The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. The Pagans motorcycle gang, with a notorious history in South Jersey two and three decades ago, is back with a vengeance, according to testimony at a State Commission of Investigation hearing last week. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. All rights reserved (About Us). The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Pagans continue to distribute methamphetamine but are getting away from manufacturing it, relying more on "super labs" in Mexico. (Authorities said they seized them.). The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. 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 federal prosecutors office alleges Marino and DAlessandro were the president and sergeant at arms, respectively, for the Pagans chapter in Gloucester County chapter. Those charges are being prosecuted in state court and remain pending. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. 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. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. 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. Police found the firearm underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. "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 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. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. The outlaw bikers were once a familiar scourge in Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pa., as well as the southern half of New Jersey. Seemingly random assaults like these on the citizens of the Garden State have officials at the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation urging law enforcement to take action. We respect every Motorcycle Club that adheres to proper MC protocol. He also thanked the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for its assistance with this investigation. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. 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. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. The Pagans engage in protection rackets,"muscle for hire," and debt collection for traditional organized crime groups, posting what look like job listings at meetings for debt collection jobs with the offer of a percentage of the money recovered. 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). Our journalism needs your support. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. Richter and prosecutors agreed on the sentence as part of the plea deal, according to court documents. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. 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. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Pagans Motorcycle Club incident that rocked New Jersey September 8, 2021 Pagans Motorcycle Club incident that rocked New Jersey Pagan's Motorcycle Club Causing Panic in Missouri OUTLAWS MC DESERVED THIS 100% *VIDEO* EP 934 Official Statement From The Grim Reapers MC Concerning Bust **FULL AUDIO** YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. 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. One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. Count Five carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. A report released Wednesday by the group, an independent state watchdog formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime, says the Pagans have increased their membership ranks in the past three years and pose a growing threat to the public. "They're very well organized," Torres told the commission. In 2020, the group issued a 20-page report exposing in exhaustive detail how the Pagans have doubled in size in New Jersey, with more than 200 members spread across 17 chapters in the state. Richter, 62, attended a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around noon on Feb. 20. When Aquino and his associates exited the bar, a group of individuals approached and assaulted them with baseball bats. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. Many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club, prosecutors say. A federal judge signed a court order this week allowing Michael Dorazo, of the Glendora section of Gloucester Township, to be transferred from the Salem County Correctional Facility to Camden federal court on Sept. 23 in order to plead guilty to a federal charge he faces. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. 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. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. 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 victim was beaten with an axe handle, punched and kicked by the Pagans assailants, causing significant injuries.. 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. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. 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. 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. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report 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. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. ", Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo thanked the agencies that collaborated during the investigation, saying they have the "gratitude of communities impacted and made safer.". Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Ortiz was indicted for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. District of New Jersey 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 club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. 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. 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. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. The victim allowed investigators to seize the weapons without the Pagans knowledge. Investigators say there are currently chapters in Philadelphia, South Jersey, Bucks and Delaware counties. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. 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. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. Pagan's Motorcycle Club paraphernalia on display at a state Commission of Investigation Public Hearing on Oct. 23, 2019.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The federal charge against Dorazo came as the U.S. Attorneys Office of New Jersey has put an emphasis on investigating the Pagans, an organization that has expanded rapidly in the state recently and has allegedly been responsible for brutal assaults, drive-by shootings and distributing drugs across the state. 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. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 There has been an. Seemingly random assaults like these on the citizens of the Garden State have officials at the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation urging law enforcement to take action. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. 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. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. 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 and Explosives,according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the club's activities. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark. [ Stay up-to-date on this story by downloading the Asbury Park Press app. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "They're typically given as many drugs or drinks as they want., One Paganmotto: "Breaking laws and breaking jaws since 1959". 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). And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. Dorazo has been charged with attempted murder, burglary during an attempted murder, domestic violence incident and weapons charges. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. 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. Three reputed Pagan leaderssubpoenaed to testify asserted their Fifth Amendment rightsand did not answer questions. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. ]. 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. 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. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said. Pagans MC: Glen Turner - The Shooting Of A NJ State Trooper (1982-83) MOBFAX 71.5K subscribers Subscribe 471 34K views 4 months ago Pagans MC: Glen Turner - The Shooting Of New Jersey. All rights reserved (About Us). The gang currently has 17 chapters across the state, up from 10 in 2016, according to the SCI. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Pagans Elizabeth membership chapter, prosecutors said. 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.". 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. 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. According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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