Joel Cleve Miller of Hemet, California, a Marine combat veteran and a founder of the Phantom Fury Motorcycle Club, was released from prison after posting a $50,000 bond on December 26. He had been sentenced to serve two years and had been in prison for nine months.

The Phantom Fury MC is named for the Second Battle of Fallujah in November and December 2004. The battle was officially known as Operation Phantom Fury. Miller, a twenty-year veteran of the Marine Corps was a veteran of that battle. He was discharged from the Marines for bad conduct in 2011 after Naval investigators alleged he had fabricated $16,000 in travel expenses.

The Phantom Fury wear red and white. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives report released at the time of Miller’s trial linked the Phantom Fury and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Clubs. Miller was arrested by the ATF.

Chrome AK

Miller was convicted in 2012 of smuggling a chrome plated AK-47 home from Iraq in 2005. The weapon was seized after a search of Miller’s home in 2007. Miller claimed the gun belonged to another Marine named Christopher Bruce.

According to Miller, Bruce asked him to keep a bag of guns in 2005 when Bruce was having marital problems. Miller said he returned the bag to Bruce but the bag wound up back in Miller’s home again in 2007 after he moved into the barracks at Camp Pendleton. Bruce then began an affair with Miller’s wife, Melissa. Adultery is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Joel Miller threatened to report the affair to his commanders. So, Melissa Miller then called the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and told them the gun was her ex-husband’s. Melissa Miller told NCIS officers that she had filed for divorce and wanted the guns removed from her home because she thought they presented a danger to her children.

The Department of Justice would later state that the chrome AK-47 was discovered as part of a larger investigation into the sale and distribution of automatic weapons in the United States.

Aftermath

After Miller’s conviction, an NCIS supervisor named Albert Nelson claimed, “This case sends a strong message that we will continue to investigate those who illegally possess and distribute dangerous weapons such as machine guns. We will continue our efforts to remove these weapons from the streets where they put innocent lives at risk.”

But at his trial, Miller was unable to question his ex-wife or ex-friend about the ownership of the rifle or about their affair. Both Christopher Bruce and Melissa Miller refused to testify because their testimony might incriminate them and the presiding judge refused to grant them limited immunity.

Joel Miller appealed his conviction and last month the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his inability to question Bruce and his ex-wife unfairly limited his defense. “The district court abused its discretion by precluding (Joel) Miller from calling two witnesses to testify about their alleged extramarital affair,” the Ninth Circuit found. “Their testimony about the affair would have corroborated Miller’s testimony and bolstered his defense that he was framed in retaliation for threatening to report the alleged affair to military authorities.”

Federal prosecutors have not yet announced if they will retry Joel Miller or drop the case.

My all time favorite death threat, sent from a proxy server in Germany, was “Somebody ought to shove a little steel in you.” What I liked was not the originality of the sentiment – lots of people want to stab me – but the onomatopoetic alliteration, which I thought was absolutely inspired. The repetitive esses actually sound like a knife going into my chest. It reminded me of Robert Herrick, the prolific 17th-century English poet who may best be known for the phrase “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may” and a brief poem about a woman taking off her clothes which, when read aloud, sounds to some people like a woman taking off her clothes.

I never decided whether the threat came from an ATF agent or someone in the FBI or Homeland security. I am inclined to think it came from an FBI agent because more of those guys went to brand name universities so more of them might know the idea of onomatopoeia. I am at peace with that particular threat anyway. There have been many more since. If I was going to worry about a threat I would be more inclined to worry about the guy who knew I knew who he was but who went ahead anyway and told me, more than once, that he was going to come through my door in the middle of the night while I was asleep and light me up and I wouldn’t “be able to do anything about it.”

One reason why this site should better known than it is, is because it tends to piss off the wild eyed pistol wavers. What makes it interesting is that about half of those have taken a solemn oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. It is one of the mostly invisible burdens of being Rebel. T-Dogg is as good a place to start with that as any.

Most long time readers and friends of this page know about T-Dogg but he was a long time ago.

T-Dogg

In 1996, a little known rapper from New York named Timothy Blair, also known as Tim Dog, also known as T-Dog was enlisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a confidential informant and agent provocateur. T-Dog had some relatively minor drug and gun charges and in return for working for the ATF those charges were dismissed. In almost five years of looking, I have never been out to find out if T-Dog was paid and if so how much. His handler was a young and enthusiastic agent named John Ciccone. And, so there was an “East Coast-West Coast Rap War” and a couple of guys named Tupac Shakur and Christopher “Big Papa” Wallace got snuffed.

Timothy Blair was reported to have died about eleven months ago. The death was faked. Timothy Blair is now known as somebody else. The ATF is very successful at covering up their crimes.

However, in early 2009, when this site was newer and I was less used to the police intelligence-counter intelligence game, a commenter named T-Dogg appeared on this site.

From the beginning, the commenter was anti-Mongols, pro-Hells Angels, and seemed eager to force a showdown. Guess who made the following comments on The Aging Rebel on June 29, 2009. Go ahead, take a wild guess.

With most of the real Mongols retiring or being kicked out during Doc’s rise to power and Doc’s no- existent operational security, Doc had completely softened the Mongols for infiltration. When only 1% or so of your membership are actually a real outlaw bikers and not just some gangbanger who thinks that wearing a vest with a 1% patch and MC on it make them a biker, it is pretty easy to see how Billy Queen slipped in. I have seen a couple different documentaries on Queens infiltration which showed some of the surveillance footage of Queen interacting with Mongols during his investigation. I can’t believe those guys actually bought that half-retarded hillbilly’s act. Any real 1%er would have been on to him right away. Luckily for the Mongols, Billy Queen was only average as an undercover agent and John Ciccone was not nearly as smart and wily as he is now and the Mongols escaped relatively unscathed.

That’s right I said John Ciccone. I hate giving cops any sort of recognition, but John Ciccone has chosen the lifestyle he believes is for him, he is committed to it and works hard towards what he believes is the greater good and appears to have maintained some integrity.

While I may not agree with his lifestyle just as he doesn’t agree with mine, I can respect his commitment and dedication. The ATF has been infiltrating outlaw motorcycle clubs for a long time and there is a long list of clubs that have been infiltrated. That said, outlaw motorcycle gang investigation has seen major milestones in the last 10 years, all occurring on the west coast. Starting with the Queen investigation which seem completely when compared to the tactics used by the ATF during Jay Dobbins infiltration of the Hells Angels a few years later. Queen’s initial infiltration of the Mongols resulted in relatively minor charges and sentences for those involved. Dobbins infiltration of the Hells Angels dubbed Operation Black Biscuit, while another investigative milestone it was an embarrassment, with allegations against the case agents, undercover agents and informants of misconduct, use of illegal wiretaps and recording devices, falsified affidavits etc. In the end only a handful of defendant plead guilty to minor offences with the most significant sentence amounting to less than 10 years time. While John Ciccone was not the primary case agent for Operation Black Biscuit, he was involved and consulted throughout the course of the investigation. It appears that Ciccone has studied and learned well from these milestone operations as well as each that he’s worked prior because Operation Black Rain against the Mongols is a work of art compared to any prior outlaw motorcycle club infiltration.

By studying the indictment resulting from Operation Black Rain as well as the search warrant affidavits it is clear that the ATF and Federal Prosecutors tactically planned their investigation with the intent of dismantling and eliminating the Mongols. Thus attack the trademark. The Mongols logo is trademarked. By establishing that the trademarked logo and club name Mongols were used by the club and it’s members as a tool of intimidation to further the criminal enterprise, the Feds will be able to seize control of the Mongols trademark permanently and completely bar the unauthorized use of the Mongols Motorcycle Club name and logo.

Currently the Mongols are not able to fly their patches in public without risking them being taken by law enforcement. Should the Fed’s prove their case, the Mongols trademark may forever be forfeited. As stands now with all the pleas to count one of the indictment “Racketeering” already entered by defendants in the case, it appears the government me be able to start pulling patches in the near future.

Having identified their goal, analyzed the prosecution strategy for the anticipated charges, and planned their investigation around these factors, the ATF went to work gathering evidence. The Mongols made things easy for the ATF. Three ATF agents obtained membership quickly and easily in California Mongols chapters. Even more conveniently, one ATF agent was introduced to the Mongols Reno chapter and given membership without prospecting . To make things even better each of these ATF agents who had become full patch Mongols members also had introduced their “old lady” who was in fact an ATF Agent as well into the club.

