The massive fight involved about 50 bikers in Fall River, Mass.,. Croke began his career in 1990 in Los Angeles, where he infiltrated street gangs and busted drug and gun rings. Both victims were members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club out Philadelphia ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. An indictment is an accusation. The Indictment further alleges that Peluso, Botta and Snelsire also conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, also between January and November 2020. Members Only 16. New York The Indictment further charges Kushik, Hairston, Wofford, Zilka, Walker, White, Cherepko, Hulboy and Crivella with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, also between August and November of 2020. Blue Wave Loses Ground In Working Class Massachusetts Enclave, Pagan's MC Has Headquarters Shuttered In Fall River - The Gangster Report Philadelphia Random South Sports Uncategorized Usergen Video West Coast Blue Wave Loses Ground In Working Class Massachusetts Enclave, Pagan's MC Has Headquarters Shuttered In Fall River And, he had to face opposition within the ranks of law enforcement who wanted to shut down the operation. Wentworth and Snow are scheduled to return to court on May 21, Ryan said. Prior to the shooting, which took place shortly before 3 Slam had a secret of his own. Even undercover, Croke remained a federal law enforcement officer, obligated to prevent anyone from getting killed orseriously injured in his presence. So what am I going to do to stop it? Theres a skill that goes to it, a coordination, but theres also dumb luck. Skip or stream? They are organized crime," Croke said in a telephone interview. Colonel Philbin. But spending so much time with the Pagans, did he glimpse humanity beneath the hatred and come to understand why they had fallen into the moral abyss? Medical Center in Charlottesville after a week-long stay, according to He was Ken Croke, a 20-year veteran of thefederal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearmsand Explosives who was working on buildinga criminal case against members of the club. Massachusetts residents still wanted by authorities includeRobert Gill, of Blackstone; Robert Minior, of Milford; and Joejihao Qian, of Norwood. But the operation had also taken a toll on his family life. All rights reserved. He writes: Every day living with those guys was a mindfuck, especially when I was a prospect [a prospective member]. After gaining a swelling mass of new members which put the Pagans on the path to evolve into an outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG). A year-long investigation of biker gangs in Rhode Island led to the arrests of at least 49 people and the seizure of 53 illegal guns. Theres a time when we drove to a house to kill or seriously injure this man. a.m., after the two Pagan's were seen at the travel center, one of the of East Elmhurst, New York. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. As he ran, two Hells Angels opened fire on him, video In addition to the PMC insignia, members of the PMC wear a diamond patch with "1%" inscribed inside, which denotes their claim to be among the one percent of motorcycle riders who are not law abiding. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. He now works as a security consultant. East Coast Featured Mafia Mafia Insider Members Only . showed. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, 30 Members and Associates of the Pagans Motorcycle Club Facing Federal Charges, Prolific Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled, Coraopolis Man Indicted in Western Pennsylvania and in the District of Columbia on Drug Charges, Indictment Charges Alleged Darknet Marketplace Fentanyl Dealer, 30 Members and Associates of The Pagans Motorcycle Club Facing Federal Charges. Pagans motorcycle gang shootout victim allegedly fired first at members There were about a dozen club members wearing Pagan patches and insignia and multiple other people in the clubhouse at the time, they said. shell casing were recovered at the motel by investigators. Club leadership isn't opposed to selling weed and cocaine,. Twenty Pagans were taken into custody on charges including racketeering, drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit murder. One slipup would mean being beaten with ax handles, or worse. When we got to that house, if this person was there, we were going to have to come out of role and stop it, which would have ended the investigation.. other, the second rider was knocked off his motorcycle as it was still moving. People HELLS ANGELS & PAGANS MC FALL RIVER - YouTube Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Devil's Desciples MC History The Devil's Desciples Motorcycle Club were founded in 1966 in Massachusetts. The third Indictment contains two counts and names the following twelve individuals as defendants: According to this Indictment, Kushik, Hairston, Wofford, Zilka, Walker, Camacho, Collins, and Taranto conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance between August and November of 2020. Video Eleven Members of The Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged with Narcotics Distribution, Firearms Offenses, and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Monday, June 28, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. 