The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. At the SCI hearing in 2019, Nieves was called to testify, along with other high-ranking members of the Pagans. There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. Less than three weeks later, Dorazo led police in South Jersey on a manhunt after authorities heard gun shots in a Deptford home they were responding to due to a domestic disturbance, authorities said. Eleven Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged Drug Enforcement Administration Daniel J. Kafafian, Acting Special Agent in Charge New Jersey @DEANewJerseyDiv June 28, 2021 Contact: Timothy P. McMahon Phone Number: (571) 776-1150 For Immediate Release Eleven Members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club Charged 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 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. Est. The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com, Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The agency also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. Pagans MC: Glen Turner - The Shooting Of A NJ State Trooper (1982-83) MOBFAX 71.5K subscribers Subscribe 471 34K views 4 months ago Pagans MC: Glen Turner - The Shooting Of New Jersey. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. All rights reserved (About Us). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Ortiz was indicted for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "Despitethesometimesroughappearanceoftheseguys,theyarenotatall unsophisticatedwhenitcomestounderminingandfrustratinglawenforcement," said Lee Seglem, executive directorofthe commission, in his opening statement. 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 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 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. Richter and prosecutors agreed on the sentence as part of the plea deal, according to court documents. When Richter took control of the club in 2018, his main mission was to expand its membership across the country, authorities said, which eventually put a target on the motorcycle club. 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 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. Those charges are being prosecuted in state court and remain pending. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. The Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings, officials said. All rights reserved (About Us). In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. The Bay Shore, New York, resident was a passenger in a GMC that left the party around 11 p.m. Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. 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.. Our journalism needs your support. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. 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. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. 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.". A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Its unclear how the arrest of Richter will impact the group. They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Keith "Conan" Richter, the former president of the Pagan's motorcycle club, pictured in 2018 at an event in New Jersey. This story has been updated to reflect that Dorazos attorney declined to comment. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. He has previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including burglary and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, meaning he cannot legally posses a firearm. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. The neighborhood was put in lockdown during the search, with residents instructed to stay inside for about four hours. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said during Ritchers first appearance in court Friday that the government has incontrovertible evidence that Richter possessed the firearm at the party. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. Sign up for Patch email newsletters. 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. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. Our journalism needs your support. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. This Pagan resurgence especially the increased violence and other illegal acts that have accompanied it not only threatens the public peace and public safety of the citizens of New Jersey, it also presents significant challenges for those responsible for protecting it, the SCI report says. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. We are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or educational purposes. FAX: 856-968-4917 A lock ( The group now has 900 members in 12 states, he said. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. 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. U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman has scheduled sentencing for Dorazo on April 4. "They're typically given as many drugs or drinks as they want., One Paganmotto: "Breaking laws and breaking jaws since 1959". 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. The Pagans engage in protection rackets,"muscle for hire," and debt collection for traditional organized crime groups, posting what look like job listings at meetings for debt collection jobs with the offer of a percentage of the money recovered. The group's move into North Jersey is why the violence has increased, investigators said. 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. 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