Feds Arrest Members Of Pagan Motorcycle Club

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBS/AP) Federal officials have arrested 19 members of the Pagans motorcycle gang in five states, marking one of the largest roundups of the notorious group since 2002.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that the arrests made during early morning raids in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Massachusetts were the result of a 21-month investigation by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who infiltrated the biker gang's internal operations.

According to an indictment, several members of the Long Island, N.Y. chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club met with gang members from other divisions last Sunday in New Jersey, where they discussed plans to kill members of the rival motorcycle gang, Hells Angels.

ATF officials say the conspirators drafted a list of potential targets and were told to be prepared to die or go face time in prison for completing their mission. ATF special agent-in-charge Ronald Turk said the arrests interrupted the conspiracy before anyone was hurt.

The deep-rooted rivalry between the Pagans and Hells Angels is one rife with violence. In 2002, one Pagan member was shot and killed and at least 10 other people were injured when a confrontation erupted after Pagans members decided to crash a motorcycle expo sponsored by Hells Angels.

Seventy-three Pagans were convicted of or pleaded guilty to federal charges in that case. Turk noted that this most recent sting was the largest roundup of Pagans members on Long Island since that case eight years ago.

Authorities reportedly confiscated 34 firearms and one improvised explosive device during the raids Wednesday.

Seven of the defendants were based on Long Island, where they were ordered to be held without bail during their arraignments in U.S. District Court. Members face charges of racketeering, murder conspiracy, assault, extortion, drug distribution, witness tampering and firearms offenses.

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Gun Trafficking Ring Began On Virginia's Eastern Shore

EASTVILLE — Three Northampton County men have been charged in New Jersey with second-degree conspiracy and other offenses related to a large gun trafficking network.

Charged are Jonathan Johnson, 28, of Cape Charles, Bobby Lee Henderson, 24, of Townsend, and Larry Nottingham, 28, of Eastville, according to the New Jersey attorney general’s office.

The three men were charged in connection with indictments against Trayle Beasley, 29, of Trenton, N.J., who police say led a network that trafficked guns from the Eastern Shore, including firearms recovered in connection with several homicide and narcotics investigations.

The offense is a first-degree crime and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Beasley grew up in New Jersey and on the Eastern Shore, reports indicate.
Amoi Smith, 21, of Cranbury, N.J., was also charged and faces a second-degree conspiracy charge, along with the four others.

Smith allegedly accompanied Beasley to the Shore to acquire guns and the two are charged in a pending indictment in connection with a New Jersey armed robbery last year, officials said.

Locally, Johnson would allegedly obtain guns for Beasley or arrange meetings for him to purchase guns locally, for cash, marijuana or other narcotics. Henderson and Nottingham allegedly sold guns that Beasley transported or attempted to transport to New Jersey.

Beasley is being held in the Mercer County, N.J., Jail with bail set at $250,000 cash. Arrest warrants were issued for the other four defendants in connection with the indictment.

Second-degree crimes are punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a $150,000 fine. In addition to the second-degree conspiracy count against all five defendants, Beasley and Johnson also face several other second-degree counts, and Smith and Henderson each face one second-degree count of either transportation or attempted transportation of a firearm into New Jersey for unlawful sale or transfer.

Beasley and Nottingham are charged with fourth-degree unlawful disposition of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Beasley is charged with four counts, and Nottingham with one.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the State Police – ATF Joint Firearms Task Force, Trenton Police Department and several other New Jersey police departments and Eastern Shore Drug Task Force.

The Eastern Shore Drug Task Force is a partnership of Virginia State Police, the Northampton Sheriff’s Department and the Accomack Sheriff’s Department.
Johnson in May was charged with a federal offense of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilos of cocaine.

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