In California, authorities have arrested an entire chapter of the infamous Hells Angels motorcycle gang as part of their crackdown on the notorious outlaw group.
According to a recent Facebook announcement by the authorities, six individuals, among them the president and vice president of a Bakersfield-based group, were apprehended after a thorough investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. It is worth noting that Bakersfield is situated over 100 miles to the north of downtown Los Angeles.
The group of individuals is confronted with a long list of charges, which includes kidnapping, robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidating a witness or victim, and elder abuse.
Law enforcement personnel arrested six individuals suspected of being members of a gang in a sting operation. One of the suspects was already in custody prior to the operation. The authorities seized 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines, and “gang-affiliate paraphernalia” during the operation, which involved over 150 personnel and took place at several locations in the area.
During a court hearing on Thursday, a defense attorney entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the defendants, as reported by KGET, an NBC affiliate in Bakersfield. The courtroom was filled with drama, with a dozen deputies posted around the room, according to the station’s report. The defendants included both active, patched members of the Hells Angels and members of the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Club, which is a sub-affiliate that takes orders and direction from the Hells Angels, as per authorities.
According to the news station, the court has prohibited the men from harassing or communicating with the victims. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Facility is currently holding them in custody, and their bail has been set at $800,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 11.
According to Law&Crime, they have covered several recent cases that involve the notorious biker gang, Hells Angels. One of the cases involves a suspected leader of the gang who is accused of using a knife to crack a Black man’s sternum. However, there are also cases where Hells Angels members have been involved in charity work, such as organizing toy runs for kids. On the other hand, there have been cases where they have gone to extreme measures, such as arranging illegal cremations to dispose of bodies. In addition, two high-ranking members of the gang have been convicted in a murder conspiracy.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Hells Angels are deemed as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang that utilizes their motorcycle clubs to carry out criminal activities. Members of this gang are known to engage in violent crime, weapons trafficking, and drug trafficking.
According to authorities, there are over 300 active gangs in the country varying in size. Some may consist of just a few members in a single chapter, while others may have thousands of members spread across hundreds of chapters worldwide.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Hells Angels and other similar gangs are a significant national domestic threat and are responsible for most of the criminal activity associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs), particularly drug trafficking and cross-border drug smuggling. Due to their global reach, these OMGs can collaborate with major international drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) to facilitate drug smuggling operations.
