Category: Gangs in the news…

Man caught with nearly 50 pounds of meth last year sentenced to Veterans Treatment Court

Chelsea Deffenbacher KEZI News ABC 9 March 7, 2025 Eugene Oregon
https://www.kezi.com/news/local/man-caught-with-nearly-50-pounds-of-meth-last-year-sentenced-to-veterans-treatment-court/article_3832c9da-fb86-11ef-98cc-f3e86f29da60.html

EUGENE, Ore. – A prolific methamphetamine dealer who was caught last year with nearly 50 pounds of meth while was operating out of the Free Souls Motorcycle Club was sentenced to Veterans Treatment Court this week.

The sentencing was a surprising move, as treatment court is generally reserved for users and not dealers. Michael Bethel was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for time served and given five years of supervised probation when he pleaded guilty in January to the charges against him. Charges included unlawful possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, delivery of meth, felon in possession of a firearm, and criminal forfeiture. On Thursday Bethel signed an agreement to participant in Veterans Treatment Court as a condition of probation. If Bethel completes the Lane County Circuit Specialty Court program, he’s off the hook for the charges.

Court records show Bethel was caught near Cottage Grove driving back from California in a Toyota Prius with 44.5 pounds of meth. Back at the Allane Avenue Free Souls headquarters, where Bethel resided, police found an additional four pounds of meth, 29 grams of cocaine, $7,500 in cash, and drug packaging materials. Bethel told police that he sells mostly quarter-, half-, or full pounds of meth but sometimes sells ounces to customers.

The Lane County District Attorney’s Office said they had strongly argued that Bethel be sentenced to up to 6 years and 8 months in prison. The D.A.’s office said they had provided evidence that within two weeks of pleading guilty, while the charges were still pending, Bethel was spotted selling drugs. The D.A.’s office said Bethel was sentenced to participate in the treatment court and 5 years of probation, against the office’s recommendation. The D.A.’s office said Bethel could possibly be sentenced to prison if his probation is revoked.

While street values fluctuate, a 2022 press release from the Drug Enforcement Administration estimated 48 pounds of meth to be worth more than $2 million at that time.

Koonce gets statutory 18-to-life for motorcycle club shooting

DAVID PATCH The Blade March 13, 2025
https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2025/03/13/koonce-gets-statutory-18-to-life-for-motorcycle-club-shooting/stories/20250313116

A man convicted last month for the murder of a misbehaving motorcycle-club visitor received a statutory 18 years to life in prison Thursday morning.

Judge Lori Olender said in Lucas County Common Pleas Court that while Ohio law gave her little leeway in sentencing DeAndre Koonce, 30, of the 1800 block of Airport Highway, for the March 3, 2024, shooting death of Caprise Arnett, it provided “the right outcome when you take a life and there is absolutely no reason behind it.”

While Arnett, 34, may have “acted the fool” inside the illegal after-hours club on Belmont Avenue, the judge said, his behavior did not warrant being shot.

“That whole thing happened so fast,” Judge Olender said, referring to surveillance footage of the conflict from multiple cameras inside the club that was shown during Koonce’s trial late last month. “It seemed to me the bar had it taken care of.”
Also speaking before Koonce’s sentencing was Crystal Lee, a sister, who said his death had devastated her family.

“The past year has been filled with so much hardship for my mother, my sisters, and myself,” Ms. Lee said while remarking that she had quit her job of 15 years “because I couldn’t focus” and Arnett’s three children have lost an “extraordinary” father who had gotten a good truck-driving job and was a devoted youth athletics coach.

“No amount of jail time can ever replace what has been taken from our family,” she said.

Ohio’s statutory sentence for murder is life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years. For Koonce, that was bumped to 18 years because of a mandatory three years for a firearm specification attached to the count. An appeal is expected.

Koonce “made a terrible decision that night, and the seriousness and the results are not lost on him,” defense lawyer Kati Tharp said Thursday.

The conflict involved Arnett’s reportedly impaired advances toward two women at a wee-hours party in the club: Koonce’s girlfriend and his sister, who according to trial testimony both repeatedly told him to leave them alone. The gathering involved

women members of the Envy’Us Ryders Motorcycle Club and men from the nearby Wolf Pack club, of which Arnett was not a member.
A brawl erupted when Arnett spat at the sister, Vicky Smith, after which she punched him and he threw a drink at her. Arnett and Ms. Smith ended up fighting on the floor, according to the testimony.

