RSS
Home
National crackdown on Pagans MC leaves at least one dead
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Federal authorities launched a massive crackdown on the outlaw motorcycle club, the Pagans, with arrests in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey, as well as Kentucky, Delaware and Florida. One alleged club member was shot dead in Virginia when police stormed his home and he greeted them with a shotgun.
James “Jimbo” Hicks of Henrico, was killed by a member of the VA. State Police Tactical Unit when he ignored warnings to drop the gun. The police, along with ATF agents, stormed the home to execute a federal search warrant.
The club’s national leaders were the prime targets of a 44-count racketeering indictment unsealed in West Virginia. Other charges include kidnappings, assaults and plotting to kill a suspected cooperating witness and a gang rival. National Pagans club president, David Barbeito, 49, of Maryland and its Vice President, Floyd Moore, 64, of West Virginia, were ordered held without bail. Nine members of the Philadelphia chapter as well as at least one member in New Jersey, were arrested on a gambling offense as part of the broader racketeering charges.
Those charged include Damian Foti, 33, of South Philadelphia, the president of the local chapter. He and more than a dozen other Pagans from the area were charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
Authorities allege that in April 2008 they traveled to West Virginia with proceeds from an illegal gambling operation. The undisclosed cash was turned over to Moore, who in turn passed the money to Barbeito.
The indictment provided few details about the gambling operation except to identify it as a "raffle" in which members of the Pagans collected cash for raffle tickets for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Whether the raffle took place or was part of a scam could not be determined. Authorities have declined to comment about specific charges, but sources said the Pagans routinely sold raffle tickets for nonexistent motorcycles.
Barbeito put up his 24 acre property as bail and was ordered released by US Magistrate Susan K. Gauvey in Baltimore, but the US Attorney’s office has appealed her decision. Barbeito, as a result of the appeal, has remained behind bars at an undisclosed location until a hearing this week.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Source: WTVR.com
Related Articles:
Comments
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style …
At this time of year, many motojournalists will offer advice about how to winterize your bike. This one will not. Unless you live in the …