Doing their part to help destroy the club, unwitting Mongols members sold methamphetamine and guns to these “Undercover Mongols” on a regular basis. Unlike prior cases the buys were not for a few grams or ounces here and there. Rather, for 2 years, ATF agents posing as Mongols regularly bought 50+ grams- 300+ grams methamphetamines and guns from unsuspecting Mongols. They listened to Mongols confess to crimes such as robbery, assault and murder and in several cases, witnessed these crimes being committed first hand. During each buy, ATF agents were careful to note whether or not the member was wearing a set of Mongols colors, jewelry, belt buckles or clothing bearing the Mongols trademarked logo when the deal took place. This information was then included in each count of the indictment and is being used by the government to prove that the logo and name are a tool of the criminal acts.

Here we are today, watching one of the most elaborate undercover operations ever works its way through the criminal justice system in the form of a groundbreaking indictment that could, for the first time allow the government to pull a motorcycle clubs colors and shut that club down. I’m sure there are some patch holders reading this that think “ fuck that, if the feds try and take my patch, I’ll tattoo them on my bike and ride around with no shirt! ” I would completely agree with you, but the difference is we are real patch-holders.

Yeah that was my guess too. Using several forensic techniques I still won’t discuss – although they worked better then than they do now – I was able to verify that T-Dogg was John Ciccone who had been the case agent on Operation Black Rain. At the very same time that Ciccone was debriefing former Mongols President Ruben “Doc” Cavazos in the basement of the Montebello, California police station, T-Dogg wrote:

That said, these fucking rats (Doc are you one of them? I bet you are) can’t do time because Doc has made too many enemies for the Mongols and rats know that the Feds will buy you a knew life if you’ll tell them what they want to hear so anyone going to trial is pretty much fucked if you had anything major to do with any of the 25-35 bitches that have turned rat and taken plea deals.

That one was a strategic lie. Ciccone and Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Brunwin were trying to stampede the Mongols into mass plea deals. The only real coverage of the case was here. So, if Ciccone – and the Attorney General of the United States or however high this Nixonian conspiracy went – could co-opt the coverage of the case here they could totally control any news about the case. T-Dogg sagely advised Rebel’s readers:

And to all the real patch-holders I wish you a life filled with loyalty, honor, respect and brotherhood. Finally, to any citizen who happens to read this, I hope it has caused you to think a little more about the bigger picture and realize that not all 1%ers are uneducated, drug dealing murdering rapists as law enforcement and the media portray us to be, keep an open mind and remember that after the Fed’s destroy our lifestyle, it will be yours next.

The T-Dogg thing presented me with a journalistic conundrum. It never occurred to me when I started the site that government bureaus would attempt to propagandize my coverage. Finally, after Ciccone personally started threatening to violate Mongols on probation for arguing with T-Dogg on this website I called the guy out. That led to this interesting tirade:

Put down the crack pipe Rebel, you delusional punk bitch!!!

You not only incorrectly called me a cop but you accuse me of being that faggot munchkin bitch Ciccone. Get your facts straight bitch before you post them on your page! I’m not a cop, not a snitch and certainly not John Ciccone, never have been and never will be! You had no problems quoting me accurately and I stand by my opinions that I expressed in those posts. Those opinions are based on years and years as a patch-holder, a lifetime of experience which includes being tormented for a time by that faggot Ciccone when he was after us, a knowledge of the criminal justice system and RICO and the careful consideration of the opinions of other knowledgeable individuals. It is definitely not the opinion of Ciccone. In fact, if you go back and read my posts, I’m pretty sure I blasted not only him but the ATF and their Black Biscuit case.

Bottom line bitch, get your facts straight before you start calling people cops! This ain’t the first time you’ve claimed Ciccone was posting on this site and it makes me wonder how many times before you wrong? I know you’ve got a tiny little excuse for a dick but and it may help you feel a little better by calling people cops when they disagree with your opinion or are not pro-Mongol but do some research before you post so you don’t trash your credibility like you just did because for a lot of us, myself included it was your perceived credibility that made your site worth reading.

Finally, next time you feel like going for a ride maybe you’ll grow a set and come and see me and we can have this conversation face to face. Until then fuck you and your fucking mother!

I invited Ciccone to meet me at a hotel in San Diego. He never showed up. Although I did notice that hotel was surveilled.

Dear T-Dogg,

Look, Ciccone. I am pretty sure I got you cold, okay? I always know more than I say. I do not underestimate you. You should not underestimate me. Everybody deserves their respect. I am not going to argue with you about it.

Rebel

Then:

Listen here you know nothing, no dick faggot if I’m Ciccone PROVE IT!!!!!! You claim to know more than you’ve let on, then PROVE IT!!! We both know you can’t and rather than be a man and apologize and admit you called the wrong person a faggot munckin ATF bitch, you just burry your head in the sand and say you don’t want to argue.

So Rebel you cunt, I say again…Grow a set, be a man and let’s see some evidence that I’m Ciccone!!

Then:

Listen here Rebel, you know nothing, no dick faggot if I’m Ciccone PROVE IT!!!!!! You claim to know more than you’ve let on, then PROVE IT!!!

We both know you can’t and rather than be a man and apologize and admit you called the wrong person and a patch-holder, a faggot munckin ATF bitch by saying I’m Ciccone, you just burry your head in the sand and say you don’t want to argue. Let me ask you this, has Ciccone ever gotten this pissed off when you’ve called him out on one of his Internet alias’s before? Pull you head out of your ass you cum gargling bitch!!!

So Rebel you cunt, I say again…Grow a set, be a man and let’s see some evidence that I’m Ciccone!! You ain’t got shit but your head up your ass..

Then:

Rebel is really Jay Dobyns and this whole site is just an intelligence gathering and monitoring activity by the ATF, don’t believe anything he says.

Then:

Like I said you ain’t got shit for proof other than some hearsay from an unnamed source who can’t give you any evidence. You and sled tramp are no better than the ATF, making unfounded accusations against people and then keeping the evidence secret with that self righteous guilty until prove innocent attitude. Then in a feeble attempt to make your statements appear credible you ramble out a bunch of nonsense and claim to have confidential sources. Rebel you bitch, your own words seem to contradict your argument. Hell, now you’re waffling and saying I might be Jenna McGuire or some other agent. How weak is that when you say you can prove I’m Ciccone but now you can’t decide who I am? You must be working with the ATF cause you evidence is as convincing as their bullshit. Heaven forbid when one of your sources provde you with bad info which you can’t back up that invokes a heated response from one of your readers and you have to apologize. Luckily for you this is the Internet because if we were face to face and you called me Ciccone, I would knock you the fuck out and cave your skull in with my steel toes.

Obviously I have made some pretty dangerous statements in my posts and if I was Ciccone and you actually COULD prove I was Ciccone you could become legend in the club world as being the man that cost Ciccone his job. Hell, I fully encourage you to send my posts to the DOJ and ATF with a nice little letter claiming they were written by Ciccone or even an unknown ATF agent and lets see what happens. You’ll probably make the excuse that you don’t want to cost yourself a source. But you and your source can’t prove shit, which is exactly why you haven’t posted shit for evidence, instead choosing to attack my use of punctuation and claim to have a “confidential source”. Hell, I am sure you are logging the IP addresses of the visitors to your site and so I’m wondering why have you not traced my IP address to see if it matches known government IP’s or even if the IP is from a part of the country where Ciccone is.

Well I have a reliable source and they say that you’re a convicted pedophile (you’re not the only one who knows how to do some research) who can’t get a real job because of his conviction so you sit at home on the Internet writing this blog and trying to pick up little boys on MySpace.

Then:

OK you’ve got me laughing my ass of now. We’ve both known you’re a liar and a coward but now you’ve kept running your mouth and gone so far to keep up your lies that you’ve clearly opened yourself up to a Libel suit by Ciccone and the ATF for knowingly and maliciously publishing false statements about Ciccone.

In a time where almost every major club has been infiltrated by the ATF in recent years and turning rat has become common as club members forget the true meanings of honor and brotherhood, there is no more inflamatory or disrespectful comment than to wrongfully call a patch-holder a cop as you did me. You could have handled this situation when I pointed out your error with a simple “I was wrong, I’m sorry.”

Instead you chose to be disrespectful and rely on your sources and continue to label me not only a cop but Ciccone, probably the most hated cop by the MC community. I have challenged you to prove that I’m Ciccone and you have failed to produce any evidence because you simply can’t since I’m not Ciccone, another ATF agent or a cop trying to stir the pot.

What I am is what I have always been, an educated man with an opinion that differs from yours. As a result of me expressing that opinion, you label me as a cop, John Ciccone. I denied this accusation from the start and demanded proof. I called you on your bullshit and told you I would meet you at the Hyatt. You’ve made excuses about not being able to meet me at specific times and kept your bitch mouth running, not once have you been a man and made the offer to print a retraction after we meet at the Hyatt. Seems like that would be fair. Instead, knowing you’re wrong about me being Ciccone and your credibility is shit, you do the smoke and mirrors dance the cops and bullshit media like you are famous for and write another bullshit piece to try and make your lies appear credible. Again, you claim you can prove that Ciccone made the statements I made and insisting that I’m Ciccone but offer no proof. How is that any different that the government not turning over the Grand Jury testimony or witness lists??

