Sponsored By NCOM… Brothers Behind Bars Newsletter…

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Convicted felon charged with having machine guns – March 25, 2011 – California – By AP; www.MercuryNews.com - A convicted felon has been indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities discovered machine guns & a hand grenade at his property. Roseville Police spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther says a motorcycle gang investigation in Jan led police to search a home & storage locker in Lincoln, about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, belonging to Eric Smith. The U.S. Atty’s Office in Sacramento says investigators found the grenade & 10 firearms, including 3 machine guns. Smith, who is 36, was indicted Thu on 3 charges of being a felon in possession of firearms. Each charge could bring up to 10 years in federal prison. He has been held since January in Placer County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond. Authorities could not say if he has a defense atty. 7 BC men sentenced for marijuana smuggling – March 25, 2011 – Washington, USA / British Columbia, Canada – By www.News1130.com - Seven British Columbians have been sentenced in a Washington State court for their part in smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana between Canada & the USA. The conspiracy, which prosecutors say was tied to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, saw marijuana shipped south in PVC pipe, hollowed out logs, wood chips, & hidden compartments in tractor-trailer trucks. In sentencing 36-year-old Jody York, Chief US District Judge Robert Lasnik said the smuggling operation had a terrible impact on British Columbia & part of the US; he also said it’s the children who suffer when communities are riddled with violence. York & Edward Russell were considered the managers of the drug group & were both given more than fourand-a-half years in prison. Five other men were given sentences ranging from one year in jail to probation. The case involved a three-year investigation in which 54 people were charged, thousands of kilograms of marijuana, & cocaine seized along with millions in cash. Forty-eight people have been convicted -- including the ring leader, Rob Shannon of Langley -- who was given a 20-year jail term. Man with alleged biker ties granted bail, but remains in custody – March 25, 2011 – Canada - By Fiona Isaacson; www.ThePeterboroughExaminer.com - Bail has been granted for 1 of 2 men police say are associated with the Outlaws biker gang. But Mark Cleary, of Peterborough, will remain in custody at the Central East Correctional Centre until an approved surety is found. A justice of the peace approved releasing the 29-year-old on $25,000 no-deposit bail on Fri. Bail was denied for Cleary’s co-accused Keith Nolan, 36, of Richmond Hill on Mar 18. Nolan & Cleary were charged following a single-vehicle collision in front of the Quaker Oats office on Mar 11. A publication ban prevents reporting any evidence heard during Friday’s hearing. Police fear Bandidos planning to set up Perth chapter – March 26, 2011 – Australia – By Nicole Cox; www.PerthNow.com.au - Police fear fledgling bikie gang the Rock Machine is paving the way for another violent outlaw motorcycle club - the Bandidos - to launch a foray into WA. Police sources this week told The Sunday Times there was a real possibility the Bandidos could infiltrate the state, given their close ties to the Rock Machine. Detectives are intently monitoring interaction between the 2 gangs. The revelation comes as tensions escalate between the Rock Machine & rival gang the Rebels, with WA Rebels leader Nick Martin being shot last week & tattoo shops firebombed, bikies assaulted & a massive stash of explosives seized in recent months. On Thu, Gang Crime detectives uncovered highpowered weapons during dawn raids on the homes of Rebels & Rock Machine members across Perth. Some of the guns were found within arm’s reach of bikies as police smashed through front doors, heightening concerns of retaliation attacks in the titfor-tat motorcycle gang war. “We are concerned about outlaw motorcycle gangs nationalizing & internationalizing ... linking with other clubs, & patching over, which is another process they engage in,” Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich said yesterday. In 2000, Rock Machine members in Canada voted to “patch over” to the US-based Bandidos after a bloody 7-year turf war with arch rivals, the Hells Angels. Police sources said the “patching over” appeared to be an attempt by the Rock Machine to gain protection from the Bandidos & an end to the war with the Hells Angels. But some Rock Machine members defected to other clubs, unhappy about the move. While police say WA is the only state in Australia with known Rock Machine members, the Bandidos have a presence in Qld, New South Wales, Victoria & S.A., but no membership in WA. In 1984, 6 bikies were killed along with a 14-year-old bystander when Bandidos & Comancheros were involved in a shoot-out in south-west Sydney. Det-Supt Charlie Carver, head of the Serious & Organised Crime Division, said criminal syndicates & interstate bikie gangs had long sought to capitalise on WA’s rich economy. Rock Machine, Finks & Comancheros chapters had set up in recent years. “It’s always a concern when they come into the state,” Det-Supt