The charge against Richter came about after authorities were tipped off by someone that Richter was in possession of a loaded Ruger P345 .45-caliber handgun during a party for the club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Feb. 20, according to the criminal complaint. 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). The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. Hugo Zorro Nieves, who authorities said they believe is the vice president of the Pagans, is based in New Jersey. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. An alleged member of the Pagan's motorcycle club who was charged with attempted murder earlier this year is set to plead guilty to a federal charge related to having an associate of the outlaw. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. The cache included an AR-15 style ghost gun, a shotgun, and almost 1,800 rounds of ammunition, according to the federal prosecutor's office, which describes the Pagans as an "outlaw motorcycle gang. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. These charges were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club an outlaw motorcycle gang known to engage in illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crimes. Investigators say there are currently chapters in Philadelphia, South Jersey, Bucks and Delaware counties. In New Jersey, Pagans membership which has always been strong in South Jersey has grown at an alarming rate in recent years, with 200 members in 17 chapters. The assault victim, whose name was not disclosed, had alerted investigators in July 2020 that hed been asked to store guns and ammunition by another suspect in the case, Michael Cage Dorazo of Gloucester City, a criminal complaint alleges. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. Also on Monday, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging Nicholas Bucciarelli with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Our journalism needs your support. ", Also: Camden man fatally shot in Fairview home, More: Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel. 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. Those charges are being prosecuted in state court and remain pending. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. 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. 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 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. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Estimates varied during testimony. 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 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 Pagans 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 them, according to a new report issued Wednesday. 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 charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The outlaw motorcycle club has a clubhouse in Newark. NEWARK, NJ More members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club have been arrested in New Jersey, as a violent, long-running "rivalry" with the Hells Angels continues, federal prosecutors said. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. There are at least 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials have said. The report said law enforcement agencies estimate the club has about 200 members in New Jersey . It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. 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. An alleged member of the Pagans motorcycle club who was charged with attempted murder earlier this year is set to plead guilty to a federal charge related to having an associate of the outlaw motorcycle club store firearms and ammunition for the organization, according to online court records. 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 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 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 group now has 900 members in 12 states, he said. Est. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. The outlaw bikers were once a familiar scourge in Philadelphia and Delaware County, Pa., as well as the southern half of New Jersey. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. All rights reserved (About Us). Richter and the passenger were not detained at the time, but Richter was later arrested by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which identified him in the criminal complaint as the national president of the Pagans. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. And whenit comes to evading detection, they're getting better. Monday, June 28, 2021 Eleven Members of The Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged with Narcotics Distribution, Firearms Offenses, and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering 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. Support local journalism with a subscription. The federal prosecutors office alleges Marino and DAlessandro were the president and sergeant at arms, respectively, for the Pagans chapter in Gloucester County chapter. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 We respect every Motorcycle Club that adheres to proper MC protocol. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Attorneys Robert Frazer, R. Joseph Gribko, and Samantha C. Fasanello, of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark. An official website of the United States government. 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 actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Among the hiearchy of women associated with the Pagans, the lowest are called "pets. 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 earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. In 2018, Pagan Robert DeRonde, known as Hellboy, brutally beat an associate of the Hells Angels with a baseball bat at a gas station near the Newark clubhouse. 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. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. Police found the firearm underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Rachael Honig announced two additional indictments, bringing the total of Pagans members facing crimes to 11 -- although the number may increase as the investigation continues. Marino also agreed to surrender his interest in one gun, while DAlessando is to forfeit ownership of 11 weapons, their agreements say. ]. Women are considered property and rank lower than dogs in the order of importance to the group. Nicholas Lefty Marino, 76, and Anthony Fugit DAlessandro, 55, were accused of assisting in an August 2020 attack at a Pagans clubhouse. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. (Authorities said they seized them.). It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. 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. Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. 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. 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. 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. Luis Arocho, aka "LuRoc," 43, of Keansburg, New Jersey, and Maurice Guzman, aka "Dawg," 51, of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count of aggravated . The arrest has sent ripples through the Pagans organization. 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 lock ( 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. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. 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. 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). 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. The mans only mistake was passing a Pagan. 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. 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