You’ve made libelous statements on this site regarding agent Ciccone and the ATF. Since we both know you’re a liar and have at least incorrectly labeled me Ciccone I have serious doubts now whether Ciccone has actually ever wasted his time reading this site, but if he does I would imagine that you will have a nice tort claim filed against you by Ciccone and the ATF, all funded by our tax dollars and all because you couldn’t be a man and admit your wrong. If that happens it will all come out in the wash that you were wrong and a liar.

The other alternative is the defense in the Mongols case will want to use these posts to impeach Ciccone during trial. To do that they will more than likely subpoena you and you so called evidence. The defense experts will scrutinize this evidence to authenticate it and when they determine the posts were made by me, not Ciccone or some fucking cop it will have been clearly established that you are a liar. On top of that, you may have pissed off some of the defendants in the Mongols case as you will have wasted several thousands of dollars of their money to pay for the attorney’s and experts who wasted their time because of your bullshit.

Then:

You see Rebel, the difference between you and I is smarts. You may understand punctuation better than me, but you’re fucking stupid. As offensive as some of my statements may have been, they were made about towards unidentified individuals who used Internet alias’s to ensure their anonymity. As offensive as my statements were, your actions to protect your anonymity by use of an alias allows my statements to be protected by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. Unfortunately for you, your dumb-ass claims it to be fact that a well known, ATF agent who you’ve specifically identified as John Ciccone made potentially career ending statements and you can prove it. There is no 1st Amendment protection for you because you’ve identified a specific person. Oops.

You’ve made your bed and are going to have to lie in it. Hope that bed wetting problem is getting better.

T-Dogg

This was a government policemen talking to an independent journalist. I have never attended journalism school but I am pretty sure it is not a situation for which even J-school graduates are prepared. The reality of modern journalism is that government agencies unabashedly use their power to infringe on the press freedom which is guaranteed in the First Amendment.

Samizdat

I took it as a warning to be careful about what I wrote and what I allowed to be said here. What might have been the most disturbing aspect of the T-Dogg episode, was the readiness of federal authorities to put men in prison because they read my words or because they had something to say about them.

It became clear quickly that I was writing samizdat, the old Stalinist term for “forbidden speech.” Women carried my words into prisons. Sometimes the slips of paper on which the words were printed were confiscated. Eventually, all of my books were banned in most state and federal prison in the United States.

A continuing goal of this site is to not get guys locked up. It is also an ongoing problem. Last week a friend of the page, a very bright, well educated and informed man who once commented here frequently and who is also on probation as a result of a blatant entrapment wrote:

I got dragged into my probation officer’s office with a cop there and the prosecutor on my case there via a phone conference call. I got chewed out and threatened with revocation as I was ‘In contact with known felons….’

I was violating the order about associating with felons and those of known poor character by posting on Aging Rebel. I was also warned that by suggesting individuals posting on The Aging Rebel were law enforcement that I could possibly jeopardize investigations if there were any going on and that in doing so, was in effect committing a crime of obstruction of justice.

All this was reported to the judge in my case – he did not send me to jail or revoke my probation, but I was punished by losing any chance of getting off of probation after serving 2/3 of it. I was also transferred from a less intensive mail in probation to a probation officer at the main office, and I have more rigorous conditions.

I was also warned around the same time by a PH that several people were pissed about what someone posted on there, claiming to be a dying PH with knowledge about George Christie. I told the brother I did not do it, and that I could prove it because I could guarantee that wasn’t posted from my static IP. I don’t know if he checked or not, but he told me he would appreciate it if I laid low and wasn’t posting on Rebel’s site so as to arouse suspicion about myself or potentially cause problems. The guys I know in a certain (not 81) East Coast club basically said they were laying low as well, and their PTB wanted their PH’s and supporters to shut up and not draw any attention.

Just an FYI. And sort of a warning about what they may do to you. Be careful. Be careful sir.

I thought the Christie reference in this correspondence was interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all, as many readers are aware, two federal district judges forbid George Christie, his co-defendants, their attorneys and members of Christie’s family to speak to me while that case was ongoing. Prosecutors in the case also accused Christie’s wife of talking to me and at what point accused her of being me. The same prosecutors also claimed that I was impossible to identify. Throughout the entire Christie case, which was by the way criminally corrupt, prosecutors and the FBI openly tried to frustrate my coverage. I believe the reason for that was that I knew the case against Christie and a separate case against another longtime Hells Angel named Dan Bifield and others on the opposite coast were both criminally corrupt. The official headwinds were intended to make sure I couldn’t prove that corruption.

But the Bifield and Christie cases highlight another burden of writing this page. It is not only the cops and prosecutors who distrust me. Some of the outlaws think I am a double agent.

Sonny Barger

Last September, after covering the Bifield and Christie cases, I began a book that is, loosely, a history of the last forty years of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. I have always walked gingerly around the Angels. There are a significant number of club members on the West Coast who are convinced that I regularly exchange information with the cops. I don’t. I never have. I take pains not to give cops anything but I do speak to them. I speak to well known cops. I see them in courthouses.

A typical exchange goes something like:

“What up T-Dogg? What you working on?”

“You tell me first.”

I once described my relationship with Jay Dobyns as “Wiley Coyote and Ralph the Watchdog.” The truth is that very occasionally we are Wiley Coyote and Ralph the Watchdog on our coffee break. I once asked Steve Cook a question and he answered it.

But some West Coast Angels seem convinced that I regularly debrief with the feds and since the last book, Framing Dave Burgess, and the current book in progress are both very much about the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club the tension can be problematic. For example, there are three or four stories about Sonny Barger that I have sat on for a long time. One of them, Barger’s 911 telephone call has recently appeared in the public domain so you might as well listen to that call yourself right now.

I, like almost everybody, have always been an admirer of Barger’s. I haven’t written about him much. But three or four years ago I tried to put Barger in historical context and I said this about him:

I will never live long enough to know for sure, but I think Barger is one of those American frontier figures that pop up every hundred years. They are characters that America invents over and over because without them and the masculine ideals they represent there can no longer be an America. And America has chosen these particular men because in a certain light, remembered in a certain way, at certain times they have actually managed to be exactly who we all need them to be. Lives fly past but myths persist.

The first of these great frontier heroes was a man named Daniel Boone. He was born about 200 years before Barger. He lived to be 85. And six years after he died the American novelist James Fennimore Cooper wrote a book about him called The Last of the Mohicans. Until it was banished by the counter-culture the novel was part of the American canon. It is the tale of a self sufficient, resourceful, brave man overcoming red demons and the wilderness to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Every educated young American man was supposed to know it – as much as anything for its portrait of what an American man should be. Even now, the story retains the power to excite the American soul. Michael Mann directed the last movie version of it in 1992.

The last real, geographic frontier, the Old West, disappeared in and into serial episodes. The Silver Rush started in Tombstone in 1879. Doc Holliday died in 1887. John Wesley Harding was killed in 1895. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid moved to New York in 1902. A year later, a former Edison cameraman named Edwin S. Porter made the first movie Western – in New York City. The Yukon Gold Rush came and went in 1897. The last frontier hero, Wyatt Earp, went north that year to run a card game in Alaska. Earp died in the first fortnight of 1929 in Los Angeles. His pall bearers included the Western movie stars Tom Mix and William S. Hart. According to a mourner named Adella Rogers St. John, Tom Mix broke down and wept.

Barger became a public figure about thirty-five years after that. His first biographer, Hunter Thompson wrote in 1965: “In any gathering of Hells Angels, from five to a possible hundred and fifty, there is no doubt who is running the show: Ralph ‘Sonny’ Barger, the Maximum Leader, a six-foot, 170-pound warehouseman from East Oakland, the coolest head in the lot, and a tough, quick-thinking dealer when any action starts. By turns he is a fanatic, a philosopher, a brawler, a shrewd compromiser and a final arbitrator. To the Oakland Angels he is Ralph. Everybody else calls him Sonny….”

For all these years, Barger has had to live with that. He has already had almost as long a run as Earp. In a book published last year, ATF Agent Jay Dobyns gushed about meeting Barger:

“This was the first time I’d laid eyes on the man. He was around sixty-five, but looked to have the health of a vibrant man in his mid-fifties, a remarkable achievement considering the paces he’s put his body through over the decades…. For those who don’t know, this was the man – the legend, really – who molded the Hells Angels into what they are. It’s not a stretch to say that Sonny Barger is a visionary who essentially created the image of the outlaw biker as we know it.”