Carver said. Mongols rapist asks for new lawyer; sentencing delayed – March 28, 2011 – California – By Connor Ramey; www.FreeLanceNews.com - Convicted rapist Michael Reyes asked to change attorneys during a Fri court appearance, further delaying his sentencing. It is the 4 th time Reyes’ sentencing has been delayed. Reyes, a known member of the Mongols MC, was found guilty of 27 felony counts in connection with continuous sexual assault on a minor from 2002 to 2008. Reyes, 56, was the Mongols’ local chapter president before his arrest in March 2010. The sexual assault occurred over a six-year span in Los Banos, Morgan Hill & Hollister. Charges included sexual penetration with a foreign object, lewd or lascivious acts, & rape by force. Reyes gave visiting Judge Alan Hedegard a memo before the hearing asking to change attys. When asked how much time he needed, Reyes said a “couple of months if possible.” Hedegard said that was too much time & gave Reyes 13 days to find new legal counsel. “Regrettably, I have to give him time to find a new atty,” Hedegard said. Reyes is expected to appear before the court on April 7 with a new attorney. He will not be sentenced on that date, but a date will be set if new atty is hired, Hedegard said. Trial against 16 Hells Angels opens today – March 28, 2011 – Denmark – By www.cphpost.dk - One of the nation’s biggest trials involving gang crime will get underway today when 16 people linked to the Hells Angels appear before a judge in Glostrup on charges of attempted murder, assault & weapons possession. The 16, all members of Hells Angels or the affiliated gang HA 81, will reportedly plead innocent. The charges against them include 6 attempted murders taking place between April & Oct 2009 during an open conflict between the Hells Angels & immigrant gangs. Much of the prosecution’s case will be built on the testimony of a 25-year-old former Hells Angel, who has explained that the attempted murders as well as a brutal beating of a rival gang member using a bat were ordered by senior gang member Brian Sandberg, one of the men standing trial. The witness has already been sentenced to 12 years behind bars for his role in the crimes & police say his confessions have put his life at risk. According to prosecutor Charlotte Alsing Juhl, the prosecution will also draw on the testimony of eyewitnesses & experts, as well as forensic evidence. The trial is expected to continue through Sept.
19 Angels still on the lam – March 28, 2011 – Canada - By Eric Thibault; www.TorontoSun.com - Nineteen Hells Angels members & associates remain on the lam nearly 2 years after they escaped the biggest biker bust in Canadian history. The names & faces of the wanted men have been posted on the websites of the RCMP & Interpol, the international crime-fighting agency that’s active in 188 countries. Police insist they’re still hot on the trail of those who so far have gotten away with murder, drug trafficking & gangsterism. “These files are as hot as they were at the start of the operation,” Quebec provincial police Sgt. Richard Gagne told QMI Agency. “There is still work to do to find these men.” Project Sharqc involved 1,200 police officers & led to the arrests of 137 bikers & associates in April 2009. Defendants will be prosecuted in groups of 8 or 9 in a series of mega-trials scheduled to begin next month. The last biker to be arrested was Normand (Casper) Ouimet, who was picked up outside his Montreal dentist’s office last fall & now faces 22 counts of murder. Interpol has files on the 17 Hells members & 2 associates who are still at large. The fugitives have also been flagged with a “red notice” designation that would allow foreign police forces to arrest & detain them pending extradition to Canada. Last year Mexican police used Red Notice markers to arrest Hells members Yannick Gauthier & Martin Robert while the pair were living under false names. Outlaw Biker Arrested for Having Drugs, Illegal Weapons – March 29, 2011 – California – By www.MyValleyNews.com - An outlaw biker allegedly running a “chop shop” at his Perris residence, where illegal guns & drugs were stored, was arrested today - - but not before his dog attacked a police dog & was shot & killed, a Riverside County sheriff’s sergeant said. Todd Payne, 36, was taken into custody by members of the county’s regional Gang Task Force around 8 a.m. at a house in the 24000 block of El Baquero Road, according to Sgt. Sean Brown. Brown said Payne, who belongs to an outlaw motorcycle gang, which Brown did not identify, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, stolen firearms & assault rifles. Payne was also dealing in stolen auto parts at the location, according to Brown. “A total of 16 firearms were recovered, one of which was reported stolen during a residential burglary in December,” Brown said. “Officers also recovered multiple stolen motorcycle parts, meth & gang paraphernalia.” According to Brown, during their raid, a large mixed breed dog on the property attacked a police dog, prompting task force members to shot & kill the aggressive animal. The police dog was treated by a veterinarian & is doing fine, Brown said. No other injuries were reported. Payne was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, but bail information was not immediately available. The Bikers Suing Their Local Police - March 30, 2011 – California – By Christine