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). American (Traditional) $$ (508) 679-5010. Podcasts New York You just go there one day and its like, OK, this is whats going to happen, this is what were going to do, and the next thing you know, youre off on this completely different tangent doing something totally different.. The investigation focused on two gangs, The Pagans and Kryptmen, whose members were allegedly involved in gun and drug trafficking and other criminal activity, officials said. The comments are going to be filled with them. Jason Oliver from Fall River was identified as the leader of the Massachusetts Pagans biker gang, according to Rhode Island State Police. Part of the proceeds from these crimes would be paid to the Pagans headquarters, known as the "mother club.". Three BOSTON, MAFederal search warrants were executed early this morning in Bridgewater, Abington, and Brockton, Massachusetts relating to an investigation in the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) in which the national president and 26 other members and associates of the American Outlaw Association (Outlaws) motorcycle gang were indicted by a federal grand jury. News Mafia The leader of the Massachusetts Pagans motorcycle gang was among 49 people arrested this week following a year-long investigation by Rhode Island authorities that resulted in the seizure of 53 illegal guns as well as large quantities of heroin and other drugs, according to officials. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of each defendant. motorcycle gang members rousted four others from their rooms at the motel. All rights reserved (About Us). Detroit All pleadedguilty before coming to trial. Sentences ranged from two to 16 years. He earned the nickname Slam after he forcefully subdued a man during a brawl bar. Case Files Sports Club were spotted across the street at the Pilot Travel Center. This group brings in dirty money through drug trafficking, the bulk of which is methamphetamine acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Seven bikers were injured after a brawl broke out between rival motorcycle clubs in Massachusetts, near the Rhode Island border. Croke, a Boston native who was based in Southeastern Massachusetts during the investigation, wrote about his experiences in the new book "Riding with Evil: Taking Down the Notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang," written with New York Times bestselling author Dave Wedge. An official website of the United States government. "My brain was working on overdrive balancing the double- and triple-lives I was leading. The daring operation paid off with more than 20 Pagans arrested on charges including racketeering, murder conspiracy, extortion, drug trafficking, assault and weapons violations, leading to combined prison sentences of more than a hundred years. People Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Seven bikers injured in brawl between rival motorcycle gangs The leader of the Massachusetts Pagans motorcycle gang was among 49 people arrested this week following a year-long investigation by Rhode Island authorities that resulted in the seizure of 53 illegal guns as well as large quantities of heroin and other drugs, according to officials. A lock ( Croke points out: Theres certain things that I cant do. Featured The investigation also revealed what Rhode Island State Police called "extensive evidence" of other criminal activity, including large-scale gun and drug trafficking; widespread theft and sale of stolen ATVs, lawn tractors, snow blowers and other equipment; and fraudulent mortgage and bank activity. Court records show in 2018 a member of the Pagans motorcycle club was shot while riding in a pack on I-95 North near the Connecticut border. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government. Croke managed to turn it in to law enforcement while convincing the gang that it had been used to blow up a boat. Related | Hells Angels MC members charged with violence An application will be made to have the Victorian man extradited back to South Australia for a court appearance at Adelaide Magistrates Court on 27 June with the other four men who have been bailed.. Featured And they operate according to a pack mentality, he said. One leader was charged with more than 230 counts, according to . Judge Jane D. Prince set bail at $1,000 but he remains in jail because she revoked bail on a previous firearms charge he is facing out of Lowell District Court, Ryan said. They could. Face it, its never going to happen. Jacob Blair, 25, is also charged in 700 Grant Street, Suite 4000 The Pagans are one of the most prominent outlaw motorcycle gangs in the eastern United States. A rocket launcher?Raids, called single largest take-down in Rhode Island State Police history seizes guns, drugs and even a rocket launcher. Pagans Motorcycle Club Founding / Pagans MC History The Pagans Motorcycle Club was founded in 1959 by Lou Dobkin in Prince George's County which is located in Maryland . Eleven Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged - DEA OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. "They