Now, on top of everything else, Barger has to live with that.

He cannot just be one of us. He has to carry the burden of epitomizing all of us. I have heard him praised by people who hate his club. The very best thing about Sonny Barger may be that he carries the burden cheerfully.

Probably a third of all American men can describe him. In person he looks younger than he photographs. He looks to me the same way he has always looked. He looks like Dennis the Menace grown old. I am certain that he must have a walk-in closet full of sleeveless tee shirts and blue jeans that are neither too new nor too shabby.

He has to know he is the biggest star in America. I don’t know how he lives with it. He is everything that a once in each century American hero should be. He is himself. And whoever that is, is close enough to the myth most of America still wants to believe. He is gracious, confidant and surrounded by men who would die for him. And, most astounding of all, there is not a paparazzo in sight. I think I spot two under cover cops. I think they are cops because they are the only people I see who look nervous.

The fact of the matter is that the greatest burden of being Rebel is trying to guess when I should tell the cruel truth and when I should tell the kind lie. Often, I do not know. As I once told Ciccone, I always know more than I say. It is probably the most basic problem in doing thoughtful journalism. I weighs me down sometimes.

Sometimes I just report the truth. It usually isn’t that easy. That’s what it’s like on this side of the website.

The biker Unification Rally in Sacramento came off without a hitch this weekend. Whether it made any difference or not remains to be seen.

Somewhere between two and three thousand motorcycle enthusiasts peacefully assembled at the California State House. It was a photogenic rally. Members of at least a half dozen three-piece-patch clubs including the Hells Angels, Boozefighters, Henchmen, Grand Fathers, Hessians and the Marines participated. Despite all those great photo opportunities, news coverage was still slight.

The Sacramento rally was one bucket in a big international wave of biker protests this month. There will be more rallies in Australia and Western Europe on January 26. All the demonstrations will protest the profound transformation in the relationship between the governments of the western democracies and their citizens. The boundaries of the motorcycle outlaw frontier are shrinking fast. The real question is whether protesters still matter.

There is a precedent in California for motorcycle clubs to lobby and protest against overbearing state regulation of personal conduct. The Hells Angels helped lead the fight against the helmet law in the Golden State from the early 70s until the law finally went into effect in 1991. In ’91, state legislators used the Angels’ lurid public image to convince their fellow politicians to enact the law. The reasoning was that if the Angels opposed the law good people should be for it.

Last Saturday’s demonstrators were concerned with a handful of unexceptional issues that have been on the bikers rights agenda for years: Helmets, motorcycle emissions, exhaust noise, frame and other modifications, license plate placement and helmets. But the big issue, the one that has drawn one percenters into this political game, is the continued right to wear a patch.

Cuts

Long ago, in the early 50s, club insignia were worn on jackets. Those words and symbols were a two-edged sword. They gave potential opponents and troublemakers fair warning about who they were about to cross but they also made it easy for cops to spot potential arrestees. The solution to the police problem was to buy a cheap second jacket – usually made of denim – cut the sleeves off, wear it over your good leather jacket and wear your patch on the back of your cutoff jacket or “cut.” Eventually, cuts evolved into something with a symbolic importance rivaling the American flag.

For about the last seven years policemen in several countries have tried a variety of strategies to force club members to take off or cover over their patches. This year in Australia, politicians have actually outlawed 25 motorcycle clubs and the ban has been buttressed by much Orwellian newspeak and a sophisticated propaganda campaign.

The United States Department of Justice has also tried this blunt force approach with the Mongols Motorcycle Club. The idea in Los Angeles is to get a famously dim-witted federal judge to declare the Mongols to be a criminal racket and then seize their club insignia. The proposed forfeiture is blatantly unconstitutional but reasonableness is not the point. The point is to hound the Mongols as unreasonably as possible until the club runs out of money to defend itself.

Motorcycle Rider Conspicuity

Unfortunately, the Department of Justice isn’t the only government agency at war with motorcycle clubs. Both the Department of Homeland Security and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are going after the patches. The NHTSA may actually be the greatest threat all clubs, including HOG, face to preserving their group identities.

Here comes the issue of motorcycle rider conspicuity. There is growing sentiment among government bureaucrats that motorcycle riders would be safer if they were more visible. It is true that most motorists who run over bikers claim they never saw them. So, the NHTSA thinks we would all be safer if we were forced to wear high visibility shirts when we ride. From there it is just a matter of drafting the rider conspicuity laws so club members cannot legally wear their cuts over the new, mandatory, orange and neon green shirts.

Rider conspicuity laws are something that traditional biker rights lobbying can affect. They are also the reason why motorcycle clubs have a renewed interest in political lobbying. Forewarned is forearmed.

The photo at the top of this story is courtesy Kevin at Save The Patch

The absurd, existential, mind experiment called The Devils Ride will return for a six episode season on Monday, February 3 at 10 p.m.

This is the third season the show has aired on Discovery. It was originally promoted as “a real life Sons of Anarchy.” It featured a family friendly, three piece patch club in San Diego called the Laffing Devils.

The show is produced by Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television, LLC. One of the company’s founders, Eric Bischoff, is the author of a book titled Controversy Creates Cash and that succinct philosophy seems to explain most of what will appear in the third season.

The marketing strategy for this production has always been to stubbornly claim that The Devils Ride is a look inside the secret world of outlaws. The Laffing Devils are dramatically opposed by something called the Sinister Mob Syndicate Motorcycle Club. Both clubs and all their indicia are the intellectual property of Bischoff Hervey. Neither is actually a motorcycle club as the term is understood by anyone who has ever had a conversation with a real, live Hells Angel, Mongol, Vago, Bandido, Son, Pagan, Warlock or Outlaw.

Episode One

The February 3 episode is titled “The Ultimatum.” According to Discovery, “A rivalry between two San Diego motorcycle clubs – Sin Mob and the Laffing Devils – led to chaos on the streets and attracted the attention of some dangerous players in the MC world. When armed thugs strip the two club presidents of their cuts, the clubs look for answers and brace for conflict.” Presumably, the show will dramatize the patch pulling. As a matter of fact, before it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bischoff Hervey, the Laffing Devils MC was a member of the San Diego Confederation of Clubs. The club was expelled after it was featured on this television show.

The official synopsis continues: “The Laffing Devils club prez Danny Boy re-enlists Sandman, who’s out on bail, awaiting trial for an attempted murder charge. Despite his delicate legal status, Sandman seizes the office of Sgt-At-Arms.” The “Sandman” character is portrayed by amateur actor Robert Johnston. In December 2012 Johnston was arrested after breaking into his estranged wife Melissa’s home and stabbing a man sitting on her couch multiple times in the back. Johnston (photo above) pled not guilty last April to charges of attempted murder, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and making a criminal threat.

Viewers of the February 3 episode will also watch, “Danny Boy risk mixing blood and business when he takes in his nephew as the newest prospect. Meanwhile Sin Mob regroups under club prez Rockem, but VP Bubba has doubts about the violent direction the club is taking. Both clubs head to a car show and there they get a message from one of the most legendary one-percent clubs in the world. It’s a brutal ultimatum: there can be only one red and gray club in San Diego, and if the Devils and Sin Mob don’t settle it they’ll both be wiped out.”

There’s More

In subsequent episodes, the two ersatz clubs will react “to an ultimatum from one of the most legendary motorcycle clubs.” The Laffing Devils will be shown throwing a party to raise funds for Johnston’s defense. The Laffing Devils and the Sinister Mob Syndicate will have a showdown in the desert. Then they will “face a possible rat within their ranks, and may be walking into a trap as they move forward with a plan to take out their rival club once and for all.”

This nonsense will continue until about 11 p.m. Pacific on March 10. If the real world has been too much with you recently and this is your drug of choice, enjoy.

The civil rights lawsuit filed by Melissa Summerson against the city of Kingman, Arizona continues to crawl its way through the U.S. Court for the District of Arizona.

The straightforward case has entered its discovery phase and 14 witnesses have been notified that they will be deposed. Twelve of the deposition notices were filed last Friday. The deadline for discovery is February 28. No biker “experts” will be deposed and the case is unlikely to reach trial. The matter may be settled as early as May Day.

Summerson was fired from her job as a personnel administrator on December 28, 2012 because her husband was a member of the Desert Road Riders Motorcycle Club.

GIITEM

Summerson’s firing was part of a widespread witch hunt that began after a fist fight between alleged members of the Vagos and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Clubs at Lazy Harry’s Lounge in Bullhead City, Arizona on December 23, 2011.