Koonce, who was nearby, pulled a gun he was carrying, pulled several onlookers aside, and shot Arnett once in the back. His defense argued the shooting was in defense of Ms. Smith and that Koonce believed Arnett was armed, as was not unusual for club patrons.

Called as a defense witness, Ms. Smith said she believed Arnett was deliberately missing her with his punches because she was a woman. Investigators determined he wasn’t armed.

U.S. Marshals are selling the former Evansville home of the Grim Reapers motorcycle club

Jon Webb Evansville Courier & Pres March 11, 2025
https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/local/2025/03/11/former-home-of-evansville-grim-reapers-club-for-sale-by-federal-government/82226283007/

EVANSVILLE – The former headquarters of an Evansville motorcycle club seized by the federal government is now for sale through the U.S. Marshals Service.

The building at 1104 E. Diamond Ave. is listed on Real Look − “the website run by the U.S. Marshals Service’s Real Property National Contractor,” the agency’s website states. The marshals oversee the forfeiture of assets allegedly used in the commission of crimes.
Going for $140,000, the government touts the 3,460-square-foot building and lot as a “fantastic investment opportunity.” It’s being sold as-is.

“With easy access to (U.S. 41), the property is ideal for attracting a high volume of visitors,” the listing reads. “Suitable for a wide range of uses, including taverns, bars, theaters, health clubs, microbreweries, and more – perfect for investors looking to capitalize on diverse leasing options.”

The government seized the building in 2023, four years after a massive raid that eventually led to 15 people being sentenced on felony charges ranging from conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine to various firearm offenses.

The member hit with the longest sentence, Central Holman IV, appealed his conviction late last year. According to court records, he’s arguing ineffective counsel and trying to overturn the 21-year sentence he received after pleading guilty in 2022.

Holman asked for a case update on March 5. A day later, U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young ruled the government has until April 24 to respond.

Marshal Service real estate stretches across the country

Real Look’s website lists more than 50 properties spread across multiple states that have been forfeited to the government for one reason or another. They even stretch into U.S. territories. There’s a $1.4 million condo in the Virgin Islands; a $7 million, 10,000-square-foot mansion in Connecticut; an $8.7 million, 100,000 square foot complex in Oklahoma reportedly used for a $300 million illegal marijuana operation.

But there are plenty of smaller properties, too, including a run-of-the-mill three-bedroom home in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a studio apartment in Flushing, New York. The cheapest is a 1,000-square foot home in Racine, Wisconsin for only $85,000.

The sale of the Grim Reapers place, if it ever comes, will be the last bit of business for a case that droned on for almost six years. According to court records, Judge Matthew Brookman officially dismissed it on Feb. 7.

Expert: Mongols, Warlocks, other biker gangs require ‘overwhelming’ police at Bike Week

Two people in a pack of Outlaws were arrested on Thursday during Bike Week when they refused to obey deputies, an affidavit stated.

Frank Fernandez Daytona Beach News-Journal March 12, 2025
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/03/12/daytona-bike-week-shooting-between-mongols-warlocks/82234734007/

• Members of the Mongols and Warlocks motorcycle gangs got into a brawl Saturday in New Smyrna Beach during Bike Week, police said.

• Florida is home to a growing number of motorcycle gangs and gang members, an expert said.

• Expert says motorcycle gangs are attracted to events like Bike Week and an “overwhelming police presence” is needed to deter violence.

A brawl between two motorcycle gangs that led to gunfire in New Smyrna Beach Saturday showed why “an overwhelming police presence” is needed at events like Bike Week, a motorcycle gang expert said Monday.

Motorcycle gangs have been expanding their presence in Florida over the last several years, said John Scaduto, the Southwest Florida regional director of the Florida Gang Investigators Association, which provides training and advice for law enforcement agencies.

In the last several years, at least two outlaw motorcycle clubs have moved into Florida: the Mongols and the Pagans. The Mongols is an international motorcycle gang.

“There’s more of an expansion of the clubs that have moved into the state and they are establishing new clubhouses, chapters, territories, so to speak, within the state, and that is encroaching upon each other,” he said.

The Mongols and the Warlocks were the two clubs involved in Saturday’s melee, Scaduto said. They were also the two clubs identified in a charging affidavit against a Mongol named Clinton N. Walker from Bradenton. According to news accounts, Walker at one time supported the Outlaws, which is the most dominant motorcycle gang in Florida.

