The FTW does not stand for "Forever Two Wheels"
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Friday, December 15, 2017
Iron Horseman MC Chapter President sentenced to 35 years
Covington, KY (December 14, 2017) — Part of Northern Kentucky's crystal methamphetamine supply rode in with the Iron Horsemen motorcycle club for two years. Earlier today, a federal judge sentenced an Iron Horsemen motorcycle club leader from Boone County to 35 years in prison.
Florence Iron Horsemen chapter president and national "enforcer" Matthew Wesley Shaffer was convicted by a jury on drug distribution and weapons charges, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning gave the sentence to the 39-year-old Walton resident Thursday in a Covington courtroom. Shaffer has to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence under federal law.
Trial evidence showed Shaffer led a group of people who smuggled crystal methamphetamine in October 2016 into the Boone County Detention Center. Shaffer directed a group transporting "large" amounts of crystal meth in 2015 and 2016 from California to Northern Kentucky, according to trial evidence.
On Aug. 25, 2016, police found Shaffer at his Walton home in possession of 180 grams of crystal meth, two loaded firearms, body armor and nearly $9,000 in cash.
The DEA, ATF and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force ran the investigation of Shaffer. Biker Trash Network.
“This investigation and prosecution highlights the importance of a strong partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement in reducing violent crime and drug trafficking activities,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
“Our communities are made safer through the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, and I commend the officers and agents for their hard work and dedication on this case and others like it.”
The sentencing was announced by Duncan, DEA special agent in charge TImothy J. Plancon and ATF special agent in charge Stuart Lowrey. Biker Trash Network
SOURCE: Cincinnati dot com
Florence Iron Horsemen chapter president and national "enforcer" Matthew Wesley Shaffer was convicted by a jury on drug distribution and weapons charges, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Iron Horseman MC
U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning gave the sentence to the 39-year-old Walton resident Thursday in a Covington courtroom. Shaffer has to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence under federal law.
Trial evidence showed Shaffer led a group of people who smuggled crystal methamphetamine in October 2016 into the Boone County Detention Center. Shaffer directed a group transporting "large" amounts of crystal meth in 2015 and 2016 from California to Northern Kentucky, according to trial evidence.
On Aug. 25, 2016, police found Shaffer at his Walton home in possession of 180 grams of crystal meth, two loaded firearms, body armor and nearly $9,000 in cash.
The DEA, ATF and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force ran the investigation of Shaffer. Biker Trash Network.
“This investigation and prosecution highlights the importance of a strong partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement in reducing violent crime and drug trafficking activities,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
“Our communities are made safer through the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, and I commend the officers and agents for their hard work and dedication on this case and others like it.”
The sentencing was announced by Duncan, DEA special agent in charge TImothy J. Plancon and ATF special agent in charge Stuart Lowrey. Biker Trash Network
SOURCE: Cincinnati dot com
Monday, December 11, 2017
POLICE: Rival Motorcycle Clubs in Australia Join Forces
New South Wales, Australia (December 10, 2017) — RIVAL bikie clubs engaged in bloody warfare for decades are burying the hatchet and merging into super clubs to chase millions in criminal profits. Police have seen an outbreak of co-operation as notorious bikie clubs headhunt the best money launderers and drug dealers from rival firms or share their skills and expertise.
In a recent report, the powerful NSW Crime Commission said the highly organised gangs are difficult to police because “much of the organisation is co-ordinated offshore”. Police have seen an outbreak of co-operation as notorious bikie clubs headhunt the best money launderers and drug dealers from rival firms.
The report found one-time fierce rivals such as the Hells Angels and Comanchero — the two clubs involved in an infamous fatal brawl at Sydney airport in 2009 — had decided it was more lucrative to be in bed together on “significant criminal enterprises”, including international drug shipments.
“Co-operation among organised crime groups is flourishing with traditional animosities between such members or associates as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, the Comanchero Motorcycle Club and the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Club diminishing,” the Crime Commission said.
Bikie clubs are joining forces to gain access to millions in criminal profits.
The NSW Police State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad director Deborah Wallace said bikies remained enemies at low levels while their bosses did business together.
“At the upper level they are quite prepared to work together to progress their criminal activity and they’ll seek out facilitators — that could be accountants, anything at all,” Detective Superintendent Wallace said.
“At the bottom level they rely on that brotherhood, that romantic side, because they need to recruit people to do their dirty work. The whole ethos that you’re a particular chapter forever, is gone. (Bikie clubs) are certainly alive and well, they’re just morphing into a different look, more like organised crime than a group of bike riders.”
Police have cracked down on bikie gangs across Australia.
A recent police restructure merged the Middle Eastern Organised Crime and the Gangs squads into the one Criminal Groups Squad, reflecting the merging of bikies with other organised criminals.
Australian Federal Police have discovered the same trend, arresting 12 men in May who they claim were running drug distribution for the Hells Angels, Gypsy Jokers, Descendants and Bandidos in South Australia. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission also found rival gangs sharing drug distributors.