An Arizona police force called the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission decided to pursue enforcement opportunities against Harley riders in Northwestern Arizona and particularly in Kingman. The police force with the absurd name refers to itself as GIITEM, which is supposed to pronounced like the word that urges dogs to fight. It is widely called the State Gang Task Force.

After the fight at Lazy Harry’s GIITEM urged Kingman to initiate a virtual ban on club patches. The following summer local and state police began harassing anyone wearing any patch. Victims of the harassment included Patriot Guard Riders and members of HOG.

The Suit

Melissa Summerson began working for Kingman in 1996. Her husband William joined the Desert Road Riders in 2004. His membership in the club was well known and did not become an issue until after the GIITEM enforcement initiative began. The Desert Road Riders is widely considered to be a family club. Members wear a one piece patch and convicted felons are prohibited from joining.

Two weeks before Melissa Summerson was fired her boss drafted a letter that read in part: “You are an associate of a documented Criminal Street Gang, Desert Road Riders a documented support club of the Hell’s Angels, under A.R.S. 13-105. As such, your association with Criminal Street Gangs causes us great concern. Because Criminal Street Gangs are known to have strict rules which controls (sic) the behavior and functions of its members, your access to confidential information is in direct conflict with the role of Human Resources.”

The Summersons maintain that there is nothing criminal about the Desert Road Riders and that Americans have the right to join any law abiding group they want.

John E. “JD” Dawson, a loyal, humorous and widely loved member of the Wallkill charter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, died of complications that began with knee surgery at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York last Wednesday, January 15, 2014. It was his 59th birthday.

Dawson was born in Oceanside, California. He moved to Las Vegas where he married his wife Amber and worked as Director of Operations for the Las Vegas Salvation Army. He was one of 13 men charged after a brawl between a Mongols wedding party and a Hells Angels wedding party at the Special Memory Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas in December 2008. He moved to Wurtsboro, New York in 2010.

Dawson is survived by his wife; his son, John Dawson, Jr.; his daughter, Celeste Zarling; his stepson Brian; his brothers Ernest and Brian Dawson; his sisters Kathleen Carroll, Kelly Turner, Shari Dawson Dunworth and Colleen Ogle; and his gradchildren Zain, Zack, Allie and Delancey.

There will be a viewing for JD Dawson Friday afternoon and evening at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home at 130 Highland Avenue in Middletown, New York. The funeral service will be at the funeral home the next day at 11 a.m. JD Dawson will be buried at the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery in Bloomingburg, New York.

Many men and many women weep for him.

Requiscant In Pace

The Racketeering case brought against 51 defendants associated with the American Outlaws Association in Indiana in July 2012 is almost completed.

Cases against 14 defendants remain officially open although one of those defendants, Jamie A. Bolinger was sentenced a week ago to serve 102 months in prison. After Bolinger was sentenced, United States Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett issued a press release that stated: “This office is committed to ending organized crime in Indianapolis, and Judge Walton-Pratt made clear today the serious consequences of participating in gang activity in this city. We hope these sentences send a loud message across the state: if you are peddling guns, drugs, and violence on our streets, federal law enforcement is coming for you.”

Joshua N. Bowser, Vance Canner, Bryan E. Glaze, Charles N. Ernstes, Joseph Maio, Jorge Diaz, James Stonebraker and Thomas Swan have all reached plea agreements with prosecutors that would mitigate the score of years in prison that can accompany a RICO conviction.

Christian J. Miller was found guilty at trial in September. Frank Jordan lost a trial in November. Neither man has yet been sentenced. The cases against Jorge Daniel Ledezma-Cruz and Jorge Sedeno-Callejas remain unresolved. The status of the case against Scharme L. Bollinger is unclear in the official record.

Clubhouses Remain Open

When the case began, federal officials declared their intentions to seize the AOA clubhouses in Fort Wayne and in Indianapolis. Both clubhouses remain open.

As is usual in Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations cases, virtually all of the defendants have had personal property including motorcycles seized by federal authorities.

The Department of Justice continues to try to seize the Indianapolis clubhouse. That attempt may continue for years more. The most recent hearing on that matter was last Thursday.

The Case

As usually happens, defendants were all charged twice, in initial and superseding indictments. The indictments described the “Outlaws Motorcycle Club” as an “international criminal organization.”

The government said the accused “engaged in criminal activity including the use and distribution of controlled substances, the use and threatened use of violence, extortion, firearms violations, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling and insurance fraud.” As is common in biker RICO cases the indictment charges defendants with “being persons employed by and associated with the OMC (Outlaws Motorcycle Club), an enterprise engaged in and the activities of which affected interstate commerce” and that they “did knowingly and unlawfully conduct and participate, directly and indirectly, in the conduct of the affairs of the OMC enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity within the meaning of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1961 (1) and (5).

Specific allegations included using the US Mail in a scheme to make false or contrived insurance claims; laundering the money obtained from the false insurance claims by buying a motorcycle and a Van; extorting the repayment of a loan; extorting a bar owner, distributing cocaine, morphine, methadone and Vicodin; discussing club business on the phone ( the charge is Unlawful Use of a Communications Facility); threatening an unnamed person who may have been a confidential informant; and running an illegal lottery.

San Jose defense attorney Michael E. Hingle was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on charges of obstructing justice and making false statements to the FBI in a case involving members of the San Jose charter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

At the time of the alleged obstruction Hingle was representing San Jose Hells Angel Cesar Villagrana in two criminal matters including a gunfight at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nevada in September 2011. Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew, the former San Jose charter president was killed in that fight. Villagrana reached a plea deal with prosecutors in Nevada last October and was sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. Villagrana is from Gilroy, California, a town that holds an annual garlic festival.

The indictment also names deceased Hells Angel Steve “187” Tausan. Tausan was fatally shot at Pettigrew’s funeral in October, 2011. His alleged murderer was another San Jose Hells Angel named Steve Ruiz. Ruiz has been in custody since February 2012.

Operation Garlic Press

Hingle is accused of warning Tausan and two unnamed Hells Angels about a combined state and federal “law enforcement action” called “Operation Garlic Press.” The action executed about 100 search and arrest warrants in Santa Clara County on October 14, 2011. Officials had been planning the massive operation since the previous August.

According to the indictment: “Maintaining secrecy of the Operation Garlic Press warrants prior to October 14,2011, was essential to the success of the execution of the arrests, to the collection of evidence, and to the safety of the officers, deputies, and agents involved. Hingle obtained advance knowledge of the Operation Garlic Press warrants and mistakenly believed that the under seal warrants targeted, among others, a person known to Hingle and the Grand Jury as CLIENT, as well as to others associated with CLIENT. Steve Tausan, deceased, was a former friend of Hingle, a bail bondsman in San Jose, California, and a friend of CLIENT. Tausan and CLIENT were also fellow members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. On October 13, 2011, Hingle disclosed to Tausan the information he obtained concerning the Operation Garlic Press warrants with the goal of alerting CLIENT and others about the impending law enforcement actions. That day, Tausan disclosed the information he had received from Hingle to others to accomplish Hingle’s and Tausan’s shared objective of providing this information to CLIENT and others.”

The indictment says Hingle told Tausan about the warrants in a cell phone call on October 13, 2011 and that Tausan then, immediately: “…called a person known to the Grand Jury as FRIEND ONE. Tausan next sent a text message to FRIEND ONE, in which Tausan instructed FRIEND ONE to tell CLIENT about the one hundred arrest warrants, and the need to warn CLIENT about the warrants. FRIEND ONE was a mutual associate of both CLIENT and Tausan. FRIEND ONE and Tausan spoke with each other later that day about the planned arrest warrants. After disclosing the warrant information to FRIEND ONE, on October 13, 2011, at approximately 11 :36 a.m., Tausan sent a text message to a person known to the Grand Jury as FRIEND TWO, in which Tausan disclosed to FRIEND TWO the planned one hundred arrest warrants. FRIEND TWO was a mutual associate of both CLIENT and Tausan.”

Tausan died two days later.

Sweating The Lawyer

Hingle is also charged with three counts of making “materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations.” The indictment also alleges:

“When questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation whether he told any person of search and arrest warrants that were to be executed on October 14, 2011, Hingle stated that he did not recall telling anyone.”

“When questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation whether he was provided information in advance by any member of law enforcement about the existence of the October 14,2011 warrants, Hingle stated that he did not recall.”

“When questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation from whom he received information in advance about the existence of the October 14,2011 warrants, Hingle stated that he did not recall, and that he possibly received the information from someone that law enforcement would ‘characterize as a known associate.’”

Hingle pled not guilty to all charges last week and is free on $100,000 bond.

A producer with a show on the Sundance Channel contacted this page yesterday. The show is called The Writers’ Room and the producer hoped I might be able to find him someone with a Sons of Anarchy tattoo.

