Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The victim would file a police report, but quickly rescinded it, fearful of retaliation at the hands of one of the most dangerous outlaw motorcycle clubs in the country. Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. Those charges remain pending. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. 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. Female clerks and staff in police departments and other law enforcement offices and in the courts who are linked to the Pagans have compromised investigations and passed along confidential information to the group. Nieves and the members refused to answer any questions from the SCI commissioners, citing their Fifth Amendment rights. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. Richter was not present at the hearing. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Women are considered property and rank lower than dogs in the order of importance to the group. 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. Many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club, prosecutors say. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Federal authorities have also described Dorazo, 41, as a known distributor of methamphetamine in and around Camden and Gloucester Counties, though he does not face any current drug charges. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. There has been an. 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). It was. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. The resurgence and expansion of the group has made it easier to wear Pagan colors, he said. ", 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. 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.". [ Stay up-to-date on this story by downloading the Asbury Park Press app. 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 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.". 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. According to documents filed and statements made in court: On Oct. 21, 2020, Aquino visited a bar in Verona, New Jersey, with other members of the Pagans. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. The Pagans formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. 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. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Our journalism needs your support. 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** 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. 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 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. One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. Dorazo admitted guilt in December 2021 to possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Bucciarelli was also indicted for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, prosecutors added. Not only are there violent attacks on rival biker clubs like the Hells Angels and the Warlocks, the report states, but a newfound level of aggression has led to drive-by shootings, savage beat downs of adversaries and unprovoked physical assaults on members of the public across New Jersey.. The arrest has sent ripples through the Pagans organization. Nicholas Lefty Marino, 76, and Anthony Fugit DAlessandro, 55, were accused of assisting in an August 2020 attack at a Pagans clubhouse. 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. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Official websites use .gov It alleges the assault occurred after the man arrived for a meeting at a clubhouse onMarino's property in Williamstown. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. 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.. 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. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. A lock ( Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 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. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle groups to increase membership, officials said. The Pagans have established membership chapters in numerous states and U.S. territories, including multiple active chapters in New Jersey. Torres said thePagans are believed to have150 to 350 members in New Jersey. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. They're one of four major outlaw clubs. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. 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. 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. FAX:973-645-2702
Camden:856-757-5026
In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. 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. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded Ruger P345 .45-caliber handgun underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. A locked padlock Please subscribe today to NJ.com. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. There are at least 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials have said. A purported member of a the Pagan's Motorcycle Club was charged with attempted murder after breaking into a home and firing a gun Saturday night in South Jersey.Michael F. Dorazo, 41, was armed with a pair of handguns and a high-power, hig Gloucester + Follow Contact Us Gloucester Daily Voice servesDeptford, more information Accept. When Aquino and his associates exited the bar, a group of individuals approached and assaulted them with baseball bats. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity, and thats all I will say about that, he said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. 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. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Richter, 62, attended a party in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around noon on Feb. 20. Support local journalism with a subscription. 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. And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. FAX: 609-989-2275. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine. Est. 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. 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. 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. "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. The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these clubs in routine crime investigations. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The ammunition charge arises from a shooting that occurred in Elizabeth on Oct. 31, 2020, during which Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle. 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. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Lock 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. CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Members conduct active "counter surveillance" of law enforcement, using drones and plainclothes Pagan members to search for undercover law enforcement officers at events. 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). 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. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Dorazo, who was armed with two handguns and a high-capacity assault weapon, fled the scene, leading police on a multi-hour search, authorities said. Estimates varied during testimony. Richter has remained in a New Jersey jail since he was arrested. "Despitethesometimesroughappearanceoftheseguys,theyarenotatall unsophisticatedwhenitcomestounderminingandfrustratinglawenforcement," said Lee Seglem, executive directorofthe commission, in his opening statement. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. Each admitted to aiding and abetting in the assault of a victim with a dangerous weapon. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Ferdinand Augello, left, and Paul Pagano, right, wait, via video, for their first court appearance to begin at the Atlantic . Hugo Zorro Nieves, who authorities said they believe is the vice president of the Pagans, is based in New Jersey. 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