Category: Gangs in the news…

Defendants charged in Hells Angels assault appear in court

Biker gang members are accused of attacking three black men in Ocean Beach.

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/defendants-charged-in-hells-angels-assault/509-504d6c4c-8d98-484b-92b8-160c4edb63ce
Author: David Gotfredson KFMB San Diego California CBS 8 November 3, 2023

SAN DIEGO — More than a dozen alleged members of the Hells Angels biker gang and their supporters appeared in court Friday, accused in what prosecutors say was a racially motivated attack on three black men in Ocean Beach.
Seventeen defendants were indicted in September. An eighteenth defendant was added to the case and also appeared in court on Friday.
Four of the 18 defendants in the case remained in jail Friday, including the main defendant, Troy Scholder, who is charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, a knife. The other defendants have bailed out of jail.

They all appeared in court Friday, one by one, for a hearing to set future court dates.
The defendants are charged in connection with an attack on three black men, ages 19, 20 and 21, outside an Ocean Beach bar on the evening of June 6. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced the grand jury indictments in September.
“It’s possible the attack was triggered because one of them dared to talk to one of the girlfriends of one of these members,” Stephan said at the time.

Scholder is accused of stabbing one of the victims in the chest. He faces 39 years to life if convicted on all counts.

Three of the defendants are charged with being an accessory after the fact by aiding Scholder

A second victim was knocked unconscious during the attack. The third man got away, according to prosecutors, who included hate crime allegations in the indictment.
All the defendants have been ordered not to have any contact with the other Hells Angels members charged in the case. Deputy District Attorney Miriam Hemming told the court she witnessed several of the men violating that order in the court hallway.

Hemming said two other defendants had tested positive for methamphetamine since their arrests. The judge set hearings to review those test results in November and told the defendants their bail could be revoked if they continue to use drugs.
All 18 defendants will be back in court on January 11, when the judge will set preliminary hearing and trial dates.

Turkish court arrests 18 alleged members of outlaw motorcycle gang
By Turkish Minute November 6, 2023

Turkish court arrests 18 alleged members of outlaw motorcycle gang

A Turkish court has ruled to arrest 18 people who were detained last week with alleged links to the “Comanchero Motorcycle Club,” an outlaw motorcycle gang based in Australia and Southeast Asia, including its alleged leader Hakan Ayık, the T24 news website reported.
Twenty-two of the suspects who were detained as part of the same operation last week have been released under judicial supervision.
The 18 suspects who were arrested by an İstanbul court on Sunday face charges of “forming an organization for criminal activities, becoming a member of such an organization, international drug trafficking and criminal asset laundering.”
The 44-year-old Ayık is listed on the New South Wales Police website as among its “most wanted persons” for supplying large commercial quantities of drugs, according to a statement from Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya last week.
The detentions included some individuals sought by authorities in the United States and New Zealand.
According to a report by the Guardian last Thursday, a spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said it was “aware” of the reporting from Turkey and continued to work with international partners to combat transnational serious organized crime.
They said the AFP had supported the Turkish national police through Operation Gain and the AFP’s post in Ankara.

6 injured, 1 killed in possible shootout outside outlaw biker bar in Denver
Published: Nov. 5, 2023 at 1:24 PM EST|Updated: 6 hours ago
https://www.kktv.com/2023/11/05/6-injured-1-killed-possible-shootout-outside-outlaw-biker-bar-denver/

DENVER (KKTV) – Six people were injured and one person killed in a barrage of gunfire outside a Denver biker bar overnight.
Police say there’s evidence pointing at multiple guns being fired, and that it’s not clear whether anyone remains at large or if the shooters were among the seven injured and killed.

Officers responded near the intersection of East 33rd Avenue and Hudson Street around 3 Sunday morning on reports of a flurry of gunshots in the area. They first found six victims, then later confirmed a 7th.

Citing an officer at the scene, sister station CBS Denver is reporting the shooting happened outside of a Hells Lovers bar. Hells Lovers is an outlaw biker gang, part of what’s known as the “One-Percenter” motorcycle clubs. The name stems from a riot in the 1940s that prompted the American Motorcycle Association to state that “99 percent of motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens” — making members of these clubs that other percent. Hells Angels, Bandidos, Pagans and Outlaws are other One Percenter clubs; a shootout in Waco, Texas, in 2015 involved several of these clubs.
Sunday’s episode remains under investigation.

