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. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. Attorney information for the two was not immediately known. Later, the same Pagan and two of his companions ambushed the patron, hitting him twice in the head with an axe handle a weapon of choice for the Pagans. Keith "Conan" Richter, the former president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, pictured in 2018 at an event in New Jersey. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Mr. 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. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation 1989 Report THE PAGANS Operating in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, the Pagans' overall membership has been estimated at between 300 and 400. This investigation involved court-authorized wiretaps, the use of multiple undercover law enforcement agents, and execution of multiple search warrants at physical locations in multiple jurisdictions. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle gangs operating in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. 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 in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. The gang currently has 17 chapters across the state, up from 10 in 2016, according to the SCI. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. Richter, 62, attended a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around noon on Feb. 20. 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). ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. 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 turf clash between the Pagans and Hells Angels has been well-documented over the years especially in northern New Jersey, where the Hells Angels have a clubhouse in Newark. Public Hearing: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - The Pagans 'Organized Crime Spotlight' examines MS-13 in NJ . Later, the same Pagan and two of his companions ambushed the patron, hitting him twice in the head with an axe handle a weapon of choice for the Pagans. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Its unclear how the arrest of Richter will impact the group. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. Dorazo admitted guilt in December 2021 to possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The Pagans in New Jersey have been under fire from federal authorities in the past year with 11 members being charged in a variety of cases, some involving violence committed against other Outlaw Motorcycle clubs and their own associates. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. In recent years, the group has spread into more northern areas of the state, with a large presence in Elizabeth. 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 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. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. [ Stay up-to-date on this story by downloading the Asbury Park Press app. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Our journalism needs your support. 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. District of New Jersey FAX:973-645-2702 Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. 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 Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. He also thanked the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for its assistance with this investigation. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. Larry Ortiz, 31, of Elizabeth, and Junius Aquino, 38, of Vauxhall, were charged with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence for their roles in a gang-related shooting, authorities said. 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 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. That violence has included an uptick inattacks against civilians, attempted murders against other members, a murder-for-hire scheme that was carried out in South Jersey and other crimes. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. Do you know who we are? the Pagans yelled at the man, according to a police report. The Bay Shore, New York, resident was a passenger in a GMC that left the party around 11 p.m. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. 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. 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. Lock It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor 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. In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. Richter was not present at the hearing. 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 clubs. Larry Ortiz, aka Savage, 31, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Junius Aquino, aka Jayo, 38, of Vauxhall, New Jersey, were indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering (Count One) and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count Two), in connection with their roles in a gang-related shooting. Unlike the Hells Angels, the Pagans dont have clubhouses, and instead have weekly meetings in different locations. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. The resurgence and expansion of the group has made it easier to wear Pagan colors, he said. On Nov. 5, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Aquinos residence and recovered, among other items, multiple .40 caliber rounds of ammunition and approximately 50 grams of cocaine. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Those charges remain pending. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. 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. Whether its ticket-fixing judges, police misconduct, orLittle League officials' questionable finances, we're here for you. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine. The outlaw bikers were once a familiar scourge in Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pa., as well as the southern half of New Jersey. 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. Trenton:609-989-2190 ]. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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 club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. 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