There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. And Pagans are expanding, moving out West, into . Hugo Zorro Nieves, who authorities said they believe is the vice president of the Pagans, is based in New Jersey. 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. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. 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. An alleged member of the Pagan's 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. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. The Pagans engage in protection rackets,"muscle for hire," and debt collection for traditional organized crime groups, posting what look like job listings at meetings for debt collection jobs with the offer of a percentage of the money recovered. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. Support local journalism with a subscription. Est. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. Long-term operations of this magnitude require a tremendous amount of work and patience by cooperating detectives, and while the full scope and impact of this investigation may yet be fully realized, its success continues a year after it began, Callahan said. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. (Authorities said they seized them.). Pagans continue to distribute methamphetamine but are getting away from manufacturing it, relying more on "super labs" in Mexico. "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 mans only mistake was passing a Pagan. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. The group is also able to thwart law enforcement by utilizing encrypted cellphone apps and counter-surveillance efforts, including flying a drone at a large gathering of Pagans at Wildwoods Roar to the Shore event. 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.". The resurgence and expansion of the group has made it easier to wear Pagan colors, he said. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club, prosecutors say. Whether its ticket-fixing judges, police misconduct, orLittle League officials' questionable finances, we're here for you. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, led a massive expansion of the outlaw organization in New Jersey, discovered a loaded gun in a vehicle he was, charged at least 10 Pagan members in New Jersey. In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity, and thats all I will say about that, he said. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. 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 as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle gangs operating in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. The outlaw bikers were once a familiar scourge in Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pa., as well as the southern half of New Jersey. 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. Prosecutors moved to have Richter detained pending the outcome of the case due to his criminal history, they said, and because of his role as the leader of the motorcycle gang. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bucciarelli has pleaded not guilty to charges that include assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Pagans associate pleads guilty to trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing firearms and ammunit More details released on Carlyle bar incident connected to biker club feud. The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. Pagans Motorcycle Club incident that rocked New Jersey September 8, 2021 Pagans Motorcycle Club incident that rocked New Jersey Pagan's Motorcycle Club Causing Panic in Missouri OUTLAWS MC DESERVED THIS 100% *VIDEO* EP 934 Official Statement From The Grim Reapers MC Concerning Bust **FULL AUDIO** 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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). The Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. 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 cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. It was. ]. "They're very well organized," Torres told the commission. A lock ( The Pagans which started in Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1959 has swelled to more than 1,300 members across at least 12 states, experts 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. The northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. He was cruising on his motorcycle on Route 1 in Elizabeth when he passed two other drivers on the right of the multi-lane roadway in June 2019. Pagan motorcycle club paraphernalia on display at a New Jersey State Commission of Investigation public hearing in Trenton in October 2019. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Those charges remain pending. 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.". 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. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, one of the major outlaw motorcycle groups in the U.S., is a growing threat to citizens in New Jersey and every cop in the state should be trained to deal with them, according to a new report issued Wednesday. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. 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. A report released Wednesday by the group, an independent state watchdog formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime, says the Pagans have increased their membership ranks in the past three years and pose a growing threat to the public. 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 clubs. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Our journalism needs your support. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Ortiz was also charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Count Four carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. 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. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor
The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Mr. 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. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. 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. We are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or educational purposes. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club has recruited disgraced or retired law enforcement officers and even a former municipal court judge in New Jersey. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. 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. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. 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. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. 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). Richter was not present at the hearing. They're one of four major outlaw clubs. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. An official website of the United States government. The agency also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs. In New Jersey, Pagans membership, which has always been strong in South Jersey, has increased at an alarming rate in recent years, with 300 members in 17 chapters throughout the state.. Pagans MC: Glen Turner - The Shooting Of A NJ State Trooper (1982-83) MOBFAX 71.5K subscribers Subscribe 471 34K views 4 months ago Pagans MC: Glen Turner - The Shooting Of New Jersey. District of New Jersey
Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. ", Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo thanked the agencies that collaborated during the investigation, saying they have the "gratitude of communities impacted and made safer.".
Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. 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. Count Two carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. According to documents filed and statements made in court: On Oct. 21, 2020, Aquino visited a bar in Verona, New Jersey, with other members of the Pagans. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. 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. This Pagan resurgence especially the increased violence and other illegal acts that have accompanied it not only threatens the public peace and public safety of the citizens of New Jersey, it also presents significant challenges for those responsible for protecting it, the SCI report says. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. These charges were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club an outlaw motorcycle gang known to engage in illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crimes. 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. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. More violent incidents have been committed by the Pagans in a recent 18-month period than in the prior 10 years, according to the SCI report. Violence has risen since a change in national leadership in 2018 when Keith "Conan" Richter took over as president, according to testimony. 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. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Rachael Honig announced two additional indictments, bringing the total of Pagans members facing crimes to 11 -- although the number may increase as the investigation continues. 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. ", Also: Camden man fatally shot in Fairview home, More: Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. Not only are there violent attacks on rival biker clubs 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.. Please subscribe today to 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.. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle clubs to increase membership, officials said. 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. Richter, 62, attended a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around noon on Feb. 20. These charges relate to an alleged April 2018 encounter during which they beat an associate of the Hells Angels, a rival motorcycle club, and the victim sustained serious injuries, including fractured ribs. 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 crimes were committed for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in the Pagans' Motorcycle Club, according to plea agreements. A former Pagan chapter president in South Jersey is currently serving a life prison sentence for orchestrating the 2012 murder-for-hire plot of April Kauffman, a well-known radio personality in the Atlantic City area. Nieves made one statement, saying"All I will say is it is not the policy of this club for anybody to engage in any criminal activity.". Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. This 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, the report states. The vehicle was stopped by police in East Windsor in Mercer County around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. 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