“Many groups that previously operated in isolation now work collaboratively to access broader distribution networks and ultimately maximise profits,” its August organised crime report said.
Police have merged the Middle Eastern Organised Crime and the Gangs squads into the one Criminal Groups Squad as bikies join other organised criminals.
But Western Sydney University organised crime lecturer and former detective Dr Michael Kennedy said police should be under no illusion that the bloodshed between bikie clubs was over.
“They’ll just come together on a business deal,” Dr Kennedy said. “They’re not friends, they’ve got nothing in common and they’ll kill in order to make money. They will walk over each other to get the result they want.”
“They will walk over each other to get the result they want.”
A fatal 2009 brawl in Sydney Airport between the Hells Angels and Comancheros was a turning point in the fight against out-of-control bikies, prompting immediate action from state and federal politicians.
Police have swooped on several bikie gangs this year.
Hells Angel Anthony Zervas was bludgeoned to death in front of stunned travellers and one-time Comanchero boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was convicted of his murder.
There has not been an all-out bikie war since 2012, after forces such as the bikie-busting Strike Force Raptor smothered the club culture of guns, bikes, tattoos and grimy headquarters.
Raptor has closed more than 60 clubhouses, confiscated more than 1300 firearms and put more than 3700 bikies before the courts.
But bikies are determined to survive as they pursue profits in Sydney’s booming drug market, where there are astronomical mark-ups for drugs like cocaine, particularly in the affluent eastern suburbs.
Quarterly crime figures released yesterday showed cocaine use and possession up an average 160 per cent in each of the last two years in the Waverley LGA.
SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph
In a recent report, the powerful NSW Crime Commission said the highly organised gangs are difficult to police because “much of the organisation is co-ordinated offshore”. Police have seen an outbreak of co-operation as notorious bikie clubs headhunt the best money launderers and drug dealers from rival firms.
Picture: NSW Police
The report found one-time fierce rivals such as the Hells Angels and Comanchero — the two clubs involved in an infamous fatal brawl at Sydney airport in 2009 — had decided it was more lucrative to be in bed together on “significant criminal enterprises”, including international drug shipments.
“Co-operation among organised crime groups is flourishing with traditional animosities between such members or associates as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, the Comanchero Motorcycle Club and the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Club diminishing,” the Crime Commission said.
Bikie clubs are joining forces to gain access to millions in criminal profits.
The NSW Police State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad director Deborah Wallace said bikies remained enemies at low levels while their bosses did business together.
“At the upper level they are quite prepared to work together to progress their criminal activity and they’ll seek out facilitators — that could be accountants, anything at all,” Detective Superintendent Wallace said.
“At the bottom level they rely on that brotherhood, that romantic side, because they need to recruit people to do their dirty work. The whole ethos that you’re a particular chapter forever, is gone. (Bikie clubs) are certainly alive and well, they’re just morphing into a different look, more like organised crime than a group of bike riders.”
Picture: NSW Police
Police have cracked down on bikie gangs across Australia.
A recent police restructure merged the Middle Eastern Organised Crime and the Gangs squads into the one Criminal Groups Squad, reflecting the merging of bikies with other organised criminals.
Australian Federal Police have discovered the same trend, arresting 12 men in May who they claim were running drug distribution for the Hells Angels, Gypsy Jokers, Descendants and Bandidos in South Australia. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission also found rival gangs sharing drug distributors.
“Many groups that previously operated in isolation now work collaboratively to access broader distribution networks and ultimately maximise profits,” its August organised crime report said.
Police have merged the Middle Eastern Organised Crime and the Gangs squads into the one Criminal Groups Squad as bikies join other organised criminals.
Picture: NSW Police
But Western Sydney University organised crime lecturer and former detective Dr Michael Kennedy said police should be under no illusion that the bloodshed between bikie clubs was over.
“They’ll just come together on a business deal,” Dr Kennedy said. “They’re not friends, they’ve got nothing in common and they’ll kill in order to make money. They will walk over each other to get the result they want.”
“They will walk over each other to get the result they want.”
A fatal 2009 brawl in Sydney Airport between the Hells Angels and Comancheros was a turning point in the fight against out-of-control bikies, prompting immediate action from state and federal politicians.
Police have swooped on several bikie gangs this year.
Picture: NSW Police
Hells Angel Anthony Zervas was bludgeoned to death in front of stunned travellers and one-time Comanchero boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was convicted of his murder.
There has not been an all-out bikie war since 2012, after forces such as the bikie-busting Strike Force Raptor smothered the club culture of guns, bikes, tattoos and grimy headquarters.
Raptor has closed more than 60 clubhouses, confiscated more than 1300 firearms and put more than 3700 bikies before the courts.
But bikies are determined to survive as they pursue profits in Sydney’s booming drug market, where there are astronomical mark-ups for drugs like cocaine, particularly in the affluent eastern suburbs.
Quarterly crime figures released yesterday showed cocaine use and possession up an average 160 per cent in each of the last two years in the Waverley LGA.
SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Outlaws MC member enraged before girlfriends slaying
Joliet, IL (December 9, 2017) — Hours before Kaitlyn Kearns was killed, the 24-year-old bartender was serving drinks to customers, including her boyfriend, on a Sunday night last month at Woody’s Bar in Joliet when her boss called and told her it was time to close up shop, authorities said.
Video from the bar shows that when the call came in, Kearns’ boyfriend, Jeremy Boshears, argued with Kearns in person and her boss over the phone. After arguing, he slammed the phone down and left, Will County Deputy Chief Dan Jungles said.
A short time later, Kearns would be shot once in the head.
Related |Outlaws MC member charged with murder of female bartender
Related |Outlaws clubhouse searched over murder investigation
Investigators say Boshears killed her and tried to cover it up by hiding her body and her car.
Boshears, who authorities have said is a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Joliet, was indicted Wednesday on three counts of murder and one count of concealing a homicide.
The 32-year-old Coal City man appeared in court Friday with his attorney, Neal Patel, and pleaded not guilty. He is being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility on $10 million bail.
Jungles said Kearns, of New Lenox Township, and other bar patrons were hanging out having drinks on Nov. 13 when her boss checked out video surveillance images and saw people still in the bar after closing time. Her boss, who was able to monitor the cameras off-site, called to tell Kearns the bar should be closed and that everyone had to leave.
Video shows a “clearly enraged” Boshears grabbed the phone from Kearns and began arguing with Kearns and her boss before slamming down the phone and leaving, Jungles said.
Boshears then drove himself to the Outlaws Motorcycle Club less than 2 miles down the road from the bar. Other bar patrons followed suit and video shows Kearns showed up at the club after she closed up the bar.
Surveillance video shows Kearns leaving the bar by herself around 12:40 a.m. and arriving at the Outlaws club, Jungles said. Though there is no video of her leaving the club, there is video showing her car leaving the club’s parking lot around 4 a.m., Jungles said.
He would not comment on what happened after Kearns’ showed up at the club.
Kearns’ family reported her missing on Nov. 14. Authorities used “electronic means” to locate Kearns’ 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a pole barn on private property in Kankakee Township. Kearns’ body was inside the vehicle.
Investigators do not believe other members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club played a role in Kearns’ death, Jungles said. And though authorities initially rammed down the front door of the clubhouse entrance to execute a search warrant, Jungles said club members have been cooperative with investigators.
Patel on Friday told Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes he plans to issue subpoenas for evidence in the case.
Boshears is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 28. Kearns' relatives and friends attended Friday's hearing but declined comment.
Boshears has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder Nov. 20.
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune
Video from the bar shows that when the call came in, Kearns’ boyfriend, Jeremy Boshears, argued with Kearns in person and her boss over the phone. After arguing, he slammed the phone down and left, Will County Deputy Chief Dan Jungles said.
Outlaws MC Clubhouse in Joliet, Illinois
A short time later, Kearns would be shot once in the head.
Related |Outlaws MC member charged with murder of female bartender
Related |Outlaws clubhouse searched over murder investigation
Investigators say Boshears killed her and tried to cover it up by hiding her body and her car.
Boshears, who authorities have said is a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Joliet, was indicted Wednesday on three counts of murder and one count of concealing a homicide.
The 32-year-old Coal City man appeared in court Friday with his attorney, Neal Patel, and pleaded not guilty. He is being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility on $10 million bail.
Jungles said Kearns, of New Lenox Township, and other bar patrons were hanging out having drinks on Nov. 13 when her boss checked out video surveillance images and saw people still in the bar after closing time. Her boss, who was able to monitor the cameras off-site, called to tell Kearns the bar should be closed and that everyone had to leave.
Video shows a “clearly enraged” Boshears grabbed the phone from Kearns and began arguing with Kearns and her boss before slamming down the phone and leaving, Jungles said.
Jeremy Boshears (L) and Kaitlyn Kearns (R)
Boshears then drove himself to the Outlaws Motorcycle Club less than 2 miles down the road from the bar. Other bar patrons followed suit and video shows Kearns showed up at the club after she closed up the bar.
Surveillance video shows Kearns leaving the bar by herself around 12:40 a.m. and arriving at the Outlaws club, Jungles said. Though there is no video of her leaving the club, there is video showing her car leaving the club’s parking lot around 4 a.m., Jungles said.
He would not comment on what happened after Kearns’ showed up at the club.
Kearns’ family reported her missing on Nov. 14. Authorities used “electronic means” to locate Kearns’ 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a pole barn on private property in Kankakee Township. Kearns’ body was inside the vehicle.
Investigators do not believe other members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club played a role in Kearns’ death, Jungles said. And though authorities initially rammed down the front door of the clubhouse entrance to execute a search warrant, Jungles said club members have been cooperative with investigators.
Patel on Friday told Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes he plans to issue subpoenas for evidence in the case.
Boshears is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 28. Kearns' relatives and friends attended Friday's hearing but declined comment.
Boshears has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder Nov. 20.
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune