"Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. We believe this corresponds with a fair use of any such copyrighted material (referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). He has not been convicted of any crimes in this case. 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 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 racketeering enterprise that engages in various forms of illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons possession and trafficking, and violent crime," Honig said during a Monday press conference announcing the latest indictments. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. 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. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. The victim was beaten with an axe handle, punched and kicked by the Pagans assailants, causing significant injuries.. 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. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. It alleges another Pagan,Nicholas Booch Bucciarelli of Brooklawn, then entered the clubhouse, struck the victim with an ax handle and pointed a gun at the man. 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. 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.. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. Each man agreed to surrender his interest in two baseball bats and six ax handles seized in September 2020. "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. 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. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation found that Richters leadership had led to the club multiplying its members, but also engaging in violence and other criminal acts as they expanded. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. Recruitment has become much less selective, with people joining for $500 to $1,000 instead of going through a lengthy trial period as a "prospect.". The resurgence and expansion of the group has made it easier to wear Pagan colors, he said. 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. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain expressed permission from the copyright owner. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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). Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, increasing membership in all corners of the state. The Pagans have established membership chapters in numerous states and U.S. territories, including multiple active chapters in New Jersey. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. The mans only mistake was passing a Pagan. The judge is to sentence Marino on May 26 and DAlessandro on June 1. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. FAX:973-645-2702 The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Support local journalism with a subscription. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. 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 . Those charges are being prosecuted in state court and remain pending. 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. 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. 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 man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. In October 2019, the State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime, held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. Bucciarelli, who is the sergeant at arms of the Camden County Chapter, could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the brandishing a firearm charge. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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. 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. Unlike other motorcycle gangs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report 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. The neighborhood was put in lockdown during the search, with residents instructed to stay inside for about four hours. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. 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. as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these clubs in routine crime investigations. 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. 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 northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. Nieves and the members refused to answer any questions from the SCI commissioners, citing their Fifth Amendment rights. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. According to Honig, "that includes the national president, a member of the Pagans Mother Club, which is a national organization that oversees its operations, the president of presidents in New Jersey, the presidents of the Jersey City and Gloucester County chapters of the Pagans, the vice-president of the Elizabeth chapter and the sergeant at arms, or the enforcer, for various other chapters. 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 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. Pagans Motorcycle Club merchandise on display at a State Commission of Investigation public hearing on Oct. 23, 2019.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. 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. 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 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. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Hugo Zorro Nieves, who authorities said they believe is the vice president of the Pagans, is based in New Jersey. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. 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 group has expandedfrom 10 chapters to 17in New Jersey in the past few years, and is moving into the northern part of the statefrom their traditional South Jersey stronghold,said Edwin Torres, an investigator for the commission and president of the East Coast Gang Investigators Association. 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. Official websites use .gov Pagan motorcycle club paraphernalia on display at a New Jersey State Commission of Investigation public hearing in Trenton in October 2019. 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. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. 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 most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. 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. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, Two Members of Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted for Shooting at Hells Angels Associate on New Jersey Turnpike, Bergen County Man Charged for Possession of Machine Gun, Rifle, Handgun, and Fraudulent United States Marshals Service Credentials in Newark Airport, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in Murder for Hire, Three Hudson County Men Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Related Offenses Inside Jersey City Apartment Building, Two Members of Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted For Shooting At Hells Angels Associate On New Jersey Turnpike. NEWARK, N.J. - Two high-ranking members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club were arrested today for assault in aid of racketeering, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. Ritchers attorney argued that his client is at high-risk to COVID-19 if he is detained and offered a $1 million bail package for Richter to be released on. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials 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. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. These charges, according to Honig, are in connection to a separate gang-related assault in which Bucciarelli retaliated against another member of the Pagans for breaking the organizations rules. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Rutgers Newark Staff Say Theyre Fed Up With Contract Negotiations, Bob Menendez Joins Student Loan Protesters Outside Supreme Court, Average Property Tax Bill In Newark Is Growing, Latest Data Shows, Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Video Shows NJ Mans Fatal Attempt To Run From Newark Police, NJ Marijuana Jobs: Tips For Getting Hired In The Cannabis Industry. There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club has recruited disgraced or retired law enforcement officers and even a former municipal court judge in New Jersey. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Law enforcement considers the Pagans, founded in 1959 as a fellowship of 13 motorcyclists in Maryland, to be among the largest and most violent outlaw motorcycle clubs in the country, according. Box 045 Trenton, NJ 08625-0045 Tel (609) 292-6767 Fax (609) 633-7366 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. (Authorities said they seized them.). He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman has scheduled sentencing for Dorazo on April 4. 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. 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