They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Luis Arocho, 43, of Keansburg, and Maurice Guzman, 51, of Newark, were charged with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering. 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 Pagan's 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The report said law enforcement agencies estimate the club has about 200 members in New Jersey . The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. Over the last year, federal authorities have charged at least 10 Pagan members in New Jersey with a number of crimes, including for their alleged roles in shootings and drug distribution. All rights reserved (About Us). He took steps to deploy a handgun towards officers, but was tackled and arrested, police said. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. The victim told the Pagans hed sold the guns for $5,000 and turned over that amount of money, which was provided by federal investigators, to Dorazo, the complaint alleges. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. The mans only mistake was passing a Pagan. "Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. Both Arocho and Guzman face 20 years in prison if convicted. And Pagans are expanding, moving out West, into . Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. 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. The club distributes drugs in cells within chapters to keep tight control of the of the information. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The crimes were committed for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in the Pagans' Motorcycle Club, according to plea agreements. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. 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. 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.. 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. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. 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. 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. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. During Fridays hearing, Frazer presented a recorded conversation from 2019, in which Ritcher allegedly chided a Pagans leader in the Bronx for not using violence against a rival gang who showed up at one of their clubs brandishing firearms. The commission recommended the state Attorney Generals Office create a working group comprised of law enforcement officials at every level devoted to identifying and prosecuting criminal activity conducted by outlaw motorcycle gangs. Richter, 62, attended a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around noon on Feb. 20. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. 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. 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 group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. 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.. He also thanked the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for its assistance with this investigation. The victim allowed investigators to seize the weapons without the Pagans knowledge. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. 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. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. The agency also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs. Each man agreed to surrender his interest in two baseball bats and six ax handles seized in September 2020. Bucciarelli was also indicted for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, prosecutors added. "They're typically given as many drugs or drinks as they want., One Paganmotto: "Breaking laws and breaking jaws since 1959". FAX:973-645-2702 Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. 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. 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 gangs in the country. Marino and DAlessandro pleaded guilty at separate hearings in Camden federal court on Jan. 24 and Jan. 27. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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. Over the last year, federal authorities have charged at least 10 Pagan members in New Jersey with a number of crimes, including for their alleged roles in shootings and drug distribution.. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. 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. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. And whenit comes to evading detection, they're getting better. Dorazo has been charged with attempted murder, burglary during an attempted murder, domestic violence incident and weapons charges. 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 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. 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). Count One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. "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. 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. 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. They're one of four major outlaw clubs. 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. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. Official websites use .gov One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. 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. FAX: 609-989-2275. Long-term operations of this magnitude require a tremendous amount of work and patience by cooperating detectives, and while the full scope and impact of this investigation may yet be fully realized, its success continues a year after it began, Callahan said. There has been an. The national president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club was arrested Friday by federal authorities after law enforcement recovered a firearm during a traffic stop in New Jersey last weekend, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced. 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. NEWARK Federal agents Monday arrested two high-ranking members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from New Jersey for assault in aid of racketeering as part of a long-running investigation into There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. Have a question about Government Services? 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. ]. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig credited a joint task force comprised of special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gibson; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Taylor; the Union County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges. The Pagans and the Hells Angels are known to be rival gangs. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. The Pagans which started in Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1959 has swelled to more than 1,300 members across at least 12 states, experts said. While the Pagans have traditionally drawn members from white supremacist groups, the diversifying of the club has been a sharp turn that has angered older members. The victim was ordered to call the buyer of the guns, who was actually a federal investigator, and to request an update on the weapons, the complaint alleges. Pagans National President Keith "Conan" Richter was attendingthat party last month before his arrest for gun possession in New Jersey by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms . Unlike the Hells Angels, the Pagans dont have clubhouses, and instead have weekly meetings in different locations. It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity, and thats all I will say about that, he said. Est. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. Count Six carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 recent years, the group has spread into more northern areas of the state, with a large presence in Elizabeth. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. 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. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. Keith Richter, known as Conan, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. A former Pagan chapter president in South Jersey is currently serving a life prison sentence for orchestrating the 2012 murder-for-hire plot of April Kauffman, a well-known radio personality in the Atlantic City area. Unlike other motorcycle gangs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and was released in 2012. U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman has scheduled sentencing for Dorazo on April 4. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The bail hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. When Aquino and his associates exited the bar, a group of individuals approached and assaulted them with baseball bats. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Jul 2019. 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 SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these clubs in routine crime investigations. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Biker News does not belong to or support any Club. Multiple law enforcement officials told NJ Advance Media that Robert Big Bob Francis, of Virginia, has taken over as the national president of the Pagans. 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. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. 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