Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. Members of the Pagans, who have doubled their chapters statewide in the past three years, have conducted numerous assaults against members of the public, some of whom have had no connection to the club, the report from the New Jersey Commission of Investigation said. 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. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. 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.. 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. The northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. Dorazo has been charged with attempted murder, burglary during an attempted murder, domestic violence incident and weapons charges. 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. Biker News does not belong to or support any Club. 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. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. 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. 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. 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. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. 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 A Pagans MC leader, Jay Carl Wagner, 66, was arrested in Washington County, Maryland, by 60-plus officers from state, local and federal officials with a bomb disposal robot on May 9, 2007, and later charged with possession of a regulated firearm after conviction of a violent crime. Dorazo, also known as Cage, was not charged in the assault. 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. 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. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. All rights reserved (About Us). It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club has recruited disgraced or retired law enforcement officers and even a former municipal court judge in New Jersey. 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. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. Whether its ticket-fixing judges, police misconduct, orLittle League officials' questionable finances, we're here for you. Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. 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. FAX: 856-968-4917
Mr. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. FAX:973-645-2702
Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.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. 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 Pagans in New Jersey have been under fire from federal authorities in the past year with 11 members being charged in a variety of cases, some involving violence committed against other Outlaw Motorcycle clubs and their own associates. ", 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.". 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 clubs. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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 . District of New Jersey
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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. 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 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. 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. 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. Women are considered property and rank lower than dogs in the order of importance to the group. One was Hugo Nieves, also known as "Zorro," a New Jersey resident believed to be national vice president of the Pagans, according to testimony. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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 charges against Bucciarelli are only allegations. Our journalism needs your support. Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. 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. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor
Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. Ferdinand Augello, left, and Paul Pagano, right, wait, via video, for their first court appearance to begin at the Atlantic . 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. Count Four carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. 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. Camden:856-757-5026
Est. New video shows bar attack allegedly at the hand of Pagans Motorcycle Club members 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. 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.". [ We look out for you, your wallet and your quality of life. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. 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. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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. DEPTFORD, NJ - A Pagan's Motorcycle Club member, an outlaw biker gang who was out of federal prison awaiting trial for firearms charges has been charged with attempted homicide. The arrest has sent ripples through the Pagans organization. ", Also: Camden man fatally shot in Fairview home, More: Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel. 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. There are at least 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials have 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.. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. 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. "They're very well organized," Torres told the commission. The ex-national prez of Pagans MC Keith Conan Richter has pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge. The group now has 900 members in 12 states, he 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. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. Prosecutors allege that Arocho, Guzman, and other associates of the Pagans brutally assaulted an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club at a gas station in Newark in April 2018. Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors 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. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these clubs in routine crime investigations. Under the control of Richter, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle clubs to increase membership, officials said. The investigator, understanding that he was on speaker and that members of the (Pagans) might be listening to their conversation, remained in his undercover persona throughout the conversation, says the complaint. The national president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club was arrested Friday by federal authorities after law enforcement recovered a firearm during a traffic stop in New Jersey last weekend, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, 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. Dorazo admitted guilt in December 2021 to possession of firearms by a convicted felon. These charges relate to an alleged April 2018 encounter during which they beat an associate of the Hells Angels, a rival motorcycle club, and the victim sustained serious injuries, including fractured ribs. An inside look at the Pagans MC and the threat it poses in N.J. Ex-bikie Ben Geppert arrested again in NSW, Sturgis biker rally may have led to 260,000 new COVID-19 cases: study, DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. 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. The 20-page SCI report was issued following a lengthy investigation of the Pagans, identified by the F.B.I. Jul 2019. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. The vehicle was stopped by police in East Windsor in Mercer County around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21. Sign up for Patch email newsletters. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. The federal charge against Dorazo came as the U.S. Attorneys Office of New Jersey has put an emphasis on investigating the Pagans, an organization that has expanded rapidly in the state recently and has allegedly been responsible for brutal assaults, drive-by shootings and distributing drugs across the state. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Members conduct active "counter surveillance" of law enforcement, using drones and plainclothes Pagan members to search for undercover law enforcement officers at events. Newark, NJ 07102, Newark:973-645-2700
The recent charges against Arocho, Guzman and Bucciarelli were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club, which has been accused of narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking and violent crimes, authorities said. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club have been implicated in a drug ring with an Atlantic County doctor authorities say hired them to kill his wife. 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. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Lock
Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. 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. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. The group's move into North Jersey is why the violence has increased, investigators said. At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. 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 . High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. 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 sentenced to 16 years in prison and was released in 2012. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said or any., Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans was assaulted breaking! % increase in chapters in New Jersey in may, a federal judge the! A former municipal court judge in New Jersey, its going to be hard to find County... 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