Walker was fired in 2018 from the Hillsborough Fire Service after an internal affairs investigation determined he was loyal to the Outlaws motorcycle gang, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Walker was recruited by the president of the Outlaws chapter in St. Petersburg, James Costa, who was also his fire captain, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The Daytona Beach Fire Department also employed a motorcycle club member, a Warlock, back in 2012. Former Daytona Beach Fire Lt. Brad Dyess belonged to the Warlocks club in Orlando, which uses the phoenix, or bird, symbol.

Dyess was involved in a shootout in 2012 between several members of the Orlando Warlocks and a group known as the Harpy Warlocks from Philadelphia. Three of the Warlocks with Dyess were killed in the shootout in Winter Springs. Dyess was not charged. He resigned from the department in 2013.

Scaduto said people sometimes wonder why they see so many law enforcement officers at biker events. He said Saturday’s clash at the RaceTrac at 3000 State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach is one reason.

“This is a perfect example of why additional policing resources are required during these events,” Scaduto wrote in an email. “When the clubs/gangs are in close proximity to each other, the tension is certainly there, all that is needed is a bad look, word, shove, etc., and things get out of hand very quickly.”

He said it was fortunate that innocent bystanders weren’t hurt by a stray bullet Saturday.

“We are lucky as a community that no one was shot during the volley of gunfire at a very public place with citizens present as well as traffic on the adjacent roadways,” Scaduto wrote.

Ormond Beach Police, along with other agencies, stay informed about biker activity in the city, wrote Pauline Dulang, a public

information officer for the department. She wrote the patrol officers and especially the motorcycle officers “maintain a strong, visible presence throughout the entire week, especially at our high traffic areas, to ensure safety for everyone — not just to monitor gangs.”

“Police presence during Bike Week is key to maintaining safety and deterring crime. Simply put, people are less likely to break the law with officers nearby,” Dulang wrote.

The Daytona Beach Police Department, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and the New Smyrna Beach Police Department did not respond to The News-Journal’s questions about law enforcement, public safety and biker gangs during special events.
Origins of Mongols, Warlocks

The affidavit about the New Smyrna Beach shooting also stated that the Mongols have a clubhouse on Cow Creek Road in Edgewater.
The Mongols, who wear a vest with an emblem of Genghis Kan, originated in California, Scaduto said. Their club colors are black and white, the same as the Outlaws.

As for the Warlocks, there are two different types. The ones involved in the Saturday brawl were the “Phoenix, or bird,” Warlocks, Scaduto said. They were founded in Orlando, where the mother chapter still exists, and at one point were a “pretty large club” in Florida and battled the Outlaws, Scaduto said.

He said the Mongols outnumbered the Warlocks on Saturday.

“They are not stupid, they like their overwhelming numbers,” Scaduto said. “That was the case Saturday. There was a hell of a lot more Mongols than there were Warlocks.”

Will the brawl Saturday lead to more fights between the two clubs?

“Unless there’s some sort of discussion to avoid another conflict, I think conflict is to be expected,” Scaduto said. “Now whether we will be aware of the retribution or the acts that is another question, because they are not the most willing complainant to go to the police station.”

Some club members declined on Saturday to participate in the investigation. Marvin Granick, a Warlock who suffered a grazing gunshot wound to the side of the head, refused to complete a statement, an affidavit stated.

Anthony Trimboli, a Mongol, was shot in the stomach and arrived at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, the affidavit stated. Trimboli said he was practicing cross drawing his gun when it accidentally fired, wounding him. Trimboli refused to complete a statement and did not wish to pursue charges, the affidavit stated.

Outlaws, Mongols, Pagans and Warlocks most active in Florida

Outlaws, Mongols, Pagans, Warlocks and their support clubs are the most active outlaw motorcycle clubs in Florida, Scaduto said. He said he could not discuss it at this point, but another club is also entering Florida and is recruiting members from motorcycle gangs already in the state.

“We have another club that is coming in and is patching over some of these national clubs within the state,” Scaduto said. “That’s definitely going to lead to some sort of confrontation.”

He said the incoming club will offer members of other clubs “a better deal” like rank and status.

“It’s like a promotion. We’ll let you be the president, however they pitch it, or in the underground world, they know who’s looking to be the stronger of the two,” Scaduto said.

