After hearing gunshots ring out in the neighborhood, Deptford police officers rushed to the area and began a search for Michael F. Dorazo, 41, of Glendora. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The Pagans have historically had a strong presence in South Jersey and neighboring Pennsylvania. The former national president of the Pagans motorcycle club, who led a massive expansion of the outlaw organization in New Jersey, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Thursday. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.. Dorazo, also known as Cage, was not charged in the assault. Three reputed Pagan leaderssubpoenaed to testify asserted their Fifth Amendment rightsand did not answer questions. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club has recruited disgraced or retired law enforcement officers and even a former municipal court judge in New Jersey. 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. Later, the same Pagan and two of his companions ambushed the patron, hitting him twice in the head with an axe handle a weapon of choice for the Pagans. According to Honig, "that includes the national president, a member of the Pagans Mother Club, which is a national organization that oversees its operations, the president of presidents in New Jersey, the presidents of the Jersey City and Gloucester County chapters of the Pagans, the vice-president of the Elizabeth chapter and the sergeant at arms, or the enforcer, for various other chapters. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Joe Atmonavage | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, a major expansion of the outlaw motorcycle gang, sentenced to four years in prison in 2019. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The rise of the Pagans motorcycle club in New Jersey was the focus of an investigation conducted by the State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog group formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime. Pagan motorcycle club paraphernalia on display at a New Jersey State Commission of Investigation public hearing in Trenton in October 2019. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. At the time of Aquinos arrest, he was the vice president of the Elizabeth membership chapter of the Pagans. 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.. They're one of four major outlaw clubs. We respect every Motorcycle Club that adheres to proper MC protocol. And with these charges we have now brought criminal charges against a total of 11 defendants, involving various assaults, weapons possession and drug trafficking charges that relate to their membership and in many cases leadership of the Pagans," Honig said. Ortiz was indicted for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Luis Arocho, aka "LuRoc," 43, of Keansburg, New Jersey, and Maurice Guzman, aka "Dawg," 51, of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count of aggravated . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. The victim eventually was allowed to leave the clubhouse. Hearing Impaired: 856-968-4983 Ortiz was also charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. It included interviews with Pagan members their voices altered to protect their identities and video of a brutal attack in 2018 near a Hells Angels clubhouse in Newark. The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation found that Richters leadership had led to the club multiplying its members, but also engaging in violence and other criminal acts as they expanded. Box 045 Trenton, NJ 08625-0045 Tel (609) 292-6767 Fax (609) 633-7366 The Pagans have established membership chapters in numerous states and U.S. territories, including multiple active chapters in New Jersey. Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. This is a serious matter that requires immediate attention from the larger policing community, the report said. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). He also thanked the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for its assistance with this investigation. High-ranking members of the outlaw Pagans Motorcycle Club, including those in New Jersey chapters, were indicted on various crimes, federal prosecutors announced Monday. Pagans continue to distribute methamphetamine but are getting away from manufacturing it, relying more on "super labs" in Mexico. The most climactic moment came at the hearings end when three reputed leaders of the motorcycle club were called to testify. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. It sells marijuana and cocaine, but a bulk of its business is from methamphetamine, acquired from a Mexican drug cartel. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Luis Arocho, 43, of Keansburg, and Maurice Guzman, 51, of Newark, were charged with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering. Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "They want to take over the entire East Coast," Torres said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The actual tally was likely higher because many incidents go unreported, the report said. The commission recommended the state Attorney Generals Office create a working group comprised of law enforcement officials at every level devoted to identifying and prosecuting criminal activity conducted by outlaw motorcycle gangs. It was at that moment it became clear who the man was dealing with: two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. Bucciarelli has pleaded not guilty to charges that include assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. The Pagans are run like a business and are organized as such. Those charges remain pending. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the councils questions. The Pagans have also started recruiting light-skinned Latino members from traditional street gangs, like the Latin Kings, though they still prohibit Black people from joining their ranks. Nieves and the members refused to answer any questions from the SCI commissioners, citing their Fifth Amendment rights. Have a question about Government Services? A purported member of a the Pagan's Motorcycle Club was charged with attempted murder after breaking into a home and firing a gun Saturday night in South Jersey.Michael F. Dorazo, 41, was armed with a pair of handguns and a high-power, hig Gloucester + Follow Contact Us Gloucester Daily Voice servesDeptford, Each man agreed to surrender his interest in two baseball bats and six ax handles seized in September 2020. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited a joint task force comprised of special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; the Union County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to these charges. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ortizs residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. The Pagan's Motorcycle Club is trying to assert control over New Jersey and it's using more violence to do it, according to testimony given Wednesday during a State Commission of Investigationhearing. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Torres said thePagans are believed to have150 to 350 members in New Jersey. 