Do you know who we are? the Pagans yelled at the man, according to a police report. 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. 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. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. 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. 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. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. 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. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. 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 northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. "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. And Pagans are expanding, moving out West, into . Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. Whether its ticket-fixing judges, police misconduct, orLittle League officials' questionable finances, we're here for you. 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. Nieves and the members refused to answer any questions from the SCI commissioners, citing their Fifth Amendment rights. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. 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.. 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. Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. CAMDEN Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Our journalism needs your support. more information Accept. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. ]. 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. One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. 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. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty sentenced Keith Conan Richter, 62, in federal court via videoconference after Richter pleaded guilty in July to being a felon in possession of a firearm after authorities discovered a loaded gun in a vehicle he was in during a traffic stop in Mercer County earlier this year. The judge is to sentence Marino on May 26 and DAlessandro on June 1. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Dorazo admitted guilt in December 2021 to possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Those charges are being prosecuted in state court and remain pending. 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. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. 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. Marino also agreed to surrender his interest in one gun, while DAlessando is to forfeit ownership of 11 weapons, their agreements say. The mans only mistake was passing a Pagan. 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 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. "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. Count One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The Bay Shore, New York, resident was a passenger in a GMC that left the party around 11 p.m. 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. 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. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. Prosecutors moved to have Richter detained pending the outcome of the case due to his criminal history, they said, and because of his role as the leader of the motorcycle gang. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Bucciarelli has pleaded not guilty to charges that include assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The rise in Pagan membership in New Jersey,first reported by NJ Advance Mediain 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 club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! Trenton:609-989-2190 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). 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. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. 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. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: New Jersey's SPCAs 17 Years Later. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. 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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. All rights reserved (About Us). Hundreds of Pagans showed up at Roar tothe Shore motorcycle event in Wildwood in September, what'sknown in the outlaw motorcycle club world as a "Pagan event.". There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. District of New Jersey Both Arocho and Guzman face 20 years in prison if convicted. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. 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. The victim allowed investigators to seize the weapons without the Pagans knowledge. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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.. Find NJ.com on Facebook. FAX:973-645-2702 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. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. An official website of the United States government. 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