The person being recruited is buttered up like any person being sought by another employer, he said.

“They know that the team that’s offering them to patch over is most likely going to win dominance, which it’s all about,” he said.

While Saturday’s altercation was between Mongols and Warlocks, the Outlaws are still the dominant motorcycle gang in the Daytona Beach region and most of Florida, Scaduto said. And Bike Week attracts Outlaws, he said.

2 Outlaws arrested during traffic stop

Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies encountered a pack of Outlaws about 10 p.m. March 6 riding their motorcycles on U.S. 1 and Melrose Avenue, according to charging affidavits.

As a deputy tried to stop one of the Outlaws for reportedly not wearing eye protection, other Outlaws appeared to try to block the deputy’s path by not yielding, the affidavit stated. Once the deputy managed to stop the biker, several of the others in the group of Outlaws stopped behind the deputies “causing the them to split their attention and placing them at a tactical disadvantage,” the affidavit stated. The Outlaws became argumentative when told to move, including telling deputies “I don’t know what you are saying dumbass,” the affidavit stated.

Deputies ended up arrested two of the bikers. Michael Johnson, 34, of Jacksonville, was arrested on misdemeanor counts of failure to obey police or fire department and no motorcycle endorsement. They found that Johnson was carrying a Glock handgun in his waist and another Glock in a handlebar bag. They also found an “AK-47 pistol” in his motorcycle’s saddle bag, according to the affidavit.

Deputies also arrested Merrick B. “Slowpoke” Johnson, 29, also of Jacksonville, and charged him with misdemeanor failing to obey police or fire. Deputies found a Glock in his motorcycle’s handlebar bag, the affidavit stated.

Can You Be Arrested Just For Joining An Outlaw Motorcycle Gang?

BY ALEC HIVELY MARCH 10, 2025 12:45 PM EST
https://www.slashgear.com/1806055/outlaw-motorcycle-club-can-someone-be-arrested-just-for-joining/

Outlaw motorcycle gangs are as much a part of the American criminal mystique as cowboys, bootleggers, and gangster rap. Born of the angst of World War II veterans acclimating to their new civilian lifestyles, they’ve grown from small social clubs into multinational criminal organizations. The Hells Angels’ website counts 64 countries in which they’re active. And although outlaw motorcycle gangs only account for an FBI-estimated 2.5% of American gang membership, they’re disproportionally responsible for gang-related violence and drug offenses.

Members of the Hells Angels, Bandidos, Pagans, Outlaws, and other criminal outlaw motorcycle gangs are colloquially known as one-percenters. Initially used to illustrate how the vast majority of motorcyclists are law-abiding, this term is now worn like a badge of honor by the big four outlaw motorcycle gangs. Emerging from a controversial Life magazine article documenting debauched riots at the 1947 American Motorcyclist Association races in Hollister, California, the distinction underpins a difficulty for both riders and law enforcement: while the differences between outlaw motorcycle gangs and motorcycle clubs are distinct, not all members of outlaw gangs are involved in criminal activities. Often, determining members’ criminality is difficult — even for the members.

With this in mind, many wonder whether membership alone is enough to throw them into the same legal bucket as one-percenters. To find out, we turned to lawyer and retired FBI agent Bobby Chacon, whose 27-year career included becoming an expert on the Jamaican Posse gangs, establishing the bureau’s underwater forensic program, and counterterrorism postings in Baghdad and Athens.

The answer to whether membership alone is prosecutable is both straightforward and complex. At its most basic level, Chacon tells SlashGear that no, members of legally designated outlaw motorcycle gangs cannot be prosecuted for membership alone. As he puts it, “Everyone arrested has to be individually charged with a crime.”

So why is membership in an outlaw gang not considered a crime? Well, the right to assembly is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. So as a general rule, enforcement agencies cannot prevent people from joining without proof that they’re engaged in illegal activity. This became a point of conflict when Los Angeles made injunctions a key cog of its anti-gang strategy in the 1980s. Since then, the proliferation of gang databases and “predictive policing” that seeks to forecast who will commit crimes has brought the question of guilt by association to the forefront of the American justice landscape.

However, Chacon posits that criminal charges must be filed against an individual for specific criminal actions — not mere association. This extends to common tools in addressing gang-related violence, like conspiracy and racketeering cases. Even in these instances, he says, “each member of the conspiracy is charged separately and individually for their role in the conspiracy. Every arrest has to be tied to their own criminal behavior.”

