The Pagan's Motorcycle Club has recruited disgraced or retired law enforcement officers and even a former municipal court judge in New Jersey. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Trenton:609-989-2190 The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. 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.. Daniel Hooban, 33, of Bayonne, New Jersey, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. 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 . The crimes were committed for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in the Pagans' Motorcycle Club, according to plea agreements. Some of the details that came out of the hearingwere: Ken Serrano has covered breaking news and crime in New Jersey for the past 20 years. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. "Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. CAMDEN Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. After being released, Richter eventually re-gained his position as national president of the Pagans Motorcycle Gang in 2018, Frazer said, overseeing a major expansion of the outlaw motorcycle gang on the East Coast. Members of the Pagans became enraged with the informant, who authorities said was an associate of the motorcycle club, when the person told the club he sold the Pagans firearms. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. Mr. Seemingly random assaults like these on the citizens of the Garden State have officials at the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation urging law enforcement to take action. Our journalism needs your support. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Not only are there violent attacks on rival biker gangs like the Hells Angels and the Warlocks, the report states, but a newfound level of aggression has led to drive-by shootings, savage beat downs of adversaries and unprovoked physical assaults on members of the public across New Jersey.. A Pagans MC leader, Jay Carl Wagner, 66, was arrested in Washington County, Maryland, by 60-plus officers from state, local and federal officials with a bomb disposal robot on May 9, 2007, and later charged with possession of a regulated firearm after conviction of a violent crime. Female clerks and staff in police departments and other law enforcement offices and in the courts who are linked to the Pagans have compromised investigations and passed along confidential information to the group. Find NJ.com on Facebook. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. The gang currently has 17 chapters across the state, up from 10 in 2016, according to the SCI. He has not been convicted of any crimes in this case. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. NEWARK, N.J. - Two high-ranking members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club were arrested today for assault in aid of racketeering, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced. Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. 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. The rise of the Pagans motorcycle club in New Jersey was the focus of an investigation conducted by the State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog group formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime. ", Also: Camden man fatally shot in Fairview home, More: Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel. The Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. Count Five carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, charged with attempted murder earlier this year, other influential leaders of the Pagans in South Jersey, has put an emphasis on investigating the Pagans. 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). Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. "The Pagans are an outlaw motorcycle gang and in the charges that we announced today, as well as in the charges that we brought over the past 11 months, we identify the Pagans as a racketeering enterprise that engages in various forms of illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons possession and trafficking, and violent crime," Honig said during a Monday press conference announcing the latest indictments. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. The commission recommended the state Attorney Generals Office create a working group comprised of law enforcement officials at every level devoted to identifying and prosecuting criminal activity conducted by outlaw motorcycle gangs. "They're typically given as many drugs or drinks as they want., One Paganmotto: "Breaking laws and breaking jaws since 1959". At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. Richter has remained in a New Jersey jail since he was arrested. Count Six carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Our journalism needs your support. Violence has risen since a change in national leadership in 2018 when Keith "Conan" Richter took over as president, according to testimony. Ortiz was indicted for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The group now has 900 members in 12 states, he said. 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. District of New Jersey Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Seemingly random assaults like these on the citizens of the Garden State have officials at the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation urging law enforcement to take action. 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. 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. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. The rise in Pagan membership in New Jersey,first reported by NJ Advance Mediain 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. A locked padlock 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. NEWARK Federal agents Monday arrested two high-ranking members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from New Jersey for assault in aid of racketeering as part of a long-running investigation into The commission investigated the group because of an "alarming shift" in the way the Pagans are doing business, which gang investigators have not seenbefore,Torres said. The outlaw bikers were once a familiar scourge in Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pa., as well as the southern half of New Jersey. The assault victim, whose name was not disclosed, had alerted investigators in July 2020 that hed been asked to store guns and ammunition by another suspect in the case, Michael Cage Dorazo of Gloucester City, a criminal complaint alleges. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Keith "Conan" Richter, the former president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, pictured in 2018 at an event in New Jersey. Marino also agreed to surrender his interest in one gun, while DAlessando is to forfeit ownership of 11 weapons, their agreements say. Do you know who we are? the Pagans yelled at the man, according to a police report. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. 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. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. 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. The Pagans formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. NEWARK, N.J. Two high-ranking members of the Pagans 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Rachael A. Honig announced two additional indictments, bringing the total of Pagans members facing crimes to 11 -- although the number may increase as the investigation continues. 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. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle clubs to increase membership, officials said. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. He has previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including burglary and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, meaning he cannot legally posses a firearm. Hundreds of Pagans showed up at Roar tothe Shore motorcycle event in Wildwood in September, what'sknown in the outlaw motorcycle club world as a "Pagan event.". In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Ritchers attorney argued that his client is at high-risk to COVID-19 if he is detained and offered a $1 million bail package for Richter to be released on. more information Accept. There are at least 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials have said. 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.. 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. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. Richter and the passenger were not detained at the time, but Richter was later arrested by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which identified him in the criminal complaint as the national president of the Pagans. 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. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. Over the last year, federal authorities have charged at least 10 Pagan members in New Jersey with a number of crimes, including for their alleged roles in shootings and drug distribution.. 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. Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club have been implicated in a drug ring with an Atlantic County doctor authorities say hired them to kill his wife. Camden:856-757-5026 The SCI report warned that the growth of the biker gang could lead to more violent clashes with innocent people. 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