Count Two carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. I dont care if it is two cops, a priest, a nun, five little kids or Jesus f------ Christ himself, if you pull something on me, I am going to shoot you, Ritcher allegedly said in the recorded conversation, according to Frazer. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. 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. 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. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. "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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. He took steps to deploy a handgun towards officers, but was tackled and arrested, police said. 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. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Pagans Elizabeth membership chapter, prosecutors said. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. 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. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, a major expansion of the outlaw motorcycle gang, sentenced to four years in prison in 2019. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. Both Arocho and Guzman face 20 years in prison if convicted. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Keith Richter, known as Conan, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 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. It was. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Not only are there violent attacks on rival biker gangs 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 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. The vehicle was stopped by police in East Windsor in Mercer County around 1:30 a.m. Feb. 21. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Count Three carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. 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. This story has been updated to reflect that Dorazos attorney declined to comment. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle gangs operating in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Bay Shore, New York, resident was a passenger in a GMC that left the party around 11 p.m. The report said law enforcement agencies estimate the club has about 200 members in New Jersey . 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.. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, increasing membership in all corners of the state. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. 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. The Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. We are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or educational purposes. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. All rights reserved (About Us). Each man agreed to surrender his interest in two baseball bats and six ax handles seized in September 2020. Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned! 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. In another incident, a man was in a bar in Elizabeth a city dominated by the Pagans when he started talking to a female bartender. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Guzman is the President of Presidents of the New Jersey chapter, according to prosecutors. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. 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 in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. A lock ( Attorney information for the two was not immediately known. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. 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. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. 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. 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. 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. 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. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. We believe this corresponds with a fair use of any such copyrighted material (referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. Luis Arocho, aka LuRoc, 43, of Keansburg, and Maurice Guzman, aka Dawg, 51, of Newark, were arrested Monday and charged by complaint with one count of aggravated assault in aid of racketeering. 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