are extremely dangerous. When Croke went to the toilets, the man followed him to reveal that he had brought a bomb. Fax:814-533-4545. You have to go along with these things knowing that at any moment it could be too far and there are limits. The investigation focused on two gangs, The Pagans and Kryptmen, whose members were allegedly involved in gun and drug trafficking and other criminal activity, officials said. Croke became a member of the club's Long Island chapter, whose headquarters was a small tattoo parlor in the North Shore hamlet of Rocky Point. to maliciously wound, gang participation in a criminal act and use of a firearm Milan is a prospective member of the Hells Angels The investigation also revealed what Rhode Island State Police called extensive evidence of other criminal activity, including large-scale gun and drug trafficking; widespread theft and sale of stolen ATVs, lawn tractors, snow blowers and other equipment; and fraudulent mortgage and bank activity. evidence shown Thursday in Augusta County Circuit Court. Massachusetts residents still wanted by authorities includeRobert Gill, of Blackstone; Robert Minior, of Milford; and Joejihao Qian, of Norwood. On April 24, 2018, Arocho, Guzman, and other associates of the Pagans assaulted an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club at a gas station in Newark. An intermediary set up a meeting with Wedge, a Brockton native whose five earlier books with Casey Sherman included "Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America's Most Wanted Crime Boss." Colonel Philbin. During the course of the investigation, which began in August of 2018, law enforcement received information pertaining to the suspected illegal activities of Bill Rana, aka "Pittsburgh Billy", Eric Armes aka "Knuckles", Jason Evans aka "Shahid", and Patrick Rizzo, who have all been identified as suspected members or associates of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, as well as Phillip Bonanno, who has been identified as a suspected member of an Ohio Chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, and others. In conducting the raids shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday, authorities usedexplosive devices to breach heavily fortified buildings, an armored truck and battering ram to break down doors, and dozens of heavily armed SWAT team members and other officers, Rhode Island State Police said. Usergen The raid by the Middlesex State Police Unit and the State Police Tactical Operations Team was conducted after an investigation into the Pagan Motorcycle Club. But when a tip about criminal motorcycle gangs came in to the Boston ATF field office in 2008, the experienced Croke was brought in to check out sources and information. The 12-month investigation was dubbedOperation Patched Out and included assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI andthe federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, among other agencies. Podcasts Over two years his cover was never blown, though some members were suspicious of his true motivations. That investigation is continuing, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Everett Police Chief Steven Mazzie said while announcing the arrests. Another night, at a Pagan dive bar, Croke saw members of the gang attack a man who had shown disrespect. Paganism - Wikipedia These are violent criminals who belong to some of the most sinister motorcycle gangs in this country," Assumpico said in a statement. Police Tapes: Pagan's MC Set Up R.I. Chapter In '17 As Part Of East Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The defendants are alleged to have conspired to distribute controlled substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. counts of malicious wounding by a mob, along with single counts of conspiracy and beaten with a hammer. Would they want to do harm to me? He scrambled to dress appropriately, drive to a restaurant and play it cool. Topics Selection,Research, Editing, Correction Policy and Ethics. South of them reportedly members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the other a He was among 49 people arrested, several of whom are Massachusetts residents. On one occasion Croke received a call from a gang member who was unexpectedly and ominously close by and wanted to meet. International ', Asked if he thought members of the Pagans would read the book, Croke replied, "I would be surprised if they don't.". South This stuff has been happening for decades and decades. Croke said he wasn't sure he wanted to write a book about his life with the Pagans, but was urged to do it by his wife, Angela, a fellow ATF agent, and their three daughters. 'Dream come true':Weymouth drama instructor stars in comic romp 'Something Rotten! The victim was beaten with an axe handle, punched, and kicked by the Pagan's assailants, resulting in significant injuries. Official websites use .gov Once the case wrapped, Croke was required by ATF to see a psychiatrist to make sure had not gone to the dark side or become sympathetic to the Pagans causes or actions. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Theres also morally things: theyre a white supremacist group and I was not going to participate in a lot of their white supremacy activities.. Investigators believe two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club Jordan Patrick Taylor, 30, of Pasco, and Triston Broome, 24, of West Richland spotted members of a rival motorcycle club in . Inn. Interview Would I have to jump into a barroom brawl? Bikers The victim was struck once in the lower left side of his According to information provided to the court, the three Indictments charge 30 individuals with federal drug trafficking and firearms charges. Would I be faced with a pile of coke and a choice? The Indictment further alleges that on or about October 21, 2020, Patrick Rizzo, a convicted felon, who is prohibited from lawfully possessing a firearm, was found to be in possession of a loaded Taurus Judge .45 LC/410 pistol. News The memoir describes how Croke created a fake identity, won the bikers confidence, secretly recorded their meetings, witnessed their violent crimes and even spent several days in jail on a gun arrest. They truly fly under the radar of a lot of society and law enforcement.". Avideo announcement regarding this case can be found here: https://youtu.be/iWAof7-KgLA. Rarely seeing his family, he had to adapt to a volatile, unpredictable lifestyle where he might be ordered to commit violence or even kill at any moment. Also, many people identify as Pagan because they are polytheists-they honor more than just one god . International As to Patrick Rizzo the law provides for a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Cops have arrested two Hells Angels members and another biker-gang tough suspected in the assassination of a rival Pagans Motorcycle Club leader, police sources said. "They read them to try to detect what law enforcement does. Ken Croke does not want to be on camera so the words Kens iPhone XR appear on a black background instead. ', Foxboro's Chris Sullivan finds groove with Freestyle Love Supreme, Weymouth author publishes 'Fight Like a Girl', Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Some people call this "earth-based religion.". The related Indictments are the result of an investigation that began in August of 2018, and ultimately led to a Title III wire investigation with intercepted communications over several telephones from August 2020 through November 2020. Movies "They use intimidation, threats of violence to get what they want.". Most of the raids were conducted at Rhode Island addresses, but police received search warrants for and raided the following properties in Massachusetts:111 Pulaski Blvd. direction as he presumably filmed them, motel surveillance video showed. We live, thanks to the coronavirus, in the age of the Zoom interview. I know friends of mine who have done this and some have been conflicted for different reasons but I was not one of them.. Police will allege the five men associated together at the Adelaide Airport on Sunday 22 April, prior to boarding an overseas flight. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. These gang members are not recreational bikers organizing local charities. He was released on $500 bail after his arraignment, Ryan said. The club dealt in drugs, guns, bombs and shaking down legitimate businesses. Bikers charged in hammer attack on 'disgraced' gang member Philadelphia Slowly, as they began to accept more and more members in the '60s, they became more like a traditional outlaw MC. I completely understand the arrests in the Rhode island/Massachusetts raids but I am a little unclear how the men in the Australian story were all arrested just for meeting at an airport. As it relates to this count, the Indictment seeks forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition. Theres certain things that I cant be a part of. A nighttime raid on the Pagan Motorcycle Club in Everett ended with three men arrested and two arraigned Monday on weapons charges, according to authorities. The club was founded in 1959 and was originally a well-respected motorcycle club. The arrested men, a 31-year-old from Ingle Farm, a 31-year-old man from Walkley Heights, a 25-year-old man from Lightsview, 39-year-old man from Northgate and a 38-year-old man from Keilor Downs in Victoria, have all been charged with being present with two or more criminal organization participants. Hells Angels arrested for hit on leader of Pagans biker gang #HELLSANGELSMC #HELLSANGELS #PAGANSMC Harley-Davidson has reportedly filed a new trademark filing for the Bronx name, a name which was to be used in a new model, based on the latest 975 cc. Jeff Wentworth, 47, of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and improper storage of a firearm. on Off the wires: The leader of the Massachusetts Pagans motorcycle club was among 49 people arrested this week following a year-long investigation- Five bikers have been arrested after they allegedly associated together in public at Adelaide Airport. said both groups were passing through the area following an unidentified across the street with binoculars. In New Jersey, Pagans membership which has always been strong in South Jersey has grown at an alarming rate in recent years, with approximately 200 members in 17 chapters. also suspected of opening fire, evidence showed. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club also known as PMC or simply the Pagan's is an East Coast motorcycle club that's been around since 1959, according to various media reports, which have cited cops as saying that the club can be violent. Lock When the investigation ended in 2010, 20 Pagans were arrested on charges that included racketeering, murder conspiracy, assault, drug distribution, witness tampering and firearms offences. ", A veteran investigative reporter,Wedge said what surprised him the most about the Pagans were "how old-school some of their tactics are. 50 arrested as state police target R.I. biker gangs During a search of the building, police found four illegally-possessed, semi-automatic handguns with loaded magazines and an additional separate magazine containing ammunition, they said. The Blue Wave mandate instituted by The Pagan's Motorcycle Club boss What sort of dumb shit would they ask me to do? QUINCYSlam enjoyed a meteoricrise through the ranks of the Pagans, the secretiveoutlaw motorcycle gang that prided itself on having neverbeen infiltrated by law enforcement. BYFIELD Four alleged members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club were arrested yesterday by the state police gang unit, charged with kidnapping and smashing. Court on Thursday in an attempt to get a bond set. Pagan Motorcycle Club members charged with gun offenses in Everett Interview But not this time. #PAGANSMC #PAGANS #MOTORCYCLECLUB .Can't we all just get along lol? The three people arrested were arraigned in Malden District Court on Monday. Leader of Massachusetts Pagans biker gang among 49 arrested in raid . These are violent criminals who belong to some of the most sinister motorcycle gangs in this country, Assumpico said in a statement. The investigation remains ongoing. They also appeared to hold frequent, large gatherings or parties between PMC members/associates, non-PMC members, and other outlaw motorcycle gangs, at their McKees Rocks Clubhouse, which was one of more than a dozen locations where agents executed federally-authorized search warrants on December 8, 2020. The investigation, which was wide-spread, also resulted in identifying large-scale suppliers of narcotics not only to members and associates of the Pagans, but to local drug traffickers and suppliers within the Greater Pittsburgh Region. #PAGANSMC #PAGANS #MOTORCYCLECLUB .Cant we all just get along lol? The arrests were made following a series of pre-dawn raids conducted by authorities. Nor does he disclose where he lives or where he is speaking from today. Or an encounterwith members of the Pagans' archenemies, the Hell's Angels. Fax:412-644-4549, Johnstown:814-533-4547 The Indictments are the result of this long-term investigation, including court-authorized wiretaps on the cell phones of key members of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Im under the umbrella of ATF: they are constantly monitoring and checking and enquiring and following through on any threats or information related to threats. Exclusive Archives I always keep an eye out, but Im not living my life looking over my shoulder.. But there were some others that I despised much more, the ones who were most violent, the ones that were just sick in what they did and the lack of regard for people. The 56-year-old is online to talk about his new book, Riding with Evil, which chronicles how he became the first federal agent to go undercover and infiltrate the Pagan Motorcycle Club, a white supremacist gang. Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 17 South Park Row, Room A330 The first Indictment contains two conspiracy counts and one firearm possession count, and names the following nine individuals as defendants: Phillip Bonanno, 54, of New Philadelphia, OH, Dominic Quarture, 52, of Washington, PA. face drug and gun charges. Random "These gang members are not recreational bikers organizing local charities. Massachusetts residents arrested in the raid includedRobert Hamilton, of Franklin; Lisa Kakazu, of Bellingham; Marc Bunnell, of Blackstone; and Jason Oliver, of Fall River. It was a stressful way to live and my brain was working overtime., Croke adds via Zoom: Theres no planning this out, theres no script, there is no Oh, today Im going to do this. I can honestly tell you that never did a day go according to plan. The raids were conducted without incident. One of the Pagan's was shot, the other knocked off his motorcycle "[Wednesday's] arrests send a clear and convincing message: we will not allow motorcycle gangs and other criminals to sell guns and drugs on our streets and commit violent crimes in our communities.". An hour and a half later, the Pagan's went to the Hometown African-American morning hours of Sept. 10 at the Hometown Inn near Greenville, five men four Members Only Biker Trash Network | Biker News: Pagan's MC clubhouse raided "Through joint, collaborative investigations and robust partnerships, we will continue to target the leadership . Croke gradually earned the trust of the Pagans and became a fully patched member of their chapter in Long Island, New York. African-American I always had to expect the unexpected and could never let my guard down. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23.