]. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. 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. In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. 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. 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.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. The federal charge against Dorazo came as the U.S. Attorneys Office of New Jersey has put an emphasis on investigating the Pagans, an organization that has expanded rapidly in the state recently and has allegedly been responsible for brutal assaults, drive-by shootings and distributing drugs across the state. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. 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. Arocho and Guzman are both high-ranking leaders in the Pagans organization, authorities alleged. Marino also agreed to surrender his interest in one gun, while DAlessando is to forfeit ownership of 11 weapons, their agreements say. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. Those charges remain pending. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Dorazo, also known as Cage, was not charged in the assault. 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 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. The vehicle was stopped by police in East Windsor in Mercer County around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. In another incident, a man was in a bar in Elizabeth a city dominated by the Pagans when he started talking to a female bartender. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. Our journalism needs your support. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227
Keith Richter, known as Conan, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charge against Richter came about after authorities were tipped off by someone that Richter was in possession of a loaded Ruger P345 .45-caliber handgun during a party for the club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Feb. 20, according to the criminal complaint. They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. This investigation involved court-authorized wiretaps, the use of multiple undercover law enforcement agents, and execution of multiple search warrants at physical locations in multiple jurisdictions. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. "Despitethesometimesroughappearanceoftheseguys,theyarenotatall unsophisticatedwhenitcomestounderminingandfrustratinglawenforcement," said Lee Seglem, executive directorofthe commission, in his opening statement. 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 and the Hells Angels are known to be rival gangs. 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. And Pagans are expanding, moving out West, into . 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. District of New Jersey
Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. ]. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. FAX: 856-968-4917
Police found the firearm underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. 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. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The FBI identifies the Pagans as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle gangs in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. 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. 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. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. And whenit comes to evading detection, they're getting better. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. 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.. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. 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.. Richter and prosecutors agreed on the sentence as part of the plea deal, according to court documents. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Our journalism needs your support. Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. 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. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig credited a joint task force comprised of special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gibson; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Taylor; the Union County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges. The Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. 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. 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. He also thanked the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for its assistance with this investigation. 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. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. 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. Federal authorities have also described Dorazo, 41, as a known distributor of methamphetamine in and around Camden and Gloucester Counties, though he does not face any current drug charges. There has been an. Unlike other motorcycle gangs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and was released in 2012. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. 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. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. 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. 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 and Explosives,according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the club's activities. 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. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said. as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle clubs operating in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. The Pagans motorcycle gang, with a notorious history in South Jersey two and three decades ago, is back with a vengeance, according to testimony at a State Commission of Investigation hearing last week. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Violence has risen since a change in national leadership in 2018 when Keith "Conan" Richter took over as president, according to testimony. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Pagans Elizabeth membership chapter, prosecutors said. 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. 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. Do you know who we are? the Pagans yelled at the man, according to a police report. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. 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 northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. Lock Find NJ.com on Facebook. Nicholas Lefty Marino, 76, and Anthony Fugit DAlessandro, 55, were accused of assisting in an August 2020 attack at a Pagans clubhouse. Many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club, prosecutors say. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. 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. 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). 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. 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. The crimes were committed for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in the Pagans' Motorcycle Club, according to plea agreements. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. 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. These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor
All rights reserved (About Us). In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700
There are also individual chapter presidents, and those members are referred to as the Mother Club, responsible for managing Pagans business and recruitment efforts on a local level. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. ", Also: Camden man fatally shot in Fairview home, More: Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel. The SCI report warned that the growth of the biker gang could lead to more violent clashes with innocent people. These charges, according to Honig, are in connection to a separate gang-related assault in which Bucciarelli retaliated against another member of the Pagans for breaking the organizations rules. Marino and DAlessandro pleaded guilty at separate hearings in Camden federal court on Jan. 24 and Jan. 27. 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. Enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun the vice president of the Club. Pagans are expanding, moving out West, into to a Police.! Youtubes terms of service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here youtubes. 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