Female clerks and staff in police departments and other law enforcement offices and in the courts who are linked to the Pagans have compromised investigations and passed along confidential information to the group. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com, Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. NEWARK, N.J. Two high-ranking members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club were indicted today for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, narcotics distribution, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. 1:01 CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Each man agreed to surrender his interest in two baseball bats and six ax handles seized in September 2020. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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 Pagan's Motorcycle Club is trying to assert control over New Jersey and it's using more violence to do it, according to testimony given Wednesday during a State Commission of Investigationhearing. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor Hundreds of Pagans showed up at Roar tothe Shore motorcycle event in Wildwood in September, what'sknown in the outlaw motorcycle club world as a "Pagan event.". In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. 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. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The rise of the Pagans motorcycle club in New Jersey was the focus of an investigation conducted by the State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog group formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime. I dont care if it is two cops, a priest, a nun, five little kids or Jesus f------ Christ himself, if you pull something on me, I am going to shoot you, Ritcher allegedly said in the recorded conversation, according to Frazer. Ritchers attorney argued that his client is at high-risk to COVID-19 if he is detained and offered a $1 million bail package for Richter to be released on. as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. It was. All rights reserved (About Us). 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 Pagans and the Hells Angels are known to be rival gangs. Whether its ticket-fixing judges, police misconduct, orLittle League officials' questionable finances, we're here for you. An alleged member of the Pagan's motorcycle club who was charged with attempted murder earlier this year is set to plead guilty to a federal charge related to having an associate of the outlaw. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Members of the Pagans, who have doubled their chapters statewide in the past three years, have conducted numerous assaults against members of the public, some of whom have had no connection to the club, the report from the New Jersey Commission of Investigation said. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. Glen Turner, 73, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Do you know who we are? the Pagans yelled at the man, according to a police report. 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. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Richter, 62, attended a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around noon on Feb. 20. There has been an. Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, led a massive expansion of the outlaw organization in New Jersey, discovered a loaded gun in a vehicle he was, charged at least 10 Pagan members in New Jersey. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission 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.. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Aquino was also charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (Count Three) and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (Count Four), and Ortiz was also charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count Five) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Count Six). Members of the Pagans became enraged with the informant, who authorities said was an associate of the motorcycle club, when the person told the club he sold the Pagans firearms. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Ferdinand Augello, left, and Paul Pagano, right, wait, via video, for their first court appearance to begin at the Atlantic . Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. 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. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. An official website of the United States government. These charges were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club an outlaw motorcycle gang known to engage in illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crimes. 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. Mr. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Torres said thePagans are believed to have150 to 350 members in New Jersey. Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, charged with attempted murder earlier this year, other influential leaders of the Pagans in South Jersey, has put an emphasis on investigating the Pagans. Each admitted to aiding and abetting in the assault of a victim with a dangerous weapon. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. 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. 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. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain expressed permission from the copyright owner. The U.S. Attorneys Office previously announced the arrest of Keith Richter the national president of the Pagans in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm in February. 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. And Pagans are expanding, moving out West, into . The vehicle was stopped by police in East Windsor in Mercer County around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21. The club distributes drugs in cells within chapters to keep tight control of the of the information. Official websites use .gov The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. 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. The group is also able to thwart law enforcement by utilizing encrypted cellphone apps and counter-surveillance efforts, including flying a drone at a large gathering of Pagans at Wildwoods Roar to the Shore event. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, one of the major outlaw motorcycle groups in the U.S., is a growing threat to citizens in New Jersey and every cop in the state should be trained to deal with them, according to a new report issued Wednesday. The 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. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 The commission investigated the group because of an "alarming shift" in the way the Pagans are doing business, which gang investigators have not seenbefore,Torres said. The rise in Pagan membership in New Jersey,first reported by NJ Advance Mediain May 2018, is indicative of a broader national effort by reputed Pagan President Keith Conan Richter to beef up numbers along the East Coast, officials said. 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. "The Pagans are an outlaw motorcycle gang and in the charges that we announced today, as well as in the charges that we brought over the past 11 months, we identify the Pagans as a racketeering enterprise that engages in various forms of illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons possession and trafficking, and violent crime," Honig said during a Monday press conference announcing the latest indictments. On Dec. 10, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Turners residence and recovered about 450 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said. The Pagans formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. Keith Richter, known as Conan, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A lock ( He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. 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. In a separate case, a federal grand jury returned an indictment on Monday, charging Nicholas Bucciarelli, 56, of Brooklawn, with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. NEWARK, N.J. (CBS) -- Two top members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club are facing federal assault charges in the U.S. Department of Justice's crackdown on the outlaw gang, authorities say. 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. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Unlike the Hells Angels, the Pagans dont have clubhouses, and instead have weekly meetings in different locations. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. 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 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). Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Approximately one week later Aquino and Ortiz shot at an associate of the Hells Angels on the New Jersey Turnpike in retaliation for the Verona assault. The assault victim, whose name was not disclosed, had alerted investigators in July 2020 that hed been asked to store guns and ammunition by another suspect in the case, Michael Cage Dorazo of Gloucester City, a criminal complaint alleges. District of New Jersey Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, a major expansion of the outlaw motorcycle gang, sentenced to four years in prison in 2019. NEWARK, N.J. - Two high-ranking members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club were indicted today for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, narcotics distribution, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. According to Honig, "that includes the national president, a member of the Pagans Mother Club, which is a national organization that oversees its operations, the president of presidents in New Jersey, the presidents of the Jersey City and Gloucester County chapters of the Pagans, the vice-president of the Elizabeth chapter and the sergeant at arms, or the enforcer, for various other chapters. "Contrary to popular belief, what you may see in the media of guys just hanging out partying and drinking and a bunch of fellows having a good time, this is a well-run organization and a criminal enterprise by no other terms. Luis Arocho, aka LuRoc, 43, of Keansburg, and Maurice Guzman, aka Dawg, 51, of Newark, were arrested Monday and charged by complaint with one count of aggravated assault in aid of racketeering. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Dorazo, also known as Cage, was not charged in the assault. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Keith "Conan" Richter, the former president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, pictured in 2018 at an event in New Jersey. 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