Unlike the Hells Angels, the Pagans dont have clubhouses, and instead have weekly meetings in different locations. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). An alleged member of the Pagans motorcycle club who was charged with attempted murder earlier this year is set to plead guilty to a federal charge related to having an associate of the outlaw motorcycle club store firearms and ammunition for the organization, according to online court records. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, a major expansion of the outlaw motorcycle gang, sentenced to four years in prison in 2019. On Dec. 10, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Turners residence and recovered about 450 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said. In October 2019, the State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime, held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. The Pagans and the Hells Angels are known to be rival gangs. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle clubs to increase membership, officials said. Law enforcement considers the Pagans, founded in 1959 as a fellowship of 13 motorcyclists in Maryland, to be among the largest and most violent outlaw motorcycle clubs in the country, according. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. All rights reserved, NYC to Pay George Floyd Protesters Millions in Monster NYPD Kettling' Settlement, Winter Storm May Bring More NYC Snow Friday and a Complex Mess to Millions: What to Expect, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside, 4 Ferraris Stolen on Long Island in Service Center Heist, Kylie Jenner's Ex, Rapper Travis Scott, Wanted in $12,000 Manhattan Nightclub Mayhem. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Richter was not present at the hearing. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Public Hearing: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - The Pagans 'Organized Crime Spotlight' examines MS-13 in NJ . As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. ", Also: Camden man fatally shot in Fairview home, More: Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel. There has been an. District of New Jersey
The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. FAX: 609-989-2275. "Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. All rights reserved (About Us). Dorazo was initially being held on the federal gun charge, according to court documents, but a judge released him in December 2020 on a $100,000 unsecured appearance bond, home incarceration with location monitoring and other restrictions. [ We look out for you, your wallet and your quality of life. The victim was beaten with an axe handle, punched and kicked by the Pagans assailants, causing significant injuries.. All rights reserved (About Us). Aquino was also charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (Count Three) and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (Count Four), and Ortiz was also charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count Five) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Six). Dorazo, who was armed with two handguns and a high-capacity assault weapon, fled the scene, leading police on a multi-hour search, authorities said. Recruitment has become much less selective, with people joining for $500 to $1,000 instead of going through a lengthy trial period as a "prospect.". I dont care if it is two cops, a priest, a nun, five little kids or Jesus f------ Christ himself, if you pull something on me, I am going to shoot you, Ritcher allegedly said in the recorded conversation, according to Frazer. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Members of the Pagans, who have doubled their chapters statewide in the past three years, have conducted numerous assaults against members of the public, some of whom have had no connection to the club, the report from the New Jersey Commission of Investigation said. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The rise in Pagan membership in New Jersey, first reported by NJ Advance Media in May 2018, is indicative of a broader national effort by reputed Pagan President Keith Conan Richter to beef up numbers along the East Coast, officials said. Approximately one week later Aquino and Ortiz shot at an associate of the Hells Angels on the New Jersey Turnpike in retaliation for the Verona assault. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Pagans Elizabeth membership chapter, prosecutors said. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. DEPTFORD, NJ - A Pagan's Motorcycle Club member, an outlaw biker gang who was out of federal prison awaiting trial for firearms charges has been charged with attempted homicide. View More Reports -> 50 West State St. 14th Floor P.O. Have a question about Government Services? Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: New Jersey's SPCAs 17 Years Later. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The group's move into North Jersey is why the violence has increased, investigators said. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Rutgers Newark Staff Say Theyre Fed Up With Contract Negotiations, Bob Menendez Joins Student Loan Protesters Outside Supreme Court, Average Property Tax Bill In Newark Is Growing, Latest Data Shows, Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Video Shows NJ Mans Fatal Attempt To Run From Newark Police, NJ Marijuana Jobs: Tips For Getting Hired In The Cannabis Industry. Both Arocho and Guzman face 20 years in prison if convicted. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Est. An inside look at the Pagans MC and the threat it poses in N.J. Ex-bikie Ben Geppert arrested again in NSW, Sturgis biker rally may have led to 260,000 new COVID-19 cases: study, DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. It was around this time it adopted the outlaw motorcycle mentality, collectively known as the one-percenters. The theory is most motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens, except for the 1% who arent. Eleven Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged Drug Enforcement Administration Daniel J. Kafafian, Acting Special Agent in Charge New Jersey @DEANewJerseyDiv June 28, 2021 Contact: Timothy P. McMahon Phone Number: (571) 776-1150 For Immediate Release Eleven Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged The Pagans have also started recruiting light-skinned Latino members from traditional street gangs, like the Latin Kings, though they still prohibit Black people from joining their ranks. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited a joint task force comprised of special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; the Union County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to these charges. U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty sentenced Keith Conan Richter, 62, in federal court via videoconference after Richter pleaded guilty in July to being a felon in possession of a firearm after authorities discovered a loaded gun in a vehicle he was in during a traffic stop in Mercer County earlier this year. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. The former national president of the Pagans motorcycle club, who led a massive expansion of the outlaw organization in New Jersey, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Thursday. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Support local journalism with a subscription. The arrest has sent ripples through the Pagans organization. In New Jersey, Pagans membership which has always been strong in South Jersey has grown at an alarming rate in recent years, with 200 members in 17 chapters. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. 1:01 CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. The gang currently has 17 chapters across the state, up from 10 in 2016, according to the SCI. The victim would file a police report, but quickly rescinded it, fearful of retaliation at the hands of one of the most dangerous outlaw motorcycle gangs in the country. The northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "They're very well organized," Torres told the commission. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. One of the more disturbing elements of the investigation, the commission said, is that sensitive law enforcement information regarding the Pagans has been leaked to members of the club. ]. ]. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. A locked padlock The victim would file a police report, but quickly rescinded it, fearful of retaliation at the hands of one of the most dangerous outlaw motorcycle clubs in the country. Torres said thePagans are believed to have150 to 350 members in New Jersey. It included interviews with Pagan members their voices altered to protect their identities and video of a brutal attack in 2018 near a Hells Angels clubhouse in Newark. In 2018, Pagan Robert DeRonde, known as Hellboy, brutally beat an associate of the Hells Angels with a baseball bat at a gas station near the Newark clubhouse. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. They're one of four major outlaw clubs. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. Camden:856-757-5026
That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. The vehicle was stopped by police in East Windsor in Mercer County around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21. The U.S. Attorneys Office previously announced the arrest of Keith Richter the national president of the Pagans in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm in February. Luis Arocho, aka LuRoc, 43, of Keansburg, and Maurice Guzman, aka Dawg, 51, of Newark, were arrested Monday and charged by complaint with one count of aggravated assault in aid of racketeering. In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. Bucciarelli, who is the sergeant at arms of the Camden County Chapter, could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the brandishing a firearm charge. On Nov. 5, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Aquinos residence and recovered, among other items, multiple .40 caliber rounds of ammunition and approximately 50 grams of cocaine. Richter, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1998 for attempted murder and racketeering and released in 2012, took control of the Pagans in 2018, according to officials. In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. We are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or educational purposes. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. NEWARK, N.J. - Two high-ranking members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club were indicted today for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, narcotics distribution, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Bucciarelli was also indicted for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, prosecutors added. From left, attorney Carlos Martir, suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club member James Helveston Jr., suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club National Vice President Hugo Nieves and suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club National Mother/National Club member Luis Arocho.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Hugo Zorro Nieves, the alleged vice president of the Pagans, broke his silence to say, It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity, and thats all I will say about that.. These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Pagans National President Keith "Conan" Richter was attendingthat party last month before his arrest for gun possession in New Jersey by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms . Ferdinand Augello, left, and Paul Pagano, right, wait, via video, for their first court appearance to begin at the Atlantic . Those charges remain pending. Also on Monday, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging Nicholas Bucciarelli with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. And with these charges we have now brought criminal charges against a total of 11 defendants, involving various assaults, weapons possession and drug trafficking charges that relate to their membership and in many cases leadership of the Pagans," Honig said. Pagan's Motorcycle Club paraphernalia on display at a state Commission of Investigation Public Hearing on Oct. 23, 2019.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Keith "Conan" Richter, the former president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, pictured in 2018 at an event in New Jersey. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. A federal judge signed a court order this week allowing Michael Dorazo, of the Glendora section of Gloucester Township, to be transferred from the Salem County Correctional Facility to Camden federal court on Sept. 23 in order to plead guilty to a federal charge he faces. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter. Secure websites are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or purposes! 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