Tibbits trial day 3: Co-defendants in shooting of Arp biker say they didn’t know victim
By KLTV Tyler Texas Digital Media Staff and JD Conte: Nov. 2, 2023

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Two co-defendants took the stand on Thursday in the third day of trial proceedings against a Waco man accused in the shooting death of an Arp motorcyclist.
Joshua Ray Tibbits, 32, was arrested on May 6 of 2020 for engaging in organized criminal activity in connection with the death of Brandon Edwards. Edwards had been found shot to death at the scene of a motorcycle crash in Arp on May 2, and a following investigation led to the arrest of Tibbits and two others. Tibbits is accused of being a part of the “Cossacks,” a motorcycle gang. The prosecution claims that Tibbits shot and killed Edwards because Edwards, as a member of the “Cossacks 1%” was impersonating a member of the “real” Cossacks gang. The state said that Tibbits and at least one of his co-defendants were shooting at Edwards from the truck, though they said determining which man fired the killing shot does not matter, as each shooter had the intent to kill.
Tibbits’ co-defendants, both of whom previously pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in organized crime and are serving 22-year sentences in prison, gave testimony that provided new details about the incident where Edwards was killed. The Smith County District Attorney’s office has asked KLTV not to name these men.
Co-defendant 1 described the Cossacks 1% gang as “fakes” and “counterfeit.” He said that he and Tibbits carried out 5-10 “hunting missions” against Cossacks 1% members as a means of punishing the so-called imposters. Co-defendant 1 said that when he, Co-defendant 2 and Tibbits were in Tyler, they saw Edwards wearing Cossacks 1% colors and were given the order to “smoke him.” Co-defendant 1 said he shot at Edwards at least six or seven times, but testified that he did not even know Edwards’ name until he was arrested.
Co-defendant 1 said that after shooting Edwards, the trio fled the scene and arrived at the house Kenneth Crenshaw, a fellow Cossacks member. Crenshaw testified that he stayed in his house the entire time the trio was there. But Co-defendant 1 said they burned their clothes and cut up their guns into pieces as Crenshaw’s house, things Crenshaw said he did not witness. Those guns would later be placed into a bucket of cement that was then dropped into (and later recovered from) the Sabine River. Co-defendant 1 said he was able to commit the act of shooting and then go about his life because he was able to “compartmentalize,” but said he ultimately found out about Edwards’ death after he became worried and attempted to look on the internet for information about what they’d done. He also said that he ultimately decided to agree to a plea deal because it was what was best for his family and not for himself.
The defense did not question Co-defendant 1.
Co-defendant 2 described Tibbits as one of his closest friends and said the two went on at least five hunting missions. He said that Co-defendant 1 and Tibbits, who are from Waco, were in the Tyler area prior to the shooting so that they could celebrate Co-defendant 2 moving into a new house in Longview. He testified that “Josh and [Co-defendant 1]” shot at Edwards, but said that he did not think they killed him and only “put him down hard.” Co-defendant 2 said they then went to Crenshaw’s house to cut up their guns and put them in concrete. They then left Co-defendant 2′s truck at Crenshaw’s house overnight and departed after being picked up by Co-defendant 2′s brother.
Co-defendant 2 said that he did not believe that this was an act of organized crime because “it wasn’t planned or premeditated.” He said that he’s not testifying because he was able to cut a deal with prosecutors, but because it’s the truth.
Det. Jason Railsback with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said they never would have found the guns in the Sabine River had Co-defendant 2 not told them where to look.
“The odds of us finding that in the Sabine River are pretty small,” Railsback said.
Railsback also said Tibbits quickly rose through the ranks of the Cossacks due to his “willingness to do what he was told.”

