Staunton, Virginia (October 4, 2018) BTN During the early They decided to start their relationship over and begin dating again. They watch all these shows," from documentaries to "Sons of Anarchy," he said. Croke gradually earned the trust of the Pagans and became a fully patched member of their chapter in Long Island, New York. Pagans are "engaged in criminal activities such as arson, assault, bombing, extortion and murder," states the DOJ in a 2021 report on outlaw motorcycle gangs. My hand got bloodied up pretty good. When Hogman lifted his huge leg to stomp on the mans head, which could have broken his neck, Croke swung his own leg in the way. Jeff Wentworth, 47, of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and improper storage of a firearm. Croke remained with the ATF for several years after the investigation, retiring as an assistant director of the agency. Paganism Today. Every day I woke up, I wondered what sort of shit was going to happen. "With the arrests of thirty members and associates of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, including higher-ranking members, we have disrupted their criminal organization and made western Pennsylvania safer. Following the shooting, Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith "My brain was working on overdrive balancing the double- and triple-lives I was leading. 4. African-American Rhode Island State Police investigators intercepted thousands of phone calls and text messages through electronic surveillance and court-ordered wiretaps through the investigation. A rocket launcher?Raids, called single largest take-down in Rhode Island State Police history seizes guns, drugs and even a rocket launcher. Theres certain things that I cant be a part of. He survived the shooting and was released from the University of Virginia They have a resident expert now that knows this gang better than anyone., Its the tip of the iceberg: shining a light on the horror of wrongful convictions, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Riding with Evil: Every day I woke up, I wondered what sort of shit was going to happen.. face drug and gun charges. Over 25 years, he took part in more than a thousand undercover operations including gang, drug and firearms trafficking cases. The massive fight involved about 50 bikers in Fall River, Mass.,. Closed. 'Deep Water,' 'Fresh,' 'Turning Red,' 'Master,' 'Adam Project', Boston crimes make for great storytelling in new podcast, Mark Rylance is a perfect fit in mobster movie 'The Outfit', Weymouth drama instructor stars in comic romp 'Something Rotten! Escalating tension and an increased risk of violence in recent weeks led to the decision to conduct the raids Wednesday, according to Rhode Island State PoliceLt. Massachusetts residents arrested in the raid includedRobert Hamilton, of Franklin; Lisa Kakazu, of Bellingham; Marc Bunnell, of Blackstone; and Jason Oliver, of Fall River. Leader of Massachusetts Pagans biker gang among 49 arrested in raid . But when a tip about criminal motorcycle gangs came in to the Boston ATF field office in 2008, the experienced Croke was brought in to check out sources and information. Croke became a member of the club's Long Island chapter, whose headquarters was a small tattoo parlor in the North Shore hamlet of Rocky Point. Two guns and a 6 hours ago Scott Burnstein . The leader of the Massachusetts Pagans motorcycle gang was among 49 people arrested this week following a year-long investigation by Rhode Island authorities that resulted in the seizure of 53 illegal guns as well as large quantities of heroin and other drugs, according to officials. They truly fly under the radar of a lot of society and law enforcement.". BYFIELD Four alleged members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club were arrested yesterday by the state police gang unit, charged with kidnapping and smashing. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. One thing led to another, as he puts it, and he was on the case. Some years ago people who did these types of investigations would go into hiding literally they would move away but in this day and age you cant hide. Bikers Mafia Insider Seven bikers were injured after a brawl broke out between rival motorcycle clubs in Massachusetts, near the Rhode Island border. (Rhode Island State Police). 2023 www.patriotledger.com. The first Indictment contains two conspiracy counts and one firearm possession count, and names the following nine individuals as defendants: Phillip Bonanno, 54, of New Philadelphia, OH, Dominic Quarture, 52, of Washington, PA. Or an encounterwith members of the Pagans' archenemies, the Hell's Angels. People He was Ken Croke, a 20-year veteran of thefederal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearmsand Explosives who was working on buildinga criminal case against members of the club. The comments are going to be filled with them. Podcasts evidence. All rights reserved (About Us). Insane Throttle Support Club Become a member Now, Insane Throttle/Motorcycle Madhouse Radio YouTube and Audio Disclaimer, Meet the Insane Throttle Contributing Columnist James Hollywood Macecari, Motorcycle Clubs Riding Clubs and Associations Near Me Index & Listings, Our Policies here at Insane Throttle Publications. African-American Topics Selection,Research, Editing, Correction Policy and Ethics, Scene of motorcycle club brawl shut down by City of Fall River, THE PAGANS MC MADE THEM LOOK FOOLISH **FULL AUDIO EPISODE**, THE PAGANS MC MADE THEM LOOK FOOLISH **VIDEO**, Ep 937 HERES THE TRUTH UNCLE SHAGGY & THE INVADERS MC **FULL AUDIO**, HARLEY DAVIDSONS FROM 90s ARE BETTER THAN MODERN HARLEYS, HERES THE TRUTH ABOUT UNCLE SHAGGY & THE INVADERS MC, HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT UNCLE SHAGGY & THE INVADERS MC, https://insanethrottleinternational.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/discord-commercial-harley.mp3, https://insanethrottleinternational.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/motorcyclemadhousemayhempromo.mp3. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. When first founded they consisted of only 13 members. Even undercover, Croke remained a federal law enforcement officer, obligated to prevent anyone from getting killed orseriously injured in his presence. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. Nor does he disclose where he lives or where he is speaking from today. The investigation focused on two gangs, The Pagans and Kryptmen, whose members were allegedly involved in gun and drug trafficking and other criminal activity, officials said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. SOURCE: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest "The minute you do anything to one of them, you do it to all of them," Croke said. In addition to the PMC insignia, members of the PMC wear a diamond patch with "1%" inscribed inside, which denotes their claim to be among the one percent of motorcycle riders who are not law abiding. According to U.S. Attorney Brady, the Indictments are a part of an ongoing investigation into members and associates of the Pagans Motorcycle Club (PMC or Pagans) operating in and around western Pennsylvania engaging in illegal activity, including federal violations of drug and firearm laws. Pagans Motorcycle Club Founding / Pagans MC History The Pagans Motorcycle Club was founded in 1959 by Lou Dobkin in Prince George's County which is located in Maryland . The arrests were made following a series of pre-dawn raids conducted by authorities. I know friends of mine who have done this and some have been conflicted for different reasons but I was not one of them.. I threw glancing blows off the side of his head and shoulder, but really I was punching the cement. He scrambled to dress appropriately, drive to a restaurant and play it cool. ', Asked if he thought members of the Pagans would read the book, Croke replied, "I would be surprised if they don't.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Married with three young daughters, he was a supervisor who seemed to be cruising to a quiet suburban retirement. Pagans M/C Taking down in morning raids in Rhode Island- What the hell were you guys thinking? As to the conspiracy counts involving 100 grams or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine, the law provides for a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $5,000,000, or both. According to information provided to the court, the three Indictments charge 30 individuals with federal drug trafficking and firearms charges. Croke said the Pagans weren't motivated so much by money but by violence. According to the Department of Justice, the PMC is a violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang whose membership distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana and other illegal drugs. Jason Oliver from Fall River was identified as the leader of the Massachusetts Pagans biker gang, according to Rhode Island State Police. Featured If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. cartel An indictment is an accusation. Most of the raids were conducted at Rhode Island addresses, but police received search warrants for and raided the following properties in Massachusetts:111 Pulaski Blvd. Theres a lot of cases that continue to come out in New York, Massachusetts and other jurisdictions where some of the people that were involved in the case Ken did may have had links. One of the Pagan's was shot, the other knocked off his motorcycle He earned the nickname Slam after he forcefully subdued a man during a brawl bar. An application will be made to have the Victorian man extradited back to South Australia for a court appearance at Adelaide Magistrates Court on 27 June with the other four men who have been bailed.. in Bellingham; 7 Old Mendon Road in Blackstone; 30 Old Worcester Road in Charlton; and196 West St. in Milford. Escalating tension and an increased risk of violence in recent weeks led to the decision to conduct the raids Wednesday, according to Rhode Island State PoliceLt. He was released on $500 bail after his arraignment, Ryan said. across the street with binoculars. The third Indictment contains two counts and names the following twelve individuals as defendants: According to this Indictment, Kushik, Hairston, Wofford, Zilka, Walker, Camacho, Collins, and Taranto conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance between August and November of 2020. showed. Documentary Croke said he wasn't sure he wanted to write a book about his life with the Pagans, but was urged to do it by his wife, Angela, a fellow ATF agent, and their three daughters. Members Only Case Files Jacob Blair, 25, is also charged in 700 Grant Street, Suite 4000 Croke is now a security consultant for a global corporation. International International Slowly, as they began to accept more and more members in the '60s, they became more like a traditional outlaw MC. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, 30 Members and Associates of the Pagans Motorcycle Club Facing Federal Charges, Prolific Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled, Coraopolis Man Indicted in Western Pennsylvania and in the District of Columbia on Drug Charges, Indictment Charges Alleged Darknet Marketplace Fentanyl Dealer, 30 Members and Associates of The Pagans Motorcycle Club Facing Federal Charges. Theres legally things that I could not do and I would have to stop it. People Sentences ranged from two to 16 years. evidence shown Thursday in Augusta County Circuit Court. convention. One slipup would mean being beaten with ax handles, or worse. As he ran, two Hells Angels opened fire on him, video Face it, its never going to happen. They view everyone whos not one of them as a subculture and so everywhere they go, thats their thought: youre not one of us, youre less than. [Wednesdays] arrests send a clear and convincing message: we will not allow motorcycle gangs and other criminals to sell guns and drugs on our streets and commit violent crimes in our