There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. 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. 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. Investigators say there are currently chapters in Philadelphia, South Jersey, Bucks and Delaware counties. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. Nicholas "Lefty" Marino, 76, and Anthony. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. On Dec. 10, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Turners residence and recovered about 450 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. 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. In a separate case, a federal grand jury returned an indictment on Monday, charging Nicholas Bucciarelli, 56, of Brooklawn, with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded Ruger P345 .45-caliber handgun underneath the cupholder of the center console, authorities said. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He took steps to deploy a handgun towards officers, but was tackled and arrested, police said. Attorney information for the two was not immediately known. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. The Pagans formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. 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. They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a gang-related gunpoint assault, in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organizations rules. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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. Larry Ortiz, aka Savage, 31, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Junius Aquino, aka Jayo, 38, of Vauxhall, New Jersey, were indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering (Count One) and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (Count Two), in connection with their roles in a gang-related shooting. Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, charged with attempted murder earlier this year, other influential leaders of the Pagans in South Jersey, has put an emphasis on investigating the Pagans. 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. Unlike other motorcycle gangs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. He has not been convicted of any crimes in this case. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. 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 One carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Pagans Motorcycle Club merchandise on display at a State Commission of Investigation public hearing on Oct. 23, 2019.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. FAX: 609-989-2275. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club still rides, wreaks havoc at Jersey Shore. He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. 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. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman has scheduled sentencing for Dorazo on April 4. The agency also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. When Aquino and his associates exited the bar, a group of individuals approached and assaulted them with baseball bats. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. Unlike the Hells Angels, the Pagans dont have clubhouses, and instead have weekly meetings in different locations. 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. A member of the Pagans motorcycle club is seen at the funeral of a fellow biker.EXT. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Now there are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials 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. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. All rights reserved (About Us). Hugo Zorro Nieves, the alleged vice president of the Pagans, broke his silence to say, It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity, and thats all I will say about that.. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. The SCI report warned that the growth of the biker gang could lead to more violent clashes with innocent people. Count Six carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. Nieves and the members refused to answer any questions from the SCI commissioners, citing their Fifth Amendment rights. This 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 report states. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. Dorazo has been charged with attempted murder, burglary during an attempted murder, domestic violence incident and weapons charges. The victim allowed investigators to seize the weapons without the Pagans knowledge. Marino and DAlessandroordered the man to give up his cell phone, then used a handheld device to ensure he had not concealed any electronic devices, the complaint says. Our journalism needs your support. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. 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). Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. Jul 2019. Many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club, prosecutors say. 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. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. Find NJ.com on Facebook. This investigation involved court-authorized wiretaps, the use of multiple undercover law enforcement agents, and execution of multiple search warrants at physical locations in multiple jurisdictions. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. 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 historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. Violence has risen since a change in national leadership in 2018 when Keith "Conan" Richter took over as president, according to testimony. 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). Some of the details that came out of the hearingwere: Ken Serrano has covered breaking news and crime in New Jersey for the past 20 years. 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. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Pagan's 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. 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. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor Dorazo, also known as Cage, was not charged in the assault. 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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. 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. [ Stay up-to-date on this story by downloading the Asbury Park Press app. The report was issued following a lengthy investigation focused on the Pagans, which has been identified by the F.B.I. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. 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. The hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and county prosecutors. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "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. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. Members of the Pagans became enraged with the informant, who authorities said was an associate of the motorcycle club, when the person told the club he sold the Pagans firearms. 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 Richter was previously convicted in 1998 when he was the national president of the Pagans, Frazer said, of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and two counts of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. 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. These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. In recent years, the group has spread into more northern areas of the state, with a large presence in Elizabeth. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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 formed in Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1959. 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