Tibbits trial day 4: Organized crime specialist testifies against biker indicted in fatal shooting
By Kristine Guevara and KLTV Digital Media Staff Nov. 3, 2023

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – An organized crime specialist testified Friday in the continued trial of a Waco man indicted in the fatal shooting of an Arp motorcyclist.
Joshua Ray Tibbits, 32, was arrested on May 6 of 2020 for engaging in organized criminal activity in connection with the death of Brandon Edwards. Edwards had been found shot to death at the scene of a motorcycle crash in Arp on May 2, and a following investigation led to the arrest of Tibbits and two others. Tibbits is accused of being a part of the “Cossacks,” a motorcycle gang. The prosecution claims that Tibbits shot and killed Edwards because Edwards, as a member of the “Cossacks 1%” was impersonating a member of the “real” Cossacks gang. The state said that Tibbits and at least one of his co-defendants were shooting at Edwards from the truck, though they said determining which man fired the killing shot does not matter, as each shooter had the intent to kill.
In previous trial sessions, Tibbits’ co-defendants, both of whom previously pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in organized crime and are serving 22-year sentences in prison, gave testimony that provided new details about the incident where Edwards was killed. Several witnesses on the scene of the crime gave their testimonies as well.
On Friday, a Texas DPS agent specializing in organized criminal activity took the stand to testify on behalf of the state. The agent stated that the ugly man Cossacks, of which Tibbits and his codefendants were members, meets the Texas definition of a criminal street gang. According to the agent, the Cossacks 1%, of which Edwards was a member, was founded around 2016. Both groups occupied the same area, and it was established previously that the original ugly man Cossacks had a standing rule to “smoke” members of the 1%, who they reportedly view as counterfeits.
The agent compared the “cuts,” or biker jackets, of the rival gangs and contrasted the patches they bore along with their meaning. The two cuts are made up of the same colors, which the agent said the Cossack 1% took from the original ugly man Cossacks upon splitting. The agent emphasized a patch on Tibbits’ jacket which said “black eyes and apple pies,” which he said is a merit patch for committing an act of violence. According to the agent, the patches give more reason to believe that the ugly man Cossacks is a criminal street gang, along with Tibbits’ tattoos.
The agent then called back to a violent incident in Gilmer in February of 2020, which he labeled an organized and premeditated criminal act. He said Tibbits was involved in another shooting in Marion County as well. The agent said that he had interviewed Valenzuela, one of Tibbits’ codefendants in the shooting of Edwards. According to the agent, Valenzuela had explained that the three men were in Smith County to recover a cut from a member who had left the Cossacks. On the way, the agent said, they came across Edwards in his Cossacks 1% cut and wanted to “mess with him.” The agent said Valenzuela had also told him the specific location of the cement bucket containing the guns used in the Gilmer shooting in the Sabine River, where it was later recovered by law enforcement.
Upon questioning by the defense, the agent stated that he did not know when Tibbits became a Cossacks member. The defense argued that there is an inconsistency with the cement bucket timeline, but the agent was able to clear up the dates of discovery and transportation. According to the agent, Griffin, Tibbits’ second codefendant, admitted that the guns in the bucket belonged to him. The defense then brought up the Texas Gang Threat Assessment which is used to identify and evaluate the threat of gangs and gang-related crime in Texas. The defense said that the ugly man Cossacks are not identified in the 2018, 2017, 2015 and 2014 issues of the article.
The state argued that the agent was using a statutory definition of criminal street gang to determine whether or not to try someone for engaging in organized crime. The agent said he bases this on activity and whether or not it meets the criteria of the charge. The state then addressed the defense’s argument about the Texas Gang Threat Assessment, and said that there are many gangs in Texas, the largest of which would take precedent over motorcycle clubs. According to the agent, the ugly man Cossacks’ lack of inclusion in that assessment raises no red flags. The agent said that while it is not a crime to be a part of a criminal street gang, the commission of criminal activities withing the gang can warrant an engaging in organized crime charge. The state argued that even though there may be some undocumented evidence of Tibbits’ criminal activity, he can still be found guilty of the charge.