“We need photos of real people who got real tattoos inspired by the show (with tattoos of the SOA logo or key characters from SOA). And, of course, we need those people comfortable signing ‘materials & appearance releases.’ We can’t just get a photo off Google. We gotta be in touch with the actual person and, or, tattoo artist.”

“Oh, I know they’re out there,” I replied.

“We’d pay the guy with the SOA tattoo, because we’d need his signed releases,” the producer added. “We don’t want them to contact us directly. We don’t want to get swamped. Can you help us out?”

“Sure,” I promised. “I like to make friends. I need friends. I go through the world armed only with my charm, my winning smile and a small revolver.”

The Writers’ Room

According to the show’s promotional materials:

“The Writers’ Room is Sundance Channel’s hit talk show celebrating today’s most successful dramas and sitcoms in this the ‘Third Golden Age’ of Television.

“Host Jim Rash, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants and currently stars on NBC’s Community, leads revealing discussions with the showrunners, writers and acting talent of television’s best programs. Each episode of The Writers’ Room is dedicated to a single groundbreaking series. This half hour format allows the audience a never before seen window into the minds behind their favorite shows.”

The show is not, needless to say, Gangland. It’s not even on Discovery.

You Got An SOA Tattoo

If you have a Sons of Anarchy related tattoo including portraits of any character, any SOA indicia or flair or, best of all, a full SOA back piece you picked up in Terminal Island or the Q take a selfie and send it to Rebel@agingrebel.com. Include your legal name and contact information.

I promise I’ll get your photo to the producer and if he likes it you will get to appear on the show. The producers seem to be reasonable and generous. They just want to accurately portray your love for your favorite television program. You might even score some SOA souvenirs and become famous. Go for it. Swamp me.

Speaking of Hollywood, did you know that The Aging Rebel is on twitter? Did you know that a leading infotainment enterprise named Bischoff Hervey Entertainment has a brilliant, true and cutting edge television show called The Devils Ride that is about to debut its third, six episode season? Did you know that that company and its show and its emerging star Rockem Ralph Randolph and lots of other people from the show are on twitter?

You didn’t? Do you think twitter is bullshit? Here’s what you’ve been missing.

Aging Rebel January 18

‏ The Devils Ride Returns http://www.agingrebel.com/9718 Retweeted by Inside the Ride

Ralph Randolph January 22

@AgingRebel u continue to get some things wrong in this story, you don’t fact check prior to running a story?? @TheDevilsRide @RRKnockout

Ralph Randolph January 22

@TDRInsider @AgingRebel @TheDevilsRide don’t know who you are yet but I do know where he lives. Time is on my side. He’s a dumbass.

Aging Rebel January 22

@RRKnockout @TDRInsider @TheDevilsRide Really? Like what? Most of it is a Discovery press release. Who’s a dumbass?

The Devils Ride Insider January 22

@AgingRebel @TDRInsider @TheDevilsRide do you alway belive what u read. That would make u a dumbass. Guess your not in the know.

Aging Rebel January 22

@RRKnockout @TDRInsider @TheDevilsRide Ralph, do you need some publicity? You can tell me, dude. Need a story about you?

Ralph Randolph January 22

@AgingRebel @TDRInsider @TheDevilsRide lol. I am doing just fine.

Ralph Randolph January 23

@AgingRebel @RRKnockout @TheDevilsRide so not only r u on the RIDE….Your on their NUTS making money off the topic so ur no better than us

The Devils Ride Insider January 23

@AgingRebel @RRKnockout @TheDevilsRide Devils is only topic that spikes ur traffic increasing value of ur website= more eyeballs more $$ 4 U

Ralph Randoph January 23

@TDRInsider @AgingRebel @TheDevilsRide some people live life others write about it. Not that it’s bad it’s just the way it is.

Aging Rebel January 23

@RRKnockout @TDRInsider @TheDevilsRide That’s right. I grow fabulously wealthy off my coverage of your shit show

Ralph Randolph January 23

@TDRInsider @AgingRebel @TheDevilsRide he sleep remember he is aging so you will get no response. I like where your going kristie?

Aging Rebel January 23

@RRKnockout @TDRInsider @TheDevilsRide OMG! It’s the Algonquin Round Table. Which one is Dorothy Parker, Ralph? You?

Remember, when you are not on twitter you are missing world class exchanges of differing points of view. Like that.

The first woman has been arrested under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act of 2013.

The law went into effect in the Northern Australian state of Queensland last October. It forbids three or more members of a “criminal association” from appearing together in public places like bars, restaurants and hotels.

The woman went into the Crown Hotel in Dayboro near Brisbane with two patched members of the Life and Death Motorcycle Club on December 19. While accompanying the two men the woman was wearing a Life and Death “property of” patch that indentified her as “Property of Crow.”

None of the three have been named. The Brisbane Courier-Mail is reporting that “The woman is believed to work for the Brisbane City Council as an assistant librarian.” All three must spend the next six days in jail. They will be eligible for a bail hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 30.

Yesterday

The homes of the three alleged offenders were raided yesterday. According to published reports, the raids netted Life and Death indicia, an illegal pet snake and small amounts of unnamed recreational drugs. Police also seized two motorcycles which the government intends to dramatically crush.

One of the accused, a 54-year-old man, is charged with being a participant in a criminal organization, being a member of a criminal organization present in a public place, entering and remaining in a licensed premises while wearing prohibited clothing, producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and possessing a protected animal.

The other man, who is 60, is charged with being a participant in a criminal organization, being a member of a criminal organization present in a public place, entering and remaining in a licensed premises while wearing prohibited clothing and possessing a switch blade knife.

The 40-year-old woman is charged with being a participant in a criminal organization, being a member of a criminal organization present in a public place and entering and remaining in a licensed premises while wearing prohibited clothing.

VLAD Protests

There will be protests outside Australian consulates and embassies around the world this Sunday, January 26.

One of those demonstrations will take place outside the Australian Consulate in San Francisco from 10 a.m. to noon. The Australian Consulate is at 575 Market Street. The San Francisco protest has not been permitted by the city so it will not include an organized pack ride.

The City of Kingman, Arizona has paid former city employee Melissa Summerson $50.000 to drop her federal lawsuit. The city made the offer Monday. Summerson accepted the offer and formally dropped her suit yesterday.

In an emailed statement Summerson’s lawyer, David C. Kresin, told the Kingman Miner, “Melissa feels vindicated by the court’s entry of a substantial judgment in her favor on her constitutional claims. Because Melissa was such a good employee with an outstanding record, she quickly found other employment in the human resources field and worked hard to limit the economic harm that she suffered as a result of the city’s illegal conduct. Despite her successful efforts to mitigate her damages, she strongly desired to obtain a judgment holding the city liable for its actions and succeeded in that effort.”

Summerson filed the suit on May 9, 2013.

The Back Story

Summerson went to work for the city as a police dispatcher in 1996. She transferred to another city job two years later. The Kingman City Manager and the supervisor who eventually fired her attended her wedding in December 1999. She became Kingman’s Human Resources Administrator in April 2002. Her husband William joined the Desert Road Riders Motorcycle Club in 2004. Both Summersons ride Harley-Davidsons.

The Summersons moved to Pennsylvania to care for a terminally ill relative in 2006 but returned to Kingman in 2011. She was offered the job of Dispatch Director in February 2012 but turned it down because she wanted to pursue a career in human resources. Her performance reviews were all outstanding.

In October 2012, after the state of Arizona launched a federally funded war on motorcyclists in Northwestern Arizona, federal and state officials identified the Desert Road Riders as an “outlaw motorcycle gang.” The Desert Low Riders is a one piece patch club that is widely regarded to be a family club. The outlaw designation was based on the Desert Low Riders membership in the Arizona Confederation of Clubs which includes numerous clubs, such as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, that wear a three piece patch.

Summerson’s Firing

Summerson was fired after a Kingman police officer named Donald A. Daughty wrote an internal report that stated that William Summerson was a member of the Desert Road Riders, that Melissa Summerson had been observed “selling DRRMC raffle tickets,” and that William Summerson had not ridden in a Kingman Police Department charity motorcycle ride which forbid participation by members of motorcycle clubs.

Doughty’s report also alleged that “outlaw motorcycle gang members” have “their wives, girlfriends, sisters, or other acquaintances obtain employment in positions where sensitive information may be found.” Doughty also warned that Melissa Summerson might “have access to background and criminal history information if her position involves the hiring of new employees.” Doughty also reported that Melissa Summerson appeared in photos on the Desert Road Riders website.

Three days after Christmas 2012, Melissa Summerson was fired because she was associated with the Desert Road Riders which was a “documented criminal Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG)” and “a support club of the Hell’s (sic) Angels, which is a criminal street gang as defined by ARS 13-105.”

