pagans mc nj

The former national president of the Pagans motorcycle club, who led a massive expansion of the outlaw organization in New Jersey, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Thursday. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 1:01 CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. We respect every Motorcycle Club that adheres to proper MC protocol. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Newark Facebook page. [ Stay up-to-date on this story by downloading the Asbury Park Press app. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. This story has been updated to reflect that Dorazos attorney declined to comment. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700 The group now has 900 members in 12 states, he said. "They're very well organized," Torres told the commission. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. 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). 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. Pagans associate pleads guilty to trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing firearms and ammunit More details released on Carlyle bar incident connected to biker club feud. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. All rights reserved, NYC to Pay George Floyd Protesters Millions in Monster NYPD Kettling' Settlement, Winter Storm May Bring More NYC Snow Friday and a Complex Mess to Millions: What to Expect, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside, 4 Ferraris Stolen on Long Island in Service Center Heist, Kylie Jenner's Ex, Rapper Travis Scott, Wanted in $12,000 Manhattan Nightclub Mayhem. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. 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 Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. 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.. 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. Our journalism needs your support. 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. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. 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. 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 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. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. FAX: 856-968-4917 Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Public Hearing: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs - The Pagans 'Organized Crime Spotlight' examines MS-13 in NJ . The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs in routine crime investigations. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. Bucciarelli was also indicted for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, prosecutors added. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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). 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. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. The victim allowed investigators to seize the weapons without the Pagans knowledge. Marino and DAlessandroordered the man to give up his cell phone, then used a handheld device to ensure he had not concealed any electronic devices, the complaint says. The bail hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday. The Pagans and the Hells Angels are known to be rival gangs. Those charges are being prosecuted in state court and remain pending. 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. 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. 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. Biker News does not belong to or support any Club. 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. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The judge is to sentence Marino on May 26 and DAlessandro on June 1. 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. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. Violence has risen since a change in national leadership in 2018 when Keith "Conan" Richter took over as president, according to testimony. It is unclear why Richter was not arrested during the traffic stop. In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. Jul 2019. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Do you know who we are? the Pagans yelled at the man, according to a police report. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. NEWARK, NJ More members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club have been arrested in New Jersey, as a violent, long-running rivalry with the Hells Angels continues, federal prosecutors said Monday. 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. 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. Mr. Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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. The arrest has sent ripples through the Pagans organization. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. 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 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 Glen Turner, 73, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Dorazo, who authorities say is a member of the Camden County chapter of the Pagans, was charged in August 2020 with being a felon in possession of a firearm after a confidential informant told law enforcement that Dorazo provided six firearms and a large amount of ammunition to store in the informants garage. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. All rights reserved (About Us). Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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 almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Dorazo has been charged with attempted murder, burglary during an attempted murder, domestic violence incident and weapons charges. 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. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! 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. There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. Pagan motorcycle club paraphernalia on display at a New Jersey State Commission of Investigation public hearing in Trenton in October 2019. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. 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. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. Dorazo admitted guilt in December 2021 to possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227 Our journalism needs your support. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. The outlaw bikers were once a familiar scourge in Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pa., as well as the southern half of New Jersey. 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