Hells Angels and the Alleged Pump-And-Dump Scam: Unraveling the Intricacies of a High-Stakes Legal Battle
By Rishitha Boddu Marker Realist Nov 2, 2023

https://marketrealist.com/what-are-the-allegations-faced-by-motorcycle-club-hells-angels/

Motorcycle Club Hells Angels is once again in the spotlight
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC), one of the world’s most infamous motorcycle clubs, has long been associated with a dark and shadowy reputation. Known for their imposing presence and alleged involvement in organized crime, the Hells Angels are once again in the spotlight, this time for their alleged participation in a complex financial scam. Let’s delve into the heart of the ongoing legal battle that has left members of the Hells Angels facing serious charges related to securities fraud, wire fraud, and stock manipulation schemes. We’ll also explore the legal complexities, privacy concerns, and the broader implications of this high-stakes case.
Who are The Hells Angels?
Founded in the 1940s, The Hells Angels motorcycle club has garnered a notorious reputation for its involvement in criminal activities. With a presence spanning the globe and over 6,000 members organized into 467 chapters across 59 countries, the Hells Angels stands as the largest outlaw motorcycle club in the world.
The alleged Hells Angels scam
At the center of this legal storm are allegations that members of the Hells Angels, including Courtney Vasseur, a full-patch member of the Nomads chapter, were part of an international stock manipulation scheme that generated illicit profits of around $35 million, per Vancouver Sun. The scheme involved orchestrating multiple pump-and-dump stock manipulation schemes over several years. The accused allegedly amassed control of the majority of stock in publicly traded companies and artificially inflated share prices, ultimately selling their positions at the expense of the investing public.
The legal battle involving Hells Angels
The legal battle that has unfolded revolves around whether the accused Hells Angels members should be extradited to the United States to face these charges. The process kicked off with a five-day extradition hearing in Canada where defense attorney Paul McMurray raised a significant issue: the use of a photograph of Courtney Vasseur in the case. McMurray argued that the photo was improperly used as evidence because it was taken in Canada.
Privacy concerns
The defense’s argument hinges on the expectation of privacy, even in public spaces. They contend that despite being in a public area on the Hells Angels’ clubhouse property, Vasseur had a residual expectation of privacy. The defense suggests that law enforcement, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), views the Hells Angels as a criminal organization involved in transnational criminal activities. Law enforcement routinely attends Hells Angels events and takes photographs for investigative and intelligence purposes.
The Extradition Act
The relevance of the Extradition Act comes into play. This act dictates that evidence gathered in Canada must adhere to Canadian rules of evidence for it to be admitted in extradition proceedings. This forms a critical part of the defense’s argument regarding the admissibility of the photograph as evidence in the U.S. investigation.
This legal requirement serves as a safeguard to ensure that individuals facing extradition have their rights protected and that evidence is collected and presented fairly and lawfully. In a high-profile case like this, where international borders come into play, adherence to these legal requirements becomes a critical element. It ensures that the accused individuals receive a fair hearing while also addressing the complexities of transnational criminal investigations.
Broader Implications for the Hells Angels
Beyond the legal intricacies, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the Hells Angels. If the accused members are extradited and subsequently convicted, it could deal a significant blow to the reputation of the motorcycle club. This case serves as a testament to law enforcement agencies’ determination to combat organized crime, even in the face of powerful and influential groups like the Hells Angels.

Warped Hells Angels’ ‘justice’ revealed: California biker was held down and forcibly TATTOOED for sleeping with rival’s wife, while his spouse was raped in revenge, with others killed and cremated, court documents reveal

• Hells Angels charity organizer Merl Hefferman is jailed for disposing of a murdered rival Joel Silva in a crematorium
• He is one of several Hells Angels members who have recently found themselves in court for how they delivered gang ‘justice’
• Force tattooing, revenge rapes and assaults on members were just some ways the group provided discipline
By DOMINIC YEATMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM 1 November 2023 |

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12698371/hells-angels-sonoma-crematorium-hefferman.html

Forced tattooing, rape as revenge and murder are just some ways members of the Hells Angels in California dolled out punishment to others for perceived injustices.

The details were included in the recent court filings as several members have found themselves in court or heading to prison for their role in dealing out biker ‘justice.’

Merl Hefferman of California’s Fresno chapter was well-known for organizing children’s charity events, but prosecutors fear he may have routinely turned victims to ash in a funeral home dubbed the ‘pizza oven.’

