RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Sixteen members of the Hell’s Angels and Red Devils motorcycle gangs are charged in an eight-count federal indictment in North Carolina. Charges in the indictment include murder, accessory to murder, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon all in aid of a criminal racketeering enterprise, as well as witness tampering.

This is the first racketeering case brought on in North Carolina since a 2017 case involving Bloods street gang members.

The arrests were part of “Operation Halo,” a federal investigation that began in Jan. 2023 after the death of Pagan Motorcycle Club member Jonas Padia .

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District North Carolina Michael Easley said the Hell’s Angels and Red Devils conspired to cause violence in Raleigh and Fayetteville to enhance their own standing in the outlaw motorcycle community.

“The vast majority of motorcycle clubs are law abiding citizens,” Easley said. “The Hell’s Angels consider themselves to be the 1%. They call themselves the one percenters, unlike the 99%.”

Easley described a long- standing feud the Hell’s Angels and Red Devils had with the Pagan Motorcycle Club. He claimed there was a standing “green light order” to attack Pagan members.

A federal complaint claims Hell’s Angels members were required to attack, injure, and kill any Pagan members they encounter. Failing to could allegedly result in assault or loss of status in the gang.

“Our strategy is not just to focus on shooters and trigger pullers,” Easley said. “It’s also to focus on the criminal organizations and the enterprises that enable and encourage those violent acts.”

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 all alleged members of the Red Devils and are each charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharge of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and, in doing so, causing death; all for allegedly murdering Padia. Murder in aid of racketeering carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction and the other charged offenses carry a sentence of up to life in prison.

Christopher Dylan Manor and Robert Scott Brown are both charged with accessory after the fact to the Jan. 1, 2023 murder of Padia. Manor was reportedly a member of the Red Devils at the time of the alleged offense and Brown is reportedly a member of the Hell’s Angels. Each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

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 are charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering related to the attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon of members of the Pagan Motorcycle Club on July 22, 2023 in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade. They were allegedly all members of the Hell’s Angels at the time of the offense and each face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

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Jonathan Michael Robarge is charged with tampering with a witness, victim or informant by harassment. He has alleged ties to both the Hell’s Angels and Red Devils, and faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

“My message to these organizations is clear,” Raleigh Police Chief Estrella Patterson said. “If you think your affiliation with a criminal organization shields you from accountability, you are wrong. Your criminal behavior will be met with the full weight and resources of the Raleigh Police Department, along with all our federal and state partners.”

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