Danny Ray “Boodan” Lee, a prominent member of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club, the founder of a charity called “The Big Ride: Colors Across America” and an occasional commenter on this page was arrested Monday in Merritt Island, Florida on child molestation charges.

Lee was arrested by Agent Chris Shephard of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Shephard’s heavily redacted arrest report states:

Arrest Report

“During an unknown time frame during the month of December 2013, the defendant, Danny Lee, did knowingly unlawfully touch (redacted) victim. During this time, the victim (redacted). The victim had stated she was not feeling well, The defendant then gave her a Xanax to help her sleep. The defendant then laid on the bed with (redacted) and began rubbing her back. He then rubbed her leg. As this continued, the defendant pulled up the victims shirt exposing her breasts. The defendant then touched/massaged the exposed breast of the victim. The defendant then touched/ massaged the victim’s vagina through her pants. The victim explained she attempted to move away from the defendant, but he pulled her back close to him. (Redacted) The defendant had called (redacted) several times and also sent her text messages. (Redacted) called the defendant several times and asked him to explain what he had done to (redacted). At this time the defendant. explained that he was sorry and the act would never happen again. The defendant stated that he had given (redacted) Xanax to help her sleep. He stated that he gave her a massage and did not mean to touch her inappropriately. (Redacted) asked why he would touch her vagina and he stated he was sorry.

“I then responded to (redacted) to conduct a well being check of (redacted). On arrival, I knocked on the door and saw the defendant standing inside of the residence. I asked to speak with him, which he agreed. I then walked back to my car where I conducted an interview with the defendant. I read the defendant his Miranda warning, which he understood and agreed to speak with me.

“(Redacted.)

“With the statement from the victim, text messages, controlled phone call and the statement from the defendant. There is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, the victim between the age of 12- 15, and the offender is over 18.”

Boodan

Boodan Lee has been a patched member of the Florida based Warbird Warlocks for 27 years.

He started “The Big Ride” after a shootout between members of the Warbird Warlocks and a faction of the Philadelphia based Warlocks Motorcycle Club. In a statement in February 2013 he said:

“Last year I rode 12,500 miles in 52 days. My last stop was Denham Springs, Louisiana. I stayed with my great friend, Hormone. We hunkered down together and weathered Hurricane Isaac that took almost a week to pass over the Gulf States. We talked of him joining me this year. We talked about his young children playing with mine. We talked about one percenters from all over coming together as a voting force. We talked about people being tolerant. One and a half months later, Hormone was shot in the face by members of a different one percent club while pulling into a VFW benefit to donate $800! Three Warlocks MC members were shot dead before they even got off their bikes: Hormone, Davy and Dresser. Unarmed, shot dead. Two other brothers had to battle for their lives. For what? Living our Lifestyle? Who do we turn to except ourselves? We must change something. Anything! We are men, we are bikers, we are one percenters with so much in common. We don’t have to kill each other. Bikers are fathers, mothers, grandparents, children, friends and your neighbors, clubs, free riders, and citizens. Drivers run over us and get nothing more than a ticket. If I ran over a pedestrian I’d be put in jail. We need to demand mandatory education and penalties. It’s completely up to each of us to accomplish this. I implore each of you to support ‘The Big Ride: Colors Across America,’ dedicated to the memory of all the fallen.”

Boodan Lee is being held in the Brevard County Jail on $35,000 bond. He will be arraigned on February 27 at the Moore Justice Center in Viera, Florida.

The strange and terrible saga of the New York Mongol is finally over. After forty-one months Robert “Commanche” Santiago is finally free

Santiago was arrested at the conclusion of a 21-month-long undercover investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Its press release name became “Operation On The Road Again.” It might have been the most half assed ATF investigation yet. On the Road’s target was the Pagans Motorcycle Club and it culminated with two federal indictments in two separate federal districts.

Tracy Lahey

The government oversold the case from the start. The public was told that these Pagans had been conspiring to bomb Hells Angels. It wasn’t true. The public was told that the investigation had discovered the secret burial place of a murder victim. That wasn’t true either. Eighteen Pagans and one Mongol were arrested. The one Mongol was Commanche Santiago. At the time of his arrest he was the only Mongol in New York. The worst character among the arrestees was a Pagan named Tracy Lahey. Guess which guy flipped.

“What did you do,” Santiago was asked more than three years ago when The Aging Rebel first started looking at the case.

“We went to a party and they made a federal case out of it,” he answered. “Literally.”

Lahey, for whom one of the two court cases was named, quickly agreed to cooperate. “I get a house. I get a job. I get money. I get a new identity,” Lahey said in one of his rare forays out of Administrative Segregation.

Santiago

Santiago was offered a sentence of five years in prison in return for pleading guilty to the charges against him. He refused because he knew he as innocent and he is famously stubborn. So he faced up to 40 years in prison instead.

Santiago was a victim of numerous legal maneuverings intended, as is usually the case in federal justice, to prevent justice. The entire, vicious game of federal law is rigged to coerce defendants into unjust plea bargains.

An ATF agent named Robert Grunder summarized the accusation of Santiago like this:

“Robert Santiago, also known as ‘Comanche,’ is a member of another outlaw motorcycle club called the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Club,” the accusation begins, “ and, in or about May 2010, Santiago was the president of the Mongols Upstate New York Chapter. According to the UC, members of the Pagans frequently gathered for meetings and/ or parties, and purchased, used, and distributed narcotics, including, among others, cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamines, prescription medications, and marijuana, during those gatherings. The Pagans members sometimes purchased narcotics from the members of other outlaw motorcycle gangs, including the Mongols. During those meetings, the secretary/ treasurer often collected money from other Pagans as their ‘membership dues” a portion of which were transferred to the Mother Club members.”

“Later that afternoon,” Grunder continues, “members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club arrived at Lahey’s residence, and the UC was introduced to “Comanche,” the president of the Mongols Upstate New York Chapter, who was later identified as Robert Santiago.

“Santiago arrived at Lahey’s residence with a woman who was carrying a bag . The woman was identified to the UC as Saniago’s ‘old lady’ (i.e., his girlfriend or wife). The UC also saw Santiago get out of his car carrying an object wrapped in what appeared to be a t-shirt. Santiago walked into the porch area of Lahey’s house and removed a shotgun with a shortened barrel from the t – shirt. Santiago showed Youmans the sawed-off shotgun. Santiago, Youmans, Lahey and the woman accompanying Santiago went into a bedroom in the house and closed the door. A short time later, Youmans and Lahey left the bedroom and Youmans approached the UC. Youmans told the UC that the eight-ball of cocaine would cost $150 and each 1-gram bag of cocaine would cost $50. The UC handed Youmans $250 in cash, and saw Youmans hand that money to Lahey. The UC subsequently observed Lahey hand an amount of cash to Santiago. Approximately 45 minutes later, Youmans asked the UC if Lahey had given the UC the cocaine, and the UC responded that Lahey had not. The UC then saw Youmans speak to Lahey. Within a few minutes, Lahey approached the UC and asked the UC to come to Lahey’s bedroom. As the UC and Lahey entered the bedroom, Santiago walked out of the bedroom. When the UC entered the bedroom, the UC saw a large quantity of a white powdery substance on a table in a bedroom, which, based on the UC’s training and experience, he/she believed to be cocaine. The woman who arrived with Santiago and another woman were seated at the table cutting and packaging the cocaine into small green plastic bags. At or about the same time, Lahey handed the UC four small green plastic bags and two smaller clear plastic bags that each contained a white powdery substance ‘that appeared to be cocaine.’”

Eventually, “After departing Lahey’s residence that evening, the UC gave the remaining bags containing the white powdery substance that he/she had purchased at the Pagans gathering to another ATF agent, who submitted it to a laboratory for testing. According to a report of the laboratory analysis of the substance obtained by the UC the substance tested positive for the presence of cocaine.”

Federal Justice

None of the accusations were true. The audio tape had gaps that indicated editing. There were numerous inconsistencies and anachronism in the ATF Reports of Investigation. Unscrupulous federal policemen and unscrupulous federal prosecutors conspired to round up as many guys as possible and kept them in jail until they confessed to something. Santiago’s case was complicated when a search of a garage behind his home found an unloaded .22 caliber revolver and five rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Santiago had a previous felony drug conviction and he was charged with “Narcotics Distribution,” the “Possession and Use of Firearms in Furtherance of Narcotics Distribution,” and “Firearms Possession.”

For the next three and a half years Santiago was compelled to wrestle with the system. He challenged the evidence in several hearings and lost on various technicalities. Prosecutors intentionally confused the case and sought numerous delays. The case was so complex and so much of it was sealed that it was virtually impossible to cover. Finally after 41 months, Santiago agreed to plead guilty to a charge of using a telephone to arrange a drug deal in return for a sentence of time served.