He was jailed for four years on Friday after a 10-year racketeering investigation after being convicted of using a crematory to dispose of a member’s body.

The investigation led to the arrest of others members of a California Hells Angels including Raymond Foakes, who raped a member’s wife in revenge, as others forced tattooed the member. Christopher Ranieri was convicted for his role in the murder of a member who had threatened others. Russell Lyles was sentenced to more than 60 months in prison for using his fist to punish members or ‘toughen them up.’

‘The Hells Angels followed a malicious code of conduct, encouraging the beating, maiming, and even killing of anyone who dared to cross their criminal enterprise,’ said US Attorney Ismail Ramsey.

The defendants now face the consequences of their violent racketeering activities.’
The Sonoma, California, chapter of the Hells Angels lived by the motto ‘F*** around and find out,’ prosecutor Nina Peng told an earlier court hearing.

The chapter showed it was prepared to ‘murder its own’ after Sonoma member Joel ‘Doughboy’ Silva fell foul of East Coast members during ‘bike week’ in 2014 by threatening a friend of Salem chapter president Christopher Ranieri.
When Ranieri protested to his California counterparts ‘they agreed that Silva had to be killed’ and lured him to the Fresno clubhouse where he was shot in the back of the head.

Ranieri flew to Fresno for a party celebrating the murder but Hefferman, 54, was tasked with disposing of Silva’s body.
Levi Phipps, crematory manager at the Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno testified that on the day of Silva’s murder Hefferman and his step-son threatened him with a gun and loaded Silva’s body into the incinerator.

Phipps alleged that before Silva’s murder, Hefferman became ‘fascinated with the crematory’ and asked for the keys to the facility so that he could make ‘something disappear’ someday.

Whistleblower Joseph Hardisty told prosecutors that Fresno chapter president Brian Wendt later admitted pulling the trigger on Silva and said ‘he had used the pizza oven for five or six bodies’.

He also gave Hardisty a phone number to call and say he was ‘cooking pizza’ if he ever wanted to use the crematorium himself.
Among those thought to have disappeared in the oven are former Hells Angel Robbie Huff who disappeared in 2015 after allegedly helping cover up Silva’s murder by burning his pickup truck.

Another named by federal prosecutors is fellow member Arthur Carasis of Contra Costa County who disappeared in 2016.
A third was named in court as Juan Guevara who disappeared in September 2015 from Kern County.

Jonathan ‘Jon Jon’ Nelson, 46, and Russell ‘Rusty’ Taylor Ott, 69, of Santa Rosa, were convicted of murder alongside Wendt, 45, in June last year for their roles in Silva’s death and are awaiting sentence.

Foakes was convicted of racketeering charges in May after a jury heard he spent four hours torturing the man who slept with his common-law wife in 2016.

‘Foakes was the main guy. He was Mr. Hells Angel,’ Peng told the jury,
‘He got respect by beating people, including other Hells Angels, down into submission.’

Prosecutors say Foakes was the chapter president and participated in the hours-long beating of a member. The member had an affair and then during an expulsion, Foakes beat the victim, forcibly tattooed him and told others to pistol whip him.

‘He was also convicted of witness intimidation, in connection with his sexual assault of the victim’s wife while the victim was still being beaten at the Sonoma clubhouse and threatening her to comply with his demands and not report to the authorities,’ he added.
Ranieri and Foakes were also convicted of racketeering conspiracy for their agreement to contact the Hells Angels’ affairs through a pattern of activity, including conspiracy to murder, robbery and drug dealing.

Ranieri and Foakes remain to be sentenced.

Fellow gang member Lyles also participated in gang ‘justice’ but was upset by Foakes action. He considered issuing a public statement after the sexual assault, but decided against it, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Lyles was sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading to racketeering.

His lawyer noted that he used ‘his fists to punish individuals for the behavior or to “toughen them up,”‘ according to the report.
Sonoma member Jeremy Greer, 43, was sentenced alongside Hefferman to 84 months on Friday after admitting multiple brutal assaults, armed robbery, home invasion robbery, and witness intimidation.

‘Hefferman, Greer, and other members of their criminal enterprise attempted to use fear and intimidation to get away with their crimes,’ Ramsey said.

