, searches for another after Cuesta Grade traffic stop

San Luis Obispo, CA (January 3, 2017) —  One motorcyclist has been arrested and officers are looking for a second one after a pursuit that led officials down Highway 101 on Tuesday afternoon.

A California Highway Patrol officer stopped three motorcyclists on the Cuesta Grade at about 2:30 p.m., according to CHP Officer J.W. Townsend. One of the motorcyclists yielded, but the other two sped off. It is not yet known why the officer conducted the original stop, Townsend said.

Officials arrested one of the motorcyclists as he was coming out of a Shell gas station on Los Osos Valley Road and Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo, Townsend said. The man was wearing a Hells Angels vest with a Ventura patch.

Cops inspect suspects Motorcycle  

They found the original motorcyclist, who had yielded, south of Arroyo Grande. He was speaking with officers and has not been arrested.

CHP officers are still looking for the third motorcyclist, Townsend said. No one was hurt during the chase. 

SOURCE: The Tribune 

Biker Ole Lady

Outlaw MC Property Displayed