Simply put, to be prosecuted, you need to be involved in criminal activity. But does that mean that members of outlaw motorcycle gangs are in the clear?

The danger for members of these gangs isn’t that they are guilty by association, but rather that their membership might enlist them in criminal conspiracies regardless of their intentions. One common instance is in Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act cases, known as RICO cases, which bring the unrelated crimes of a criminal enterprise together under a broad umbrella of racketeering.
Now a matter of common parlance due to their proliferation in pop culture, RICO cases are of particular concern to motorcycle gang members — even those who don’t consider themselves one-percenters. Asked if members of outlaw motorcycle gangs could be brought into a RICO case without directly participating in criminal activity, Chacon warned that while “many different activities on behalf of the ‘Organization’ (the “O” in RICO) are often downplayed or looked at as noncriminal,” they may form the basis of charges anyway.
Using an example from his career, Chacon recounted how a 19-year-old was sentenced to 20 years in prison for delivering packages and driving family members to make bank deposits on behalf of his brother — who he knew was a drug dealer. While, on the surface, neither of these acts seemed illegal to the teen, their furtherance of a criminal enterprise subjected him to a RICO charge.
What is a RICO offense and are past members in the clear?

So what does that mean for members of an outlaw motorcycle gang who are there solely for the camaraderie, jacket, and the thrill of the open road? Well, the answer is complicated.

To be hit with a RICO charge, a defendant must exhibit a pattern of racketeering activity. The RICO statute identifies 35 such crimes, including mail and wire fraud, murder, drug dealing, gambling, and bribery. And while a seemingly law-abiding motorcycle-gang member might protest that they didn’t commit these crimes, Chacon warns that members who perform two or more acts that further the criminal enterprise directly or “increase or maintain their standing in the organization” could be considered guilty. To harken back to Chacon’s earlier example, tangentially furthering the racketeering activities of a criminal enterprise is enough to land you in a RICO case.

For those hoping that the statute of limitations might save them from prosecution, Chacon warns that it might not be that simple. “The RICO reachback can be quite lengthy,” he said, stating that even if a person can’t be charged directly with a crime, “the evidence of that crime can be admissible to show the person was part of the RICO.” In essence, even if a crime is outside the statute of limitations, it can still be used to establish a pattern of crime.

Recent cases highlight the dangers of outlaw motorcycle gangs

RICO cases are law enforcement’s best friend when targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs, as they enable prosecutors to do away with piecemeal measures and address the entirety of the criminal enterprise. Just last month, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas charged 14 members of the Bandidos with “roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in murder, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution, and witness intimidation in and around Houston.”

The Justice Department’s crackdown on the Bandidos, which included charges against “Survivor” star Brandon K. Hantz, is just one of a string of high-profile cases regarding outlaw motorcycle gangs in recent years, with charges brought against the likes of the Hells Angels, Red Devils, Thug Riders, and Mongols in the past year alone.

With increased levels of prosecutorial attention, it is understandable why some bikers may be concerned about the ramifications of their outlaw-motorcycle-gang membership. While membership alone won’t expose bikers to prosecution, the roles and actions undertaken while a member may make riders culpable in their gang’s criminal activities, drawing a delicate line between membership in an outlaw motorcycle gang and aiding in its conspiracies.

Whether that line has been crossed, Chacon notes, might be a question more suited for an experienced defense attorney. In any case, it seems that riders thinking of joining an outlaw motorcycle gang might be wise to remember the self-help axiom, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.”

More details revealed in brawl, shooting involving two biker clubs in New Smyrna Beach

Patricio G. Balona Daytona Beach News-Journal March 10, 2025

A former Outlaw motorcycle gang member, now a part of the Mongols, was arrested Sunday as the suspect who fired a gun multiple times during a large brawl with a rival motorcycle gang at a New Smyrna Beach gas station, police said.

Clinton Neal Walker, 41, of Bradenton, was charged with inciting a riot, discharging a firearm in public, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Walker was out of the Volusia County Branch Jail Monday on $75,000 bail.

According to New Smyrna Beach police, the gunfire erupted during a brawl where punches were thrown in a crowd of 25 people or more at 11:45 a.m. Sunday at the RaceTrac gas station at 3000 State Road 44.