communities.. While undercover in the club, all of his answers needed to be right, all of his actions above suspicion. This group brings in dirty money through drug trafficking, the bulk of which is methamphetamine acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Massachusetts residents still wanted by authorities includeRobert Gill, of Blackstone; Robert Minior, of Milford; and Joejihao Qian, of Norwood. Fax:814-533-4545. SAPOL Crime Gangs Task Force members arrested four men in South Australia yesterday, Wednesday 23 May, while a fifth man was arrested in Victoria early this morning, by Operation Echo officers from Victoria Police. I surely have something wrong but it matters not, all arrested. Basiliere was arraigned as a fugitive from justice and was held pending extradition. The 12-month investigation was dubbedOperation Patched Out and included assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI andthe federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, among other agencies. The three Indictments were returned under seal on December 1, 2020, and unsealed yesterday. Midwest Dominick J. Eadicicco, 48, of Staten Island, New York, is A veteran of more than 1,000 undercover operations during his career with the ATF, Crokesaid the toughest part of the Pagan investigation was keeping his cover story straight, because they would constantly question him on it. to maliciously wound, gang participation in a criminal act and use of a firearm Milan is a prospective member of the Hells Angels In addition to the 53 illegal guns that were seized, authorities also discovered large quantities of marijuana, crack, cocaine and heroin, Rhode Island State Police said. It was a stressful way to live and my brain was working overtime., Croke adds via Zoom: Theres no planning this out, theres no script, there is no Oh, today Im going to do this. I can honestly tell you that never did a day go according to plan. In general, when we say "Pagan" today, we're referring to someone who follows a spiritual path that is rooted in nature, the cycles of the season, and astronomical markers. State Police raided the headquarters of the Pagan Motorcycle Club in Everett and confiscated 4 unlawful guns and arrested 3 men. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Theyre mostly all outlaws and pretty much everyone that I researched for this book all had felony records. He now works as a security consultant. Once produced in court, John Kachbalian pleaded guilty to the charges against him. These are violent criminals who belong to some of the most sinister motorcycle gangs in this country," Assumpico said in a statement. The clerk, unaware there were now rival club members at the motel, gave Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The drugs they distributed include significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. On one occasion Croke received a call from a gang member who was unexpectedly and ominously close by and wanted to meet. Philadelphia The leader of the Massachusetts Pagans motorcycle gang was among 49 people arrested this week following a year-long investigation by Rhode Island authorities that resulted in the seizure of. 16. Paganism (from classical Latin pgnus "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism.In the time of the Roman empire, individuals fell into the pagan class either because they were increasingly rural and provincial relative to the Christian . Case Files ", "The members and associates of the Pagans Motorcycle Club facing charges today had a complete disregard for the law and the safety of the communities they operate in," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. This stuff has been happening for decades and decades. Cops have arrested two Hells Angels members and another biker-gang tough suspected in the assassination of a rival Pagans Motorcycle Club leader, police sources said. Fax:412-644-4549, Johnstown:814-533-4547 The club dealt in drugs, guns, bombs and shaking down legitimate businesses. In court Thursday, Milan, who has no prior felonies, was The raids were conducted without incident. Related | Hells Angels MC members charged with violence According to this Indictment, the above-named defendants conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance between January and November of 2020. The rider in front wiped out as he attempted to escape the ambush, skidding his A Pagans MC leader, Jay Carl Wagner, 66, was arrested in Washington County, Maryland, by 60-plus officers from state, local and federal officials with a bomb disposal robot on May 9, 2007, and later charged with possession of a regulated firearm after conviction of a violent crime. Who knows what goes thru peoples brain. Sharp-dressed man:Mark Rylance is a perfect fit in mobster movie 'The Outfit', Book Smart:4 new novels you won't want to put down. Theres a time when we drove to a house to kill or seriously injure this man. Seven suspects were arrested at the scene. Movies 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Exclusive e live, thanks to the coronavirus, in the age of the Zoom interview. On April 24, 2018, Arocho, Guzman, and other associates of the Pagans assaulted an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club at a gas station in Newark. An official website of the United States government. A nighttime raid on the Pagan Motorcycle Club in Everett ended with three men arrested and two arraigned Monday on weapons charges, according to authorities. The investigation, which was wide-spread, also resulted in identifying large-scale suppliers of narcotics not only to members and associates of the Pagans, but to local drug traffickers and suppliers within the Greater Pittsburgh Region. PITTSBURGH, PA A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has issued three separate, but related, Indictments, charging 30 residents of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio with narcotics trafficking and firearm possession, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Rarely seeing his family, he had to adapt to a volatile, unpredictable lifestyle where he might be ordered to commit violence or even kill at any moment. The arrests were made following a series of pre-dawn raids conducted by authorities. But spending so much time with the Pagans, did he glimpse humanity beneath the hatred and come to understand why they had fallen into the moral abyss? But there were some others that I despised much more, the ones who were most violent, the ones that were just sick in what they did and the lack of regard for people. The three people arrested were arraigned in Malden District Court on Monday. Chicago You have to be a peer, you have to appear to be loyal because the brotherhood within this organisation is more important than your family or anything else. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Random in the commission of a felony. Theres certain things that I will have to stop. "The story I heard was pretty incredible. Police received a search warrant and raided the Pagan Motorcycle Club building on Orient Avenue at about 10:15 p.m., Friday. Twenty Pagans were taken into custody on charges including racketeering, drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit murder. motel parking lot on their motorcycles, an ambush was unleashed, based on video New York Croke managed to turn it in to law enforcement while convincing the gang that it had been used to blow up a boat. The investigation focused on two gangs, The Pagans and Kryptmen, whose members were allegedly involved in gun and drug trafficking and other criminal activity, officials said. The Pagan's have opened up shop on two new chapters in the Scranton-Wilks-Barre area, part of the east coast expansion effort dubbed the "Blue Wave Initiative," when he enacted it three years ago upon taking power as national president. After gaining a swelling mass of new members which put the Pagans on the path to evolve into an outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG). An intermediary set up a meeting with Wedge, a Brockton native whose five earlier books with Casey Sherman included "Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture and Killing of America's Most Wanted Crime Boss." of southern Virginia, the sheriff's office said. Wentworth and Snow are scheduled to return to court on May 21, Ryan said. The related Indictments are the result of an investigation that began in August of 2018, and ultimately led to a Title III wire investigation with intercepted communications over several telephones from August 2020 through November 2020. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Milan, Eadiciccio and three others are charged with two Within 10 minutes, my jaw was on the floor," Wedge said of the meeting. The leader of the Massachusetts Pagans motorcycle gang was among 49 people arrested this week following a year-long investigation by Rhode Island authorities that resulted in the seizure of 53 illegal guns as well as large quantities of heroin and other drugs, according to officials. So what am I going to do to stop it? Theres a skill that goes to it, a coordination, but theres also dumb luck. also suspected of opening fire, evidence showed. Massachusetts residents still wanted by authorities includeRobert Gill, of Blackstone; Robert Minior, of Milford; and Joejihao Qian, of Norwood. The Indictment also charges Rana, Evans, James, P. Bonanno, and Stockhausen with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, also between January and November of 2020. Interview They also appeared to hold frequent, large gatherings or parties between PMC members/associates, non-PMC members, and other outlaw motorcycle gangs, at their McKees Rocks Clubhouse, which was one of more than a dozen locations where agents executed federally-authorized search warrants on December 8, 2020. One leader was charged with more than 230 counts, according to . Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 17 South Park Row, Room A330 When the investigation ended in 2010, 20Pagans were arrested on charges that included racketeering, murder conspiracy, assault, drug distribution, witness tampering and firearms offences. "Through joint, collaborative investigations and robust partnerships, we will continue to target the leadership of these organizations and bring them to justice for the harm caused by their criminal actions.". Eleven Members of The Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged with Narcotics Distribution, Firearms Offenses, and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Monday, June 28, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey NEWARK, N.J. But then he saw how their lives had moved on and Ang was now like a single mother. They are organized crime," Croke said in a telephone interview. Topics Selection,Research, Editing, Correction Policy and Ethics. Col. Ann C. Assumpico, the superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, announced the arrests Wednesday, saying that the bust is believed to be the single largest takedown in the Rhode Island State Police history. The arrested men, a 31-year-old from Ingle Farm, a 31-year-old man from Walkley Heights, a 25-year-old man from Lightsview, 39-year-old man from Northgate and a 38-year-old man from Keilor Downs in Victoria, have all been charged with being present with two or more criminal organization participants. counts of malicious wounding by a mob, along with single counts of conspiracy "They use intimidation, threats of violence to get what they want.". OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The defendants are alleged to have conspired to distribute controlled substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. They call them civilians and that kind of thing. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club also known as PMC or simply the Pagan's is an East Coast motorcycle club that's been around since 1959, according to various media reports, which have cited cops as saying that the club can be violent.