At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. It was around this time it adopted the outlaw motorcycle mentality, collectively known as the one-percenters. The theory is most motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens, except for the 1% who arent. Dozaro was eventually found by police in the neighborhood. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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 SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these gangs in routine crime investigations. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club appear with their attorney in an SCI public hearing. An axhandle is a weapon of choice among many Pagans. Stay with APP.com or consider a subscription today. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. Count Five carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. It should also share information among agencies to identify larger trends, the report said. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. Est. It was around this time it adopted the outlaw motorcycle mentality, collectively known as the one-percenters. The theory is most motorcycle riders are law-abiding citizens, except for the 1% who arent. 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. Pagan motorcycle club paraphernalia on display at a New Jersey State Commission of Investigation public hearing in Trenton in October 2019. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, as its officially called, formed in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1959. The report said law enforcement agencies estimate the club has about 200 members in New Jersey . Ferdinand Augello, left, and Paul Pagano, right, wait, via video, for their first court appearance to begin at the Atlantic . 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. "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 Pagan's Motorcycle Club has recruited disgraced or retired law enforcement officers and even a former municipal court judge in New Jersey. He has not been convicted of any crimes in this case. Have a question about Government Services? He didnt think anything of it when he exited the highway, but soon realized he was being tailed by a motorcycle and a car. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, increasing membership in all corners of the state. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. Dorazo, who authorities say is a member of the Camden County chapter of the Pagans, was charged in August 2020 with being a felon in possession of a firearm after a confidential informant told law enforcement that Dorazo provided six firearms and a large amount of ammunition to store in the informants garage. ", RELATED: Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. He made a series of turns, but couldnt shake them. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. Then in May, a federal judge lifted the home incarceration and allowed Dorazo to look for employment, according to court documents. 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.. A lock ( 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 federal prosecutors office alleges Marino and DAlessandro were the president and sergeant at arms, respectively, for the Pagans chapter in Gloucester County chapter. Attorney information for Bucciarelli was not immediately known. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. The U.S. Attorneys Office previously announced the arrest of Keith Richter the national president of the Pagans in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm in February. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. 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. Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The SCI report warned that the growth of the biker gang could lead to more violent clashes with innocent people. as one of four major outlaw motorcycle gangs. 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. 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. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. Richter was not present at the hearing. Rutgers Newark Staff Say Theyre Fed Up With Contract Negotiations, Bob Menendez Joins Student Loan Protesters Outside Supreme Court, Average Property Tax Bill In Newark Is Growing, Latest Data Shows, Hoboken's Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Video Shows NJ Mans Fatal Attempt To Run From Newark Police, NJ Marijuana Jobs: Tips For Getting Hired In The Cannabis Industry. The victim allowed investigators to seize the weapons without the Pagans knowledge. 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 most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. These charges were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club an outlaw motorcycle gang known to engage in illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and violent crimes. The northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. For more on crime in New Jersey, scroll to the video above. While the Pagans have traditionally drawn members from white supremacist groups, the diversifying of the club has been a sharp turn that has angered older members. There are at least 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials have said. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. All rights reserved (About Us). If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Aquino was also indicted for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Significantly, many of the accused hold national, regional, and local leadership positions in the Pagans Motorcycle Club. The club earns its proceeds from drug trafficking, the commission said. [ We look out for you, your wallet and your quality of life. Lock 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. "In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence. Long-term operations of this magnitude require a tremendous amount of work and patience by cooperating detectives, and while the full scope and impact of this investigation may yet be fully realized, its success continues a year after it began, Callahan 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. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hammer did not rule on bail Friday, and continued the hearing until Monday. 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. 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. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, Two Members of Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted for Shooting at Hells Angels Associate on New Jersey Turnpike, Bergen County Man Charged for Possession of Machine Gun, Rifle, Handgun, and Fraudulent United States Marshals Service Credentials in Newark Airport, Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in Murder for Hire, Three Hudson County Men Charged with Narcotics and Firearms Related Offenses Inside Jersey City Apartment Building, Two Members of Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted For Shooting At Hells Angels Associate On New Jersey Turnpike. NEWARK, N.J. (CBS) -- Two top members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club are facing federal assault charges in the U.S. Department of Justice's crackdown on the outlaw gang, authorities say. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The uptick in Pagan membership in New Jersey, first reported by NJ Advance Media in May 2018, is indicative of a broader national effort by reputed Pagan President Keith Conan Richter to beef up numbers along the East Coast, officials said. NEWARK, NJ More members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club have been arrested in New Jersey, as a violent, long-running rivalry with the Hells Angels continues, federal prosecutors said Monday. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Over the last year federal authorities have been aggressive in investigating the Pagans, as they rapidly expanded in New Jersey under Richters leadership. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He later gave another $4,000 to Dorazo after being told the Pagans were unhappy with the purported gun sale, the complaint says. The neighborhood was put in lockdown during the search, with residents instructed to stay inside for about four hours. They have 30 chapters in 12 states, according to a recent N.J. State Commission of Investigation report on the biker world. 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). Both Arocho and Guzman face 20 years in prison if convicted. Find NJ.com on Facebook. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. 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.. Glen Turner, 73, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement learned during the party that Richter had a gun. In October 2019, the commission held an exhaustive hearing in Trenton detailing how the Pagans are increasing membership in all corners of the state. The FBI identifies the Pagans as one of the four major outlaw motorcycle gangs in the U.S. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. 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. FAX: 856-968-4917 U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty sentenced Keith Conan Richter, 62, in federal court via videoconference after Richter pleaded guilty in July to being a felon in possession of a firearm after authorities discovered a loaded gun in a vehicle he was in during a traffic stop in Mercer County earlier this year. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. 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. The Pagans in New Jersey have been under fire from federal authorities in the past year with 11 members being charged in a variety of cases, some involving violence committed against other Outlaw Motorcycle clubs and their own associates. Guzman is the President of Presidents of the New Jersey chapter, according to prosecutors. All rights reserved (About Us). The SCI also said every officer in New Jersey should undergo training in case they encounter these clubs in routine crime investigations. 970 Broad Street, 7th Floor At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter. 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.. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. 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. 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