After his release Santiago said, “The government does all this just so they have an excuse to take people in. Then they do whatever they can to get you to the point where you have to plead to something. Guys who hear about my case should know that with the feds you’re going to do some time. It’s better to be a man and get sent up and come out with your head high than do what Tracy Lahey did. Lahey made a deal that says he doesn’t get sentenced until after everybody else. Now he’s still locked up and I’m free. All Lahey had to do was keep his mouth shut and he would have been out before us.”

The bright line between journalism and public relations continues to dim and blur. For example, Rolling Stone, a highly regarded magazine that became famous long ago for its “new journalists” including Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe, gave The Devils Ride an early Valentine’s gift yesterday.

The Devils Ride is a sort of unintentionally funny, serial television mocumentary about two ersatz motorcycle clubs in San Diego called the Laffing Devils and the Sinister Mob Syndicate. The Laffing Devils used to be a real motorcycle club before they were kicked out of the San Diego Confederation of Clubs. The Laffing Devils name and insignia are now wholly owned by Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment which produces the television show. The Sinister Mob Syndicate was created by Bischoff-Hervey simply to provide the Laffing Devils with a dramatic antagonist.

Bischoff-Hervey

One of the two producers, Eric Bischoff, has a background in professional wrestling and is the author of a book titled Controversy Creates Cash. The other, Jason Hervey, came of age as a child star in the nurturing and heartwarming environment of network television.

The third season of The Devils Ride premiers Monday night. For this show it is the weekend of what reporters and editors call “the advance.” The big problem for reporters has always been “copy hunger” which means finding something, anything to say. So virtually any scheduled event is likely to be reported at least three times. First comes the “advance” that tells readers what is going to happen. Next comes coverage of whatever happens. Next comes “the follo” which repeats the coverage of what happened and usually includes a few specious words about what the happening meant. For The Devils Ride this is the weekend of the advance which is more important for television shows than football games. So far Bischoff-Hervey has enticed The Aging Rebel to write three advances for the new season.

Yesterday it was Rolling Stone’s turn. The media whore who actually jumped out of the cake in a string bikini was Blaine McEvoy who is an Associate Editor at the magazine. He used to be an Assistant Editor at Men’s Journal. Yesterday he helped all the Laffing Devils and all the Sinister Mobsters earn their green wings and these are some of the copulatory noises he made.

Rolling Stone

“These guys have a burning passion for their bikes, their turf and their brothers, which all stem from their careers in the military,” McEvoy quotes Hervey as saying. “That’s where the rigidity comes from – many of these guys were Marines who served multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.”

One of the stars of the television show is a former Hells Angel, pilot and bike builder named Ralph “Rockem” Randolph. Randolph is smart enough to grasp how the interplay between news and publicity actually works and he confesses to McEvoy that he is a “Sin Mobber for life.”

McEvoy’s research led him to discover the amazing fact that “local and national authorities including the FBI broadly classify both groups as violent gangs.”

And, he quotes Rockem’s insight that “Harley-Davidson used to mean something. It used to stand for biker attitude – outlaws and their sweaty mamas rollin’ around and looking for a good time. That’s what we’re about. That’s what we stand for.”

You can read the entire article here.  You might want to slip on a jimmy hat first.

PRESS RELASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2014

FROM: THE WARLOCKS MOTORCYCLE CLUB

A now former member of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club, Danny Ray “Boodan” Lee, has been arrested on charges of child molestation. A recent news article described Mr. Lee as being a National officer of the Club, which is absolutely false, as he held no office in the Club, whatsoever.

The Club has reviewed the charges and the evidence and has determined that the severe sanction of “Out Bad, With Prejudice” is warranted, which means that he is to be forever shunned and totally banished from the Warlocks Motorcycle Club. He can never again be a member or associate of the Warlocks MC, and no member or associate is to have any contact with him in any way or form.

The Warlocks are, and have always been, dedicated supporters of children’s charities and of children’s rights and protection. Disgusting conduct such as that of Mr. Lee is neither condoned nor tolerated by the Warlocks MC, or any member or associate thereof. With his predatory manner and callous disregard for his victim, Mr. Lee has shown total disrespect for our Club and the rest of society. He will suffer his shame, and the legal consequences of his actions, alone.

It is sad that these sick individuals exist in all walks of life, including religious organizations. schools, scouting and similar organizations. These inviduals include teachers, child care providers, medical professionals, and members of law enforcement. We are furious that one of our members could even consider such despicable conduct. Unlike many of those organizations, we offer no cover-ups or excuses. We have acted swiftly and with finality.

The Warlocks Motorcycle Club

Numerous informed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told The Aging Rebel that they believe disgraced former Warlock Motorcycle Club patch holder Danny Ray “Boodan” Lee is guilty of child molestation and that he will plead guilty to the charge at his arraignment on February 27. The same sources say the Orlando Sentinel is already covering the case. The Sentinel has not yet published its take on Lee’s legal woes.

Although he was not a club officer, the photogenic and charming Lee had become a public figure in the Sunshine State. Some sources called Lee a liaison between one percent clubs in Florida. Prominent members of some of those clubs were said to have been troubled that the Warlocks had not announced Lee’s expulsion from the club before yesterday. Lee also has had influence with some politicians in Tallahassee, Florida’s capital.

Accusation

Lee was arrested on January 27 for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The girl is the daughter of Lee’s girlfriend. Lee admitted the assault to that woman and she reported the crime to police.

According to Lee’s arrest report, the accused gave the girl a Xanax, then lay on a bed with her and began to fondle her. According to the arrest report, Lee exposed and fondled the girls breasts, massaged her vagina and overpowered her when she tried to move away from him. Lee is charged with “Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a victim between the age of 12- 15 by an offender over age 18.”

Multiple sources have said that Lee admitted his guilt to his former club brothers. Lee had been a member of the Warlocks for 27 years.

Lee is the administrator of a charity called “The Big Ride: Colors Across America,” Sources say the charity’s bank account contains approximately $26,000 and that Lee has already proposed using that money to establish a college fund for his victim.

Warlocks Statement

The Warlocks MC issued a statement yesterday that said Lee had been expelled from the club in bad standings and that Warlocks members and supporters were expected to shun him. The statement called Lee a “sick individual.”

The club also said “The Warlocks are, and have always been, dedicated supporters of children’s charities and of children’s rights and protection…. With his predatory manner and callous disregard for his victim, Mr. Lee has shown total disrespect for our Club and the rest of society. He will suffer his shame, and the legal consequences of his actions, alone.”

Lee is currently free on bond.

Hollister, always just the one word, was the historic moment the earth moved for the pagan gods who gave the world the motorcycle outlaw menace.

The sleepy, little, farming town sponsored a three day Gypsy Tour over Independence Day weekend in 1947 and about a thousand motorcycle enthusiasts and their women showed up. The enthusiasts, who included members of still extant clubs like the Boozefighters and extinct ones like the Tulare Riders, camped out and drank in public parks. One of them was arrested for urinating in public. Dozens of them raced up and down San Benito Street and three of them were seriously injured in crashes.

Enter what was until recently called “the working press.” A couple of old pros from the San Francisco Chronicle – a reporter named C. I. Dourghty Jr. and a photographer named Barney Peterson – got to Hollister Sunday night and did their jobs: Which was to tell a story that would help their employer sell some newspapers. Peterson called the weekend an “outburst of terrorism” that included “wrecking of bars, bottle barrages into the streets from upper story windows and roofs and high speed racing of motorcycles though the streets.” The situation became so dire, Dourghty wrote, that 30 California Highway Patrolmen eventually “herded the cyclists into a block on San Benito street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, parked a dance band on a truck and ordered the musicians to play.” A local politician told Dourghty, “There appears to be no serious damage. These trick riders did more harm to themselves than the town.”

The Legend Grows

The Chronicle never ran Dourghty’s story but three weeks later Life Magazine called the event the “Hollister Motorcycle Riot” and ran one of Barney Peterson’s photos above a caption that read “Cyclist’s Holiday: He and his friends terrorize a town.” “He” was a Tulare Rider named Eddie Davenport. Eddie was very drunk and Peterson’s photo had been carefully staged.

Dourghty and Peterson’s fine, old fashioned journalism eventually inspired a spokesman for the American Motorcyclist Association to complain that the rioters were “outlaws” who represented only “one percent” of the motorcycling community. The journalists also inspired a writer named Frank Rooney to make up a story called “Cyclists Raid” which was eventually transformed into a movie called The Wild One. The movie gave the world one of the great lines in American cinema.

“Hey Johnny,” an