The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. [ We look out for you, your wallet and your quality of life. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report 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. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 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. 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. 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 charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 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. 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. Guzman is the President of Presidents of the New Jersey chapter, according to prosecutors. FAX: 856-968-4917 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. Pagan's Motorcycle Club paraphernalia on display at a state Commission of Investigation Public Hearing on Oct. 23, 2019.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. In 2020, the group issued a 20-page report exposing in exhaustive detail how the Pagans have doubled in size in New Jersey, with more than 200 members spread across 17 chapters in the state. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or [email protected], Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Members useWhatsApp, a communication app, and encrypted devicesthat keeps law enforcement from tappingphone calls. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs in routine crime investigations. 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.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The group now has 900 members in 12 states, he said. 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. And Pagans areexpanding, moving out West, into Puerto Rico and states like Florida. The Pagans were founded in the 1960s out of Maryland. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. Richter, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1998 for attempted murder and racketeering and released in 2012, took control of the Pagans in 2018, according to officials. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. 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. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine. Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: New Jersey's SPCAs 17 Years Later. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. The outlaw motorcycle club has a clubhouse in Newark. Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. 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. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain expressed permission from the copyright owner. Richter, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1998 for attempted murder and racketeering and released in 2012, took control of the Pagans in 2018, according to officials. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100. Lock There has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. 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.. 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. Dorazo has been charged with attempted murder, burglary during an attempted murder, domestic violence incident and weapons charges. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. 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. 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. Richter personally possessed that gun, did not hide it from the numerous people that were there, Frazer said. 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. ]. Dorazo, also known as Cage, was not charged in the assault. There are more Latino members of the group in North Jersey than elsewhere. ]. "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. 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. Nicholas Lefty Marino, 76, and Anthony Fugit DAlessandro, 55, were accused of assisting in an August 2020 attack at a Pagans clubhouse. 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 most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. 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. A former Pagan chapter president in South Jersey is currently serving a life prison sentence for orchestrating the 2012 murder-for-hire plot of April Kauffman, a well-known radio personality in the Atlantic City area. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. 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. The resurgence and expansion of the group has made it easier to wear Pagan colors, he 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.. The SCI report warned that the growth of the biker gang could lead to more violent clashes with innocent people. The victim told the Pagans hed sold the guns for $5,000 and turned over that amount of money, which was provided by federal investigators, to Dorazo, the complaint alleges. Alex Napoliello may be reached at [email protected]. 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. 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. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Dark-skinned Latinos are welcome but not black men, Torres said. The group's move into North Jersey is why the violence has increased, investigators said. 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. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. "Pets are women who are shared sexually among the group," said Nicole McCann, investigative analyst for the commission. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Members conduct active "counter surveillance" of law enforcement, using drones and plainclothes Pagan members to search for undercover law enforcement officers at events. Unlike other motorcycle clubs, the Pagans dont have a clubhouse, but hold weekly meetings called church.. Each man agreed to surrender his interest in two baseball bats and six ax handles seized in September 2020. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to [email protected]. In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. Its unclear how the arrest of Richter will impact the group. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. 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. They are among 11 members of the outlaw motorcycle gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes. 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). Joe Atmonavage may be reached at [email protected]. All rights reserved (About Us). 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