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. Unlike other motorcycle gangs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. "Despitethesometimesroughappearanceoftheseguys,theyarenotatall unsophisticatedwhenitcomestounderminingandfrustratinglawenforcement," said Lee Seglem, executive directorofthe commission, in his opening statement. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. It is unclear why Richter was not arrested during the traffic stop. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, Two Members of Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted for Shooting at Hells Angels Associate on New Jersey Turnpike, Bergen County Man Charged for Possession of Machine Gun, Rifle, Handgun, and Fraudulent United States Marshals Service Credentials in Newark Airport, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in Murder for Hire, Three Hudson County Men Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Related Offenses Inside Jersey City Apartment Building, Two Members of Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted For Shooting At Hells Angels Associate On New Jersey Turnpike. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. Less than three weeks later, Dorazo led police in South Jersey on a manhunt after authorities heard gun shots in a Deptford home they were responding to due to a domestic disturbance, authorities said. CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 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. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. 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 Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. The judge is to sentence Marino on May 26 and DAlessandro on June 1. Est. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Multiple law enforcement officials told NJ Advance Media that Robert Big Bob Francis, of Virginia, has taken over as the national president of the Pagans. We believe this corresponds with a fair use of any such copyrighted material (referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). 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. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. Have a question about Government Services? And whenit comes to evading detection, they're getting better. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. The turf clash between the Pagans and Hells Angels has been well-documented over the years especially in northern New Jersey, where the Hells Angels have a clubhouse in Newark. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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.". CAMDEN Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. The bail hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday. Camden:856-757-5026 as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. ", 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.". "Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. "Contrary to popular belief, what you may see in the media of guys just hanging out partying and drinking and a bunch of fellows having a good time, this is a well-run organization and a criminal enterprise by no other terms. 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 hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. For more on crime in New Jersey, scroll to the video above. 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. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. After hearing gunshots ring out in the neighborhood, Deptford police officers rushed to the area and began a search for Michael F. Dorazo, 41, of Glendora. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Richter and prosecutors agreed on the sentence as part of the plea deal, according to court documents. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Among the hiearchy of women associated with the Pagans, the lowest are called "pets. They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. ]. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The club distributes drugs in cells within chapters to keep tight control of the of the information. Glen Turner, 73, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Keith Richter, known as Conan, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The agency also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs. 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. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. 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. 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. Richter was not present at the hearing. 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. 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. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. Torres said thePagans are believed to have150 to 350 members in New Jersey. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Count One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Ferdinand Augello, left, and Paul Pagano, right, wait, via video, for their first court appearance to begin at the Atlantic . A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. 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. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. The outlaw motorcycle club has a clubhouse in Newark. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. 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. 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. Its unclear how the arrest of Richter will impact the group. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission 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 resurgence and expansion of the group has made it easier to wear Pagan colors, he said. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. Members conduct active "counter surveillance" of law enforcement, using drones and plainclothes Pagan members to search for undercover law enforcement officers at events. Guzman is the President of Presidents of the New Jersey chapter, according to prosecutors. Hugo Zorro Nieves, who authorities said they believe is the vice president of the Pagans, is based in New Jersey. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 The victim told the Pagans hed sold the guns for $5,000 and turned over that amount of money, which was provided by federal investigators, to Dorazo, the complaint alleges. 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). Support local journalism with a subscription. 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.. Our journalism needs your support. Police found the firearm underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities 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. 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. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. 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). 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. 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. District of New Jersey At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said. During Fridays hearing, Frazer presented a recorded conversation from 2019, in which Ritcher allegedly chided a Pagans leader in the Bronx for not using violence against a rival gang who showed up at one of their clubs brandishing firearms. The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these clubs in routine crime investigations. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. 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