‘I commend the witnesses who did not succumb to this group’s intimidation tactics and came forward to law enforcement.’
David Cesena was jailed for 52 months for a home invasion robbery.

OK Biker gang pleads not guilty in Whiskey Barrel Saloon shooting

Caroline Sellers/KFOR Oklahoma November 2, 2023 at

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Several suspects from a deadly biker gang shooting in April pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday.
Around 9 p.m. on April 1, authorities responded to the Whiskey Barrel Saloon in southwest Oklahoma City regarding a shooting between rival biker gangs.

The shooting left three people dead and three more injured. There’s also been more than a dozen arrests since the incident.
Police say 14 people have been charged so far in this case.
According to officials, eight of the suspects were in Oklahoma County court on Wednesday and are facing complaints ranging from Accessory to Murder, gang related offenses and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.
All eight pleaded not guilty, according to The Oklahoman. The suspect are expected to be back in court in January for a pretrial conference.

Suspicious fire erupts at Outlaws Motorcycle Clubhouse in Saginaw on Devil’s Night
By Cole_Waterman@mlive.com October 31, 2023,
https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2023/10/suspicious-fire-erupts-at-outlaws-motorcycle-clubhouse-in-saginaw-on-devils-night.html

SAGINAW, MI — For the second time in recent months, a biker clubhouse in Saginaw has been the site of a fire.
About 11:24 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, Saginaw firefighters received a call for smoke on the city’s West Side. Shortly thereafter, a Michigan State Police helicopter flying overhead reported a heat signature coming from a building on Durand Street, said Saginaw Interim Fire Chief Brandon Hausbeck.
At that, crews quickly upgraded their response to a structure fire. They arrived at 1903 Durand St., a private club of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, to see smoke emanating from it, Hausbeck said.
Crews entered the building and extinguished the blaze. There were no civilians inside at the time, Hausbeck said.
The building sustained smoke and fire damage but is not a total loss. The estimated cost of damage, both to the structure and its contents, is $45,000, Hausbeck said
Buena Vista Township firefighters provided mutual aid. Crews cleared the scene about 1:30 a.m.
Hausbeck could not elaborate on the fire’s cause, apart from saying it is suspicious. He declined to speculate on if the fire was linked to the date being Devil’s Night, but said it was the only structure fire to occur in the city overnight.
A previous fire at the Durand Street club occurred the morning of June 15. Crews arrived to find a leaf blower was burning and doused its flames.
Shortly afterward, witnesses came forward to say they saw a person pouring some fluid on the clubhouse’s back porch and lightning it. Once ignited, the flames flashed up then went out, the witnesses said.
Investigators found evidence at the scene corroborating the witnesses’ accounts.
The fire itself did not cause much damage to the clubhouse, which the Fraternal Order of Outlaws BC has owned since February 2019.
The next day, police arrested a 32-year-old suspect on a charge of first-degree arson. The man was released from the jail the following afternoon.
On Sept. 13, authorities issued a warrant for the man’s arrest on a charge of third-degree arson, a five-year felony. As of Oct. 31, police have not rearrested the man.
There have been 162 structure fires reported in the city so far this year. The city had 196 such fires throughout 2022.
In hopes of curbing potential fires and Halloween-inspired mischief, volunteers are joining police and firefighters patrolling neighborhoods from dusk to dawn on Oct. 31.
Some will patrol on foot, while others will patrol neighborhoods in vehicles with the program’s flashing yellow lights, looking out for suspicious activity, specifically around abandoned buildings and homes, city officials said.
After 2006, when Saginaw firefighters responded to 17 arson-related fires on Oct. 30-31, the city brought together community members, law enforcement agencies, and the Saginaw Fire Department to create the program designed to address the growing arson problem through community awareness and involvement.
Arson Watch aims to significantly reduce arson rates on Halloween Eve, sometimes known as Devil’s Night, thus reducing overall arson-related firefighter injuries and costly community damages, Saginaw Fire Marshall Derron Suchodolski said.
Reports of arson have decreased in the years since the program began, and no arson was reported during Oct. 30-31, 2022, he said.
he Outlaws Motorcycle Club was established in 1935 in McCook, Illinois. Since then, it has expanded to 41 countries. It has four Michigan chapters, including one in Bay City.
“The Outlaws Motorcycle Club is not a criminal organization,” the club states on its website. ”It is a motorcycle club. … We may not live by the rules of society, but we do live by its laws.

