ATF Online - Press Release

HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED

LOS ANGELES – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Donald R. Kincaid and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca announced that members and associates of the Hells Angels motorcycle club (HAMC) were arrested today for firearms, drug, and other charges. The arrests are part of a joint two-year undercover investigation of Hells Angels members and associates in various HAMC chapters located in the Western United States.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Kincaid stated: “This joint operation is just one small part of ATF’s ongoing, collaborative efforts to reduce violent crime, particularly as it relates to gang violence and firearms-related violent crime.” Simultaneous with the operation here, ATF agents and state and local authorities in Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix, Ariz., San Diego, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and in the State of Alaska served additional arrest and search warrants. Fifty-five (55) members and associates of the Hells Angels were arrested for alleged violations of narcotics trafficking, firearms violations, possessing stolen explosives, and other crimes.

The two-year long investigation centered on successfully gathering evidence against members and associates of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. The evidence includes narcotics, firearms and stolen explosives. Approximately 50 firearms, a weapon believed to be a silencer and approximately a quarter pound of suspected methamphetamine were recovered today during the enforcement activities.

Active back to the 1940s, the Hells Angels have an estimated worldwide membership of approximately 2,500 “full patched” members and prospects. The gang is believed to be involved in a variety of criminal activities, including the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, firearms and explosives trafficking, extortion, and motorcycle theft. The Hells Angels are considered the largest and most heavily armed of all the “outlaw motorcycle gangs.”

ATF, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Tempe Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department worked jointly on this investigation. Additional information will be forthcoming and additional charges are expected.

Additional thanks are extended to the following agencies for their assistance and participation throughout this investigation and today’s events:

Participating agencies by state:

ARIZONA: PHOENIX PD, ATF, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF ARIZONA, ARIZONA DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY, PHOENIX PD, TEMPE PD, GLENDALE PD, MESA PD, MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AND TUCSON PD.

ALASKA: FAIRBANKS PD, ANCHORAGE PD, ATF, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF ALASKA, ALASKA STATE POLICE, US MARSHAL

CALIFORNIA: LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT., ATF, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT., LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, SACRAMENTO PD, SACRAMENTO SHERIFF’S DEPT., SAN JOSE PD, RICHMOND PD, DEA, SANTA CRUZ PD, LOS ANGELES PD, US CUSTOMS SERVICE (ICE) AIR SUPPORT, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICES, SOUTHERN, CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND EASTERN DISTRICTS OF CALIFORNIA

NEVADA: LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN PD, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF NEVADA

WASHINGTON: ATF, SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TACOMA PD, SPOKANE PD, WENATCHEE PD, KIRKLAND PD, KITSAP COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICES FOR THE EASTERN AND WESTERN DISTRICTS OF WASHINGTON


For Immediate Release	December 3 , 2003
Contact: Latese Baker, Special Agent Public Information Officer (213) 534-2450 (213) 534-2415 fax
HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED LOS ANGELES – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Donald R. Kincaid and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca announced that members and associates of the Hells Angels motorcycle club (HAMC) were arrested today for firearms, drug, and other charges. The arrests are part of a joint two-year undercover investigation of Hells Angels members and associates in various HAMC chapters located in the Western United States. ATF Special Agent in Charge Kincaid stated: “This joint operation is just one small part of ATF’s ongoing, collaborative efforts to reduce violent crime, particularly as it relates to gang violence and firearms-related violent crime.” Simultaneous with the operation here, ATF agents and state and local authorities in Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix, Ariz., San Diego, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and in the State of Alaska served additional arrest and search warrants. Fifty-five (55) members and associates of the Hells Angels were arrested for alleged violations of narcotics trafficking, firearms violations, possessing stolen explosives, and other crimes. The two-year long investigation centered on successfully gathering evidence against members and associates of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. The evidence includes narcotics, firearms and stolen explosives. Approximately 50 firearms, a weapon believed to be a silencer and approximately a quarter pound of suspected methamphetamine were recovered today during the enforcement activities. Active back to the 1940s, the Hells Angels have an estimated worldwide membership of approximately 2,500 “full patched” members and prospects. The gang is believed to be involved in a variety of criminal activities, including the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, firearms and explosives trafficking, extortion, and motorcycle theft. The Hells Angels are considered the largest and most heavily armed of all the “outlaw motorcycle gangs.” ATF, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Tempe Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department worked jointly on this investigation. Additional information will be forthcoming and additional charges are expected. Additional thanks are extended to the following agencies for their assistance and participation throughout this investigation and today’s events: Participating agencies by state: ARIZONA: PHOENIX PD, ATF, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF ARIZONA, ARIZONA DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY, PHOENIX PD, TEMPE PD, GLENDALE PD, MESA PD, MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AND TUCSON PD. ALASKA: FAIRBANKS PD, ANCHORAGE PD, ATF, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF ALASKA, ALASKA STATE POLICE, US MARSHAL CALIFORNIA: LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT., ATF, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT., LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, SACRAMENTO PD, SACRAMENTO SHERIFF’S DEPT., SAN JOSE PD, RICHMOND PD, DEA, SANTA CRUZ PD, LOS ANGELES PD, US CUSTOMS SERVICE (ICE) AIR SUPPORT, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICES, SOUTHERN, CENTRAL, NORTHERN AND EASTERN DISTRICTS OF CALIFORNIA NEVADA: LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN PD, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF NEVADA WASHINGTON: ATF, SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TACOMA PD, SPOKANE PD, WENATCHEE PD, KIRKLAND PD, KITSAP COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICES FOR THE EASTERN AND WESTERN DISTRICTS OF WASHINGTON ###