Walker was part of a group of Mongols who confronted a group of Warlocks who were already gathered in the parking lot of the gas station, police said.

A Mongols Motorcycle Club is located on Cow Creek Road in Edgewater, police said.

Police said it was not immediately clear what sparked the confrontation.

Walker was driving a Chevy Silverado, which was stopped at 726 U.S. 1 in Oak Hill shortly after the brawl and shooting. He was arrested and his vehicle was towed.

Warlocks motorcycle gang members injured

After the gunplay and brawl was over at the gas station, a Warlocks motorcycle gang member, Marvin Granick, 55, of Deltona, was found with a bullet graze to the side of the head, while another Warlocks member, Thomas McDaniel, 64, of Louisa, Virginia, was struck in the back of the head with nunchucks, police said.

McDaniel told police that when he arrived at the gas station, a few Mongols were at the pump and they acknowledged each other. Fifteen minutes later, as McDaniel exited the convenience store, he saw a large number of Mongols arriving at the gas station and “they came quickly and with purpose.” The Mongols rushed towards the Warlocks and shouting was heard, McDaniel said to police, according to the report.

After the incident, Anthony Trimboli, of the Mongols gang, arrived at Halifax Health Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the stomach. Trimboli, 35, of Naples, would only tell police that he was somewhere in Edgewater alone, practicing cross-drawing when the gun discharged hitting him in the abdomen, according to an arrest report.

In the melee, a vehicle belonging to James Reynolds, 62, of New Smyrna Beach, was hit by bullets. He declined to press charges, police said.

New Smyrna Beach police were assisted by Daytona Beach, Edgewater and Port Orange police as well as the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in handling the incident.

Beatdown and gunfire

Witnesses provided police with statements and video recording of the brawl.

Police said the videos showed a group of Mongols beating a person on the ground and then 12 to 15 shots were heard dispersing the large crowd as people sought cover behind bushes. In the video police also saw a bald man, later identified as Walker, brandishing and firing a gun, scattering the crowd, the report details.

Another witness also described a shooter that matched Walker, police said.

When Walker, who had Mongol tattoos on his neck, was arrested he refused to talk to police and said he would not make a statement without his lawyer present, the arrest report states.

Former firefighter, marine, and Outlaw gang member

Sources indicate that Walker was fired in 2018 from the Hillsborough Fire Service after he was investigated for an Outlaw gang bar fight in Key West where two employees were injured.

According to a report by the Tampa Bay Times, an internal affairs investigation determined Walker had “unwavering loyalty” to the Outlaws motorcycle gang.

The report said that Walker was recruited by his fire captain, James Costa, who was the president of the Outlaws motorcycle gang chapter in St. Petersburg.

Costa was shot while riding on Highway 41 in July 2017. Media reports show that Walker was home but after getting a call, dressed in his uniform and helped get Costa to the hospital, and took his Outlaws vest with the gang’s insignia, evidence he refused to turn over to investigators, news reports show.

Walker denied the allegations.

In the investigation that led to his firing from the Hillsborough Fire Service in 2018, Walker told investigators that he resigned from the Outlaws in October 2016.

In its report, the Tampa Bay Times said Walker was a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps.

New Smyrna Beach shooting under investigation, points to rival motorcycle gangs

Ashley Varese Daytona Beach News-Journal March 8, 2025

New Smyrna Beach Police are investigating a shooting Saturday afternoon, possibly between two rival motorcycle gangs, the department wrote in a Facebook post at around 1:15 p.m.

Officers are on scene at the RaceTrac at 3000 State Road 44, which is completely blocked off with crime scene tape. Motorcycles are inside the taped-off area.

Any injuries appear to be non-life-threatening “at this time,” according to the post, and police are asking people to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

Preliminary information shows the shooting was between two rival biker gangs. It is unknown whether the incident is related to Bike Week, which started in Daytona Beach Feb. 28 and ends Sunday, March 9.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as details become available.

EXCLUSIVEInside Britain’s answer to Hell’s Angels: The deadly biker gangs responsible for violent brawls, pipe bombs and van attacks on the UK’s streets – and how a fragile truce between warring factions is hanging by a thread

By TOM DUFFY Daily Mail 3 March 2025

A hardened criminal has revealed that a ‘fragile truce’ between warring UK biker gangs is hanging by a thread and ‘could go either way.’
The construction worker from Merseyside has been a member of a notorious biker club for the last decade, and has served out a raft of prison sentences for violence.

