The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited a joint task force comprised of special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; the Union County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to these charges. "Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. 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. There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Here's the latest for Monday January 31: UN Security Council to discuss Russia-Ukraine; North Korea conducts missile test; Multi-vehicle accident near Las Vegas kills 9; Protests in Canadian capital could continue into the week. FAX: 609-989-2275. In New Jersey, Pagans membership which has always been strong in South Jersey has grown at an alarming rate in recent years, with approximately 200 members in 17 chapters. Mr. FAX:973-645-2702 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. 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. He took steps to deploy a handgun towards officers, but was tackled and arrested, police said. All rights reserved (About Us). Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. When Aquino and his associates exited the bar, a group of individuals approached and assaulted them with baseball bats. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. DeRonde, 56, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. 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. Box 045 Trenton, NJ 08625-0045 Tel (609) 292-6767 Fax (609) 633-7366 The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. ]. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. Daniel Hooban, 33, of Bayonne, New Jersey, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. 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. And with these charges we have now brought criminal charges against a total of 11 defendants, involving various assaults, weapons possession and drug trafficking charges that relate to their membership and in many cases leadership of the Pagans," Honig said. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. An alleged member of the Pagans 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 motorcycle club store firearms and ammunition for the organization, according to online court records. He has previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including burglary and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, meaning he cannot legally posses a firearm. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. Eventually, the informant was allegedly struck with an axe handle and held at gunpoint by other influential leaders of the Pagans in South Jersey over the mishandling of the firearms, authorities said. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. 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. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. It was around this time it adopted the outlaw motorcycle mentality, collectively known as the one-percenters. The theory is most motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens, except for the 1% who arent. Richter, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1998 for attempted murder and racketeering and released in 2012, took control of the Pagans in 2018, according to officials. Richter and the passenger were not detained at the time, but Richter was later arrested by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which identified him in the criminal complaint as the national president of the Pagans. Our journalism needs your support. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. The former national president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, an outlaw group that has rapidly expanded in New Jersey in recent years under his leadership, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a. We are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or educational purposes. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. "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. The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. More violent incidents have been committed by the Pagans in a recent 18-month period than in the prior 10 years, according to the SCI report. The agency also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs. 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). The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. 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. Public Hearing: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - The Pagans 'Organized Crime Spotlight' examines MS-13 in NJ . An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. There has been an. Nieves made one statement, saying"All I will say is it is not the policy of this club for anybody to engage in any criminal activity.". Keith "Conan" Richter, the former president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, pictured in 2018 at an event in New Jersey. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "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. Nieves and the members refused to answer any questions from the SCI commissioners, citing their Fifth Amendment rights. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Count Two carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Among the hiearchy of women associated with the Pagans, the lowest are called "pets. The recent charges against Arocho, Guzman and Bucciarelli were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club, which has been accused of narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking and violent crimes, authorities said. Richter has remained in a New Jersey jail since he was arrested. 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). The mans only mistake was passing a Pagan. He has not been convicted of any crimes in this case. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. The outlaw motorcycle club has a clubhouse in Newark. Camden:856-757-5026 The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. In New Jersey, Pagans membership, which has always been strong in South Jersey, has increased at an alarming rate in recent years, with 300 members in 17 chapters throughout the state.. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. After hearing gunshots ring out in the neighborhood, Deptford police officers rushed to the area and began a search for Michael F. Dorazo, 41, of Glendora. Ortiz was also charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. The arrest has sent ripples through the Pagans organization. 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.". Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. 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. Richter was previously convicted in 1998 when he was the national president of the Pagans, Frazer said, of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and two counts of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. 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. as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle clubs operating in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. The neighborhood was put in lockdown during the search, with residents instructed to stay inside for about four hours. Count One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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. Trenton:609-989-2190 The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. All rights reserved (About Us). Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded Ruger P345 .45-caliber handgun underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Unlike other motorcycle gangs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. [ Stay up-to-date on this story by downloading the Asbury Park Press app. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. 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. District of New Jersey The Pagans have also started recruiting light-skinned Latino members from traditional street gangs, like the Latin Kings, though they still prohibit Black people from joining their ranks. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. Marino and DAlessandro pleaded guilty at separate hearings in Camden federal court on Jan. 24 and Jan. 27. It was around this time it adopted the outlaw motorcycle mentality, collectively known as the one-percenters. The theory is most motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens, except for the 1% who arent. 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. Less than three weeks later, Dorazo led police in South Jersey on a manhunt after authorities heard gun shots in a Deptford home they were responding to due to a domestic disturbance, authorities said. The uptick in Pagan membership in New Jersey, first reported by NJ Advance Media in 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. CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. 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. Each admitted to aiding and abetting in the assault of a victim with a dangerous weapon. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said. According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. An official website of the United States government. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The club distributes drugs in cells within chapters to keep tight control of the of the information. Luis Arocho, aka "LuRoc," 43, of Keansburg, New Jersey, and Maurice Guzman, aka "Dawg," 51, of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count of aggravated . Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle clubs to increase membership, officials said. The gang currently has 17 chapters across the state, up from 10 in 2016, according to the SCI. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. The outlaw motorcycle club has a clubhouse in Newark. The rise in Pagan membership in New Jersey, first reported by NJ Advance Media in 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. It alleges the assault occurred after the man arrived for a meeting at a clubhouse onMarino's property in Williamstown. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. We respect every Motorcycle Club that adheres to proper MC protocol. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. Its unclear how the arrest of Richter will impact the group. He also thanked the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for its assistance with this investigation. Authorities said Maryland, in 1959 multi-agency approach gangs - the Pagans have absorbing! 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