In a significant crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs, a federal indictment in the Eastern District of North Carolina has named 16 members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club facing various charges, including murder and racketeering, prosecutors announced in a press release.
The charges arise from violent incidents that began with the killing of a rival Pagan’s Motorcycle Club member on January 1, 2023, in Raleigh where five defendants are now charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering, U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. described this as part of their Violent Crime Action Plan to disrupt groups driving violence in the state, and the charges extend to an attempted murder in July at a Dairy Queen in Wade, North Carolina revealing a deeper pattern of violence affiliated with these criminal enterprises, according to statements obtained by the Department of Justice.
Among the accused, leaders and members of the Hells Angels are allegedly under orders to attack and potentially kill members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, as detailed in the indictment, which highlights a culture within the group using violence and intimidation to enforce its rules; the groups are said to partake in numerous illegal activities ranging from assault to homicide, and this operation stands as a testament to law enforcement's resolve to address such threats.
According to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, "the gang's alleged violent acts included the murder of a rival gang member on a public street, and the assault and attempted murder of other rival gang members in a restaurant parking lot," this initiative reflects a commitment by the Criminal Division and local partners to hold accountable those responsible for acts of violence that disrupt communities, Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims of the ATF also noted the notorious behavior of these gangs, emphasizing their disregard for the safety of both law enforcement and the public while teeming with illegal activity.
Local law enforcement, led by Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden, has partnered with federal agencies in Operation Broken Halo, which seeks to disrupt these violent criminal entities; Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson conveyed gratitude for the partnership that led to these indictments, echoing the sentiment of Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis W. Wright, who stressed the importance of community help in identifying and reporting violent activities.
The investigation was spearheaded by the ATF alongside local police and sheriff's departments; if convicted, the defendants face sentences ranging from three years to mandatory life imprisonment under the VICAR statute, with the cautions made clear that these indictments are mere allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, the prosecuting team includes Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein and Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Sandling and Robert Dodson of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
