Murder and Racketeering: 16 Hells Angels and Red Devils Members Indicted in Violent Gang Crimes
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16 Hells Angels & Red Devils Members Charged in Violent Racketeering CasePhoto byStock Image
By Kristy Tallman, October 16, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina has indicted 16 members of two notorious outlaw motorcycle gangs, the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club (RDMC), for their alleged involvement in a violent criminal enterprise operating in Raleigh and Fayetteville. The RDMC serves as a support club for the HAMC nationwide.
The charges stem from multiple incidents of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and obstruction of justice, as part of an ongoing effort to maintain and expand the gang's control.
16 Hells Angels & Red Devils Members Charged in Violent Racketeering CasePhoto byStock Image
Five defendants are charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the killing of a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (PMC), a rival gang, on January 1, 2023, in Raleigh. Two additional defendants face charges of being accessories after the fact for their actions following the murder.
Eight defendants have been charged with Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering for their involvement in a July 22, 2023, attack on a PMC member in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen in Wade, North Carolina.
One defendant is charged with obstruction for allegedly attempting to prevent a witness from cooperating with law enforcement.
“Two years ago, we launched a Violent Crime Action Plan to partner with local law enforcement and target the individuals and groups driving violence in North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We will continue to pursue cases like this, charging violent crimes in aid of racketeering to hold gang members and their enablers accountable.”
“According to the indictment, these defendants were leaders, organizers, and members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and committed multiple crimes to further their positions within this violent gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The indictment demonstrates our commitment to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold violent gang members accountable for acts that terrorize our communities.”
"ATF is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners in efforts to disrupt and dismantle violent criminal networks," said Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "Outlaw motorcycle gangs, such as the Hells Angels, operate with total disregard for the safety of the public and law enforcement alike."
The charges are being brought under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) statute, which makes it a federal crime to commit violent acts such as murder, assault, and threats to advance within or join a criminal enterprise.
“Operation Broken Halo,” a joint investigation led by the ATF, Raleigh Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, was instrumental in bringing the case forward. The operation targeted outlaw motorcycle gangs responsible for violent criminal activities across the region.
"The Raleigh Police Department will not tolerate this destructive behavior," said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. "We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring these violent offenders to justice."
The indictment further alleges that HAMC members were under orders to attack, injure, and potentially kill members of the PMC. HAMC members are also accused of committing physical assaults, threats, and intimidation to silence witnesses and maintain their gang’s dominance.
The following individuals face charges:
Vidaul Rashaad Reed (aka "Hootie"), Anthony Edward Cheever (aka "Rowdy"), David William Stephens (aka "007"), Martinus Jermaine Starks (aka "Tee"), and Tyler Scott Grissom (aka "Snow") are charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering and the use of a firearm to cause death.
Christopher Dylan Manor and Robert Scott Brown are charged with accessory after the fact to the murder.
Jason Lee Hathaway, Fred Joseph Prosperi (aka "Freddy" and "Snow Boy"), William Scott Gardner (aka "Big Will"), Terry Lewis Akins, Jr., J.R. Nevarez Darr, Darrell Dewayne Strickland, Jr., William Franklin Beasley, and David Lee Woodall face charges of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
Jonathan Michael Robarge is charged with tampering with a witness.
If convicted, those charged with Murder in Aid of Racketeering face mandatory life sentences. Those convicted of attempted murder and assault could receive up to 30 years in prison.
This case was prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which focuses on dismantling high-level criminal enterprises and transnational organizations through collaborative, multi-agency efforts.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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By Kristy Tallman, Oct. 16, 2024 The Republic News
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