Alfredo Paez Jr. sentenced for role in biker gang shooting
By Natalie Faulkenberry KCBD Lubbock, Texas October 27, 2023
https://www.kcbd.com/2023/10/27/alfredo-paez-jr-sentenced-role-biker-gang-shooting/

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Update 6:09 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27: Paez was sentenced to six years on count one, 180 days in counts two and three, respectively, and six-years probation on count seven with all to run concurrently. He remains out on an appeal bond.
Original story below:
Alfredo Paez Jr. was found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Thursday, and two counts of the lesser charge of deadly conduct.
Paez was facing seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The jury found him not guilty on three counts.
The jury’s verdict came after a week and a half of testimony. During the trial the state focused on the longtime rivalry between the two motorcycle gangs the Kinfolk and the Bandidos, arguing that Paez went to the 50th Street Caboose that night knowing the Kinfolk were there regularly.
The state called gang experts and multiple LPD officers who confirmed that Paez had multiple altercations with Kinfolk members.
The state also called Max Gould, the former president of the Kinfolk Club, who testified: “When the Bandidos and the Kinfolk run into each other, it usually ends in an altercation – 99% of the time.”
During closing arguments, the state argued that Paez went to the Caboose to start a confrontation, arguing that he knowingly put the Kinfolk and other patrons’ lives at risk.
Previous Coverage
According to the police report, on Nov. 12, 2020, police arrived at the 50th Street Caboose and noticed the front windows were shattered and that there were shell casings on the ground.
Police said the suspects were part of two separate motorcycle gangs, the Banditos and Kinfolk. The Kinfolk were at the northeast corner of the room at the pool tables, drinking and playing pool. One of the suspects from the Banditos walked over to the pool table and picked up a pool ball. This upset both suspects from the Kinfolk, so both members of that club pulled out their guns and presented them.
Police said Paez Jr., who was part of the Banditos, was in the hallway just south of the bar area.
Paez Jr. walked in through the door from the hallway and began to open fire towards the front of the business. Two of the rounds that he fired struck the victim.
After the suspect began to fire, everyone in the room ran to find cover. Most of the people in the restaurant ran outside through either the north main entrance or the emergency door located on the north side of the room to the west.
Paez Jr. immediately ran out of the business after the shooting and fled the scene on a motorcycle.
Copyright 2023 KCBD. All rights reserved.

4 suspects arrested in July biker gang shooting near Citrus Heights

BY BRANDON DOWNS CBS SACRAMENTO OCTOBER 26, 2023

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/4-suspects-arrested-in-july-biker-gang-shooting-near-citrus-heights/
SACRAMENTO – Authorities announced they arrested four suspects in a July shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Fair Oaks.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested Valentino Venezia, Dominic Venezia, Ederic Llarena and William Kibblewhite on Tuesday in connection with a shooting on Laurel Oak Way in the Lincoln Oaks neighborhood on July 8.
Authorities called the incident a motorcycle gang-related shooting and said the victim was targeted. They said the person shot was a gang member wearing a bulletproof vest and was shot three times, with the vest stopping one of the bullets.
On Thursday, authorities said the investigation revealed the suspects are San Francisco Hells Angels Motorcycle Club members.
A search warrant led to authorities to $112,000 in cash, Hells Angels gang indicia and intelligence documents, according to the sheriff’s office.
The search warrant was executed by Gang Suppression Unit Detectives, FBI San Francisco SWAT, FBI Sacramento SWAT, Central County SWAT, Daly City SWAT, FBI Safe-Streets and CDCR Special Services Unit at seven locations related to the shooting.
Valentino and Dominic were booked into the San Francisco County Jail, Llarena was booked into the Contra Costa Jail and Kibblewhite was booked was booked into the San Mateo County Jail.
The four suspects were charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an occupied vehicle, gang conspiracy and gang enhancement. They are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.