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. There are 900 Pagans spread across 12 states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. As the Long Island resident was traveling back to his home, New Jersey authorities pulled over the vehicle Richter was in. Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The man told police he had never seen his attacker prior to that evening in January 2019. CAMDEN - Two Williamstown men have admitted guilt in connection with an attack on a man who helped an investigation into the Pagans Motorcycle Club. They have added 30 chapters in the past year, Torres said. 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. He took steps to deploy a handgun towards officers, but was tackled and arrested, police said. The rise in Pagan membership in New Jersey,first reported by NJ Advance Mediain 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. Female clerks and staff in police departments and other law enforcement offices and in the courts who are linked to the Pagans have compromised investigations and passed along confidential information to the group. A report released Wednesday by the group, an independent state watchdog formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime, says the Pagans have increased their membership ranks in the past three years and pose a growing threat to the public. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s, spreading to neighboring states. Trenton:609-989-2190 The northern part of the state is where the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has shown dominance. At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans Jersey City membership chapter. Those self-proclaimed members proudly display a 1% patch on their jackets. 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.. Then they cut him off, blocking his escape. Also on Monday, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging Nicholas Bucciarelli with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. The investigator, understanding that he was on speaker and that members of the (Pagans) might be listening to their conversation, remained in his undercover persona throughout the conversation, says the complaint. A lock ( The Pagan's Motorcycle Club, one of the major outlaw motorcycle groups in the U.S., is a growing threat to citizens in New Jersey and every cop in the state should be trained to deal with. In New Jersey, Pagans membership which has always been strong in South Jersey has grown at an alarming rate in recent years, with approximately 200 members in 17 chapters. From left, attorney Carlos Martir, suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club member James Helveston Jr., suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club National Vice President Hugo Nieves and suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club National Mother/National Club member Luis Arocho.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, 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.. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Newark Facebook page. The group, which started with just 13 members, evolved into a formal club in the 1960s and spread to neighboring states. Over the last year, federal authorities have charged at least 10 Pagan members in New Jersey with a number of crimes, including for their alleged roles in shootings and drug distribution. Prosecutors allege that Arocho, Guzman, and other associates of the Pagans brutally assaulted an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club at a gas station in Newark in April 2018. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. In New Jersey, its going to be hard to find a county where there isnt a Pagan presence.. 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. Multiple law enforcement officials told NJ Advance Media that Robert Big Bob Francis, of Virginia, has taken over as the national president of the Pagans. The Pagans Motorcycle Club, one of the major outlaw motorcycle groups in the U.S., is a growing threat to citizens in New Jersey and every cop in the state should be trained to deal with them, according to a new report issued Wednesday. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. The Pagans beat him with a small bat and a wrench, officials said. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Pagans which started in Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1959 has swelled to more than 1,300 members across at least 12 states, experts said. The club is structured with a president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer. A federal judge signed a court order this week allowing Michael Dorazo, of the Glendora section of Gloucester Township, to be transferred from the Salem County Correctional Facility to Camden federal court on Sept. 23 in order to plead guilty to a federal charge he faces. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Marino and DAlessandro pleaded guilty at separate hearings in Camden federal court on Jan. 24 and Jan. 27. The Pagans are now taking in members from street gangs like the Bloods, the Latin Kings, the Crips and the Netas. That group includes the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos. The two groups are locked in a violent struggle for control of New Jersey, investigators said. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Rachael Honig announced two additional indictments, bringing the total of Pagans members facing crimes to 11 -- although the number may increase as the investigation continues. Lock NEWARK, N.J. - Two high-ranking members of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club were indicted today for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, narcotics distribution, and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. There has been an almost 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years, officials said. ]. Citing their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, the alleged leaders declined to answer any of the commissioners' questions. Later, the same Pagan and two of his companions ambushed the patron, hitting him twice in the head with an axe handle a weapon of choice for the Pagans. The club also extorts business owners and relies on members to pay monthly dues of $100, the commission said. Both Arocho and Guzman face 20 years in prison if convicted. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Main Office: Its expanding at a rate weve never seen before, Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said at an open hearing in 2019. Bucciarelli, who is the sergeant at arms of the Camden County Chapter, could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the brandishing a firearm charge. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. A Pagan approached him and threatened him, a police report said. The victim would file a police report, but quickly rescinded it, fearful of retaliation at the hands of one of the most dangerous outlaw motorcycle gangs in the country. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com, Wall dispatcher acquitted when top cop's aide admits affair with Pagan head, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. Prosecutors said Turner is a long-time member of the Pagans. In recent years, the Pagans have been absorbing smaller motorcycle gangs at an alarming rate, officials said. 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