The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. A purported member of a the Pagan's Motorcycle Club was charged with attempted murder after breaking into a home and firing a gun Saturday night in South Jersey.Michael F. Dorazo, 41, was armed with a pair of handguns and a high-power, hig Gloucester + Follow Contact Us Gloucester Daily Voice servesDeptford, 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.. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded Ruger P345 .45-caliber handgun underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. 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). They're one of four major outlaw clubs. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700
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. Count One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.". The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. The group's move into North Jersey is why the violence has increased, investigators said. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. Nicholas Lefty Marino, 76, and Anthony Fugit DAlessandro, 55, were accused of assisting in an August 2020 attack at a Pagans clubhouse. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. ", 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.". Violence has risen since a change in national leadership in 2018 when Keith "Conan" Richter took over as president, according to testimony. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 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. 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. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Larry Ortiz, 31, of Elizabeth, and Junius Aquino, 38, of Vauxhall, were charged with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence for their roles in a gang-related shooting, authorities said. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. Larry Ortiz, aka Savage, 31, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Junius Aquino, aka Jayo, 38, of Vauxhall, New Jersey, were indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering (Count One) and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count Two), in connection with their roles in a gang-related shooting. "Despitethesometimesroughappearanceoftheseguys,theyarenotatall unsophisticatedwhenitcomestounderminingandfrustratinglawenforcement," said Lee Seglem, executive directorofthe commission, in his opening statement. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. Prosecutors allege that Arocho, Guzman, and other associates of the Pagans brutally assaulted an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club at a gas station in Newark in April 2018. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. 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. 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 SCI report warned that the growth of the biker gang could lead to more violent clashes with innocent people. Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. 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. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. Pagans continue to distribute methamphetamine but are getting away from manufacturing it, relying more on "super labs" in Mexico. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. 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. It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity, and thats all I will say about that, he said. 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. 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. 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. Many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club, prosecutors say. Among the hiearchy of women associated with the Pagans, the lowest are called "pets. ]. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. 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). 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 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. 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. There has been an. 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. 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. Our journalism needs your support. 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983
According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. "They're very well organized," Torres told the commission. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. Have a question about Government Services? Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. 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. Mr. 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 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. In 2020, the group issued a 20-page report exposing in exhaustive detail how the Pagans have doubled in size in New Jersey, with more than 200 members spread across 17 chapters in the state. FAX:973-645-2702
At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Pagans Elizabeth membership chapter, prosecutors said. 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. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. 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. The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. 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. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. 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. 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. Public Hearing: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - The Pagans 'Organized Crime Spotlight' examines MS-13 in NJ . Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor
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