The dad, who asked not to be named, said although violence between rival clubs had calmed, things could change quickly.
He said: ‘I would describe it as a fragile truce right now. Moving forward things could go either way, which is interesting.’

It comes after British streets have played host to a wave of biker violence – with brawls and violent attacks leaving thugs behind bars and their victims in hospital.

Last year biker Daniel Laponder left a pipe bomb under a van during a biker feud in Scotland.

Laponder targeted David Rollo because his son was a member of the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club. Laponder, who formed a breakaway biker faction, was jailed for nine years.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Laponder planted a viable pipe bomb under a BT Open Reach van which was used by Mr Rollo.

Laponder drenched the van in petrol and then used a remote device to set off the bomb, which contained ball bearings.

On sentencing, Judge Lord Arthurson said: ‘The background circumstances of the index offending are somewhat bizarre, stemming as they appear to from a feud between the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club and the Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club, a rival gang which was set up by you after you left the Blue Angels. That said, the crimes committed by you were of considerable gravity.
‘
The UK biker scene is currently dominated by the Hells Angels, Bandidos, Mongols, Outlaws, Satan’s Slaves and Blue Angels.

The clubs have a presence in cities and towns across the UK, from Glasgow to Gillingham. The biker, who agreed to speak to the Mail, said that there were still many misconceptions surrounding the clubs, which were shrouded in secrecy and urban myth.

He said: ‘Most people think biker clubs are all about anarchy. But they are not. You have a president and a tier of officers.
‘Members pay subs, and you can be thrown out of a club if you break the rules. Different clubs have different rules about how you conduct yourself.

‘Some clubs forbid you from leaving a member behind if there is trouble. Other clubs have rules about bikes and things like that.’
The Merseyside man said the criminality that surrounded motorcycle clubs was complicated.

He said: ‘It’s not all guns and drugs. Some members might take drugs, but biker clubs they are not like drug gangs.

‘In the states its different – the biker gangs run strip clubs , bars and distribute drugs. But it’s
not like that in the UK.’

However the biker admitted that serious violence could break out between rival British biker clubs.

Last year a street brawl broke out between two rival factions in Sheffield. A passing driver filmed the pitched battle, when bikers could be seen brandishing baseball bats and fighting in the street.

The biker said; ‘So the Satan’s Slaves attacked the Mongols who were in their clubhouse.

‘I was told that the Slaves came second best, and couple of their lads were badly hurt. One of them only recently came out of hospital.’
In May 2022 three members of the Bandidos targeted rival biker David Crawford, who belonged to the Red Chiefs.

Benjamin Parry, Chad Brading and Thomas Pawley claimed they wanted to speak to Mr Crawford who was wearing a Red Chief jacket on their patch.

But instead Parry used his van to mow down Mr Crawford, who at one point was dragged down the road. He suffered horrendous injuries and died.

Plymouth Crown Court heard the three men were members of Plymouth Bandidos, while Mr Crawford was affiliated to the Red Chiefs.

The construction worker, who met with Mail at a secret location, explained that some biker clubs attracted recruits for the wrong reasons.

He said: ‘Yes you get the mid-life crisis blokes. They wake up one day and realise they have done nothing with their lives and want some danger.

‘I can spot them a mile off. And before you know it they are roaring around on bikes and partying with strippers.

‘Then they are back in the office the next morning with a shirt and tie on. I just found all that really odd and quite funny.

‘And they you get the blokes you have bullied all their lives. They want to be around bikers for protection and to feel safe.

‘Personally, I am a biker but I am happy to solve my own issues on the street. The big one I went to jail for was not linked to bikers. It is just something that happened to me in my own life.’

The Merseyside dad said that that the reality was the biking community was isolated from other crime groups.

He said: ‘You might see shows on Netflix with bikers fighting with gangsters and drug dealers. That might happen in the states, but not here.

‘In my experience bikers over here rarely get involved with drug gangs – they have nothing in common.

‘Being in the Hells Angels means nothing inside – you are on you own. I was fine with that inside. It actually suited me.’

The Mail asked South Yorkshire Police if the mass brawl in Sheffield last May was linked to biker violence.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘We were called on 25 May 2024 at 10.20pm to Attercliffe Road in Sheffield to reports of a disturbance.
‘It is reported that a group of people were involved in a disturbance and one man was assaulted.