Pelisek; www.TheDailyBeast.com - The cops call them Harley-riding “terrorists,” but a group of bikers in California say they’re misunderstood – & to prove it, they’re using the whitest-collar of legal tactics: They’re suing. In 2010, the small, rural city of Hemet, California, made headlines when its tiny police department was besieged by a series of booby traps aimed at killing gang task-force officers. The police quickly focused their attention on a local gang of skinheads & an outlaw band of bikers known as the Vagos. It turned out that the alleged attackers had an axe to grind with a local anti-gang detective, & had no connection with the 2 groups. Now, the Vagos International MC has filed a lawsuit claiming their reputation was tarnished by the investigation. The 14-page lawsuit, filed March 17, alleges that law-enforcement officials defamed the 42-yearold club by referring to them at a press conference as “cockroaches” & “terrorists” who pose “an extreme threat to law enforcement.” “It is the first time a motorcycle gang has sued me,” said Richard Dana, former chief of police of the Hemet Police Dept. Named defendants in the lawsuit include former Riverside County District Atty Rodric Pacheco, a Riverside County sheriff’s captain, & Dana. The attacks rattled the city of 88,000 once known for its mobile-home parks, retirement communities, & the “Ramona Pageant,” California’s longestrunning outdoor play. In recent years, Hemet, which is located 40 miles west of Palm Springs, has been plagued by foreclosures, marijuana grow houses, meth labs, & an influx of gangs. About 25 chapters of the Vagos call the rural cities & counties of California’s Inland Empire home. The police have long thought the Vagos—known for its burly bikers who sport green jackets & patches with the image of Loki, the Norse god of mischief—were involved in the illicit drug trade & weapons trafficking. Over the years, members of the Vagos have been implicated in assaults, extortion, insurance fraud, vehicle theft, witness intimidation, weapons violations, & murder. Last December, 2 Vagos members, including the president of the Vagos’ San Bernardino chapter, were found guilty of the brutal murder of a Fontana man over the sale of a motorcycle. The man’s badly beaten body was found bound with zip ties & duct tape in April 2003. In January 2010, a Vagos member & his wife were convicted of the slaying of a former Marine who disappeared in 2007. The man had been shot, bludgeoned, & suffocated with duct tape. Law-enforcement authorities consider the Vagos to be “one-percenters,” a subculture of motorcycle gangs that enforce a set of written bylaws upon their members, maintain websites, sell biker memorabilia, & trademark their names & logos. Prospective Vagos members are put through an extensive background check & participate in a “hangaround” phase in which they have to complete a series of tasks & hazing-style rituals before they are accepted into the club, law-enforcement sources say. “They have the same propensity for violence as the Mongols & Hells Angels,” said a former federal law-enforcement source who didn’t want to be identified. They are classified as a criminal street gang, so judges can give stiffer penalties if members are convicted. “The criminals in these gangs pose a threat to public safety in the local communities in which they operate because of their wide-ranging criminal activity, propensity to use violence, & ability to counter law-enforcement efforts,” said John A. Torres, special agent in charge of the ATF in Los Angeles. But the club doles out another form of vigilante justice, as well: lawsuits. In 2006, local & federal authorities raided over 70 homes of Vagos members. Some of the members were arrested for firearms & drug violations. In 2009, 5 Vagos members who were not arrested in the raid, dubbed Operation 22, filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit alleging that some Vagos members & their families were threatened, intimidated, & had machine guns pointed at their heads. In one instance, 3-year-old twin boys were carried downstairs in their diapers by officers wielding 12-gauge shotguns. In another case, a four-month-old puppy was peppersprayed. “They file lawsuits all the time,” scoffed the federal lawenforcement source. “It is just their nature. They are trying to get money any way they can.” Beverly Hills lawyer Joseph Yanny, who represents the Vagos in the 2 lawsuits, said the group is misunderstood. A large number of its members are upstanding citizens who work as contractors, business owners, lawyers, & teachers, he said. Eighty percent are clean & sober. One is an ordained pastor. Former longtime Vagos President Terry Orendorff told The Daily Beast that he has had his home & business raided numerous times by federal authorities. He said he has never been charged with a crime. “Over the years law enforcement had problems with us mainly because I guess they
Page 1 and 2: Sponsored by NCOM… Brothers Behin
Page 3: Hey Ho… By Dago SFFS Verse 1: Wel
Page 7 and 8: Man pleads guilty to kidnapping New
Page 9 and 10: Current cop rode with Warlocks bike
Page 11 and 12: George Christie: Hells Angel, priso
Page 13 and 14: Outlaw motorcycle club members arre
Page 15 and 16: Outlaws biker head gets 20 years in

Sponsored By NCOM… Brothers Behind Bars Newsletter…

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?