‘Emergency services attended and one man was taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life threatening or life altering.
‘Officers launched an investigation and carried out a number of enquiries. However, the incident has been filed pending further information coming to light, as no suspect has been identified.’

Top 2 Biker Gangs Under The Federal Microscope in The PNW

Do you ever see any of the clubs on the road in the PNW?
Lance Tormey KIT 12 80 March 3, 2025
Read More: News Talk KIT 1280 – The Source – Yakima News Radio | https://newstalkkit.com/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
https://newstalkkit.com/crackdown-on-biker-gangs-intensifies-in-pacific-northwest/

If you live in the Pacific Northwest it’s highly likely you’ve seen motorcycle biker clubs. They’ve had a presence on the roads of Washington State, Oregon, and California for decades.

STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE MAKING MOVES

Recently, however, law enforcement agencies in these states have stepped up efforts to crack down on these groups and prevent them from engaging in a variety of illegal activities including illegal drugs and other criminal activities. In Washington State, the Hells Angels have been a powerful force for years. However, in recent months, the group has been targeted by law enforcement officials who are determined to put a stop to their criminal activities. This includes drug trafficking, murder, and intimidation of rival gangs.Best Buy, Target leaders say new tariffs will cause higher prices for customers

TWO MAIN BIKER CLUBS DOMINATE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

While the Hells Angels operate in the Pacific Northwest so does another biker gang. The Bandidos have been in a long-running feud with other rival gangs like the Hells Angels for years. However many Bandidos members also operate in Eastern and Central Washington State. While Hells Angels and Bandidos are the dominating gangs in Washington and Oregon many other gangs operate in California where the Police say there are are several biker gangs operating in the state, including the Mongols, Vagos, and Outlaws. Authorities say the Bandidos are one of the world’s largest outlaw motorcycle gangs.

ARE BIKER CLUBS WORKING WITH CRIMINAL GANGS?

There’s no evidence Mexican cartels are working with biker clubs or gangs in the PNW. But police say both the groups have been involved in a range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and racketeering.

A CRACKDOWN ON BIKER CLUBS CONTINUES IN WA STATE

In 2023 the FBI launched a nationwide crackdown on the gangs, resulting in the arrests of dozens of members and associates and the effort continues today. Overall, the presence of biker gangs in the three states remains a major concern for law enforcement officials. However, with increased resources and a commitment to taking down the groups, authorities are hopeful that they can put an end to their criminal activities and make communities safer for everyone. But given the fact that the groups have operated for decades in the three states it’s likely the groups will grow larger every year and may someday join forces with criminal street gangs.

Once-Jailed Biker Gang Member Earns Spot in 2025 British Open With Win

A decade ago, Ryan Peake was a member of the Rebels bike gang in Australia and sentenced to five years in prison. Now, he’ll play in this year’s British Open.

Max Schreiber | Sport Illustrated Mar 2, 2025
https://www.si.com/golf/biker-gang-member-wins-earns-spot-2025-british-open

It’s a comeback story for the ages.

A decade ago, Aussie Ryan Peake was a promising young player. He was also member of the Rebels biker gang in Australia. At age 21, he was convicted of assault and sentenced to five years in prison.

his July, he’ll play in the British Open.

Peake, 31, punched his ticket to Royal Portrush by winning the 104th New Zealand Open. He finished at 23 under, sinking an 8-foot par putt on his 72nd hole to prevent a four-way playoff.

“I’ve just changed my life,” Peake said. “This is what I do. I just want to be here and play golf.”
is criminal record delayed his clearance to enter New Zealand, but he eventually resolved his visa issues, paving the way to notch his first professional victory.

While Peake was in prison he was in contact with coach Ritchie Smith, who was willing to help him keep his golf dreams alive once Peake was released.

Before the final round, Peake, who trailed by four strokes entering Sunday, spoke to Smith, along with friend and PGA Tour member Min Woo Lee, who is also coached by Smith.

“(Lee and Smith) basically said that I’d already won, because I wasn’t in this position four years ago,” Peake said.
But Peake got the literal victory with a final-round 66.

nd in July, he has a chance to add the Claret Jug to his golf fairytale.

“I always knew I could do it but it was just a matter of when I was going to do it,” Peake said. “Along with my family and my team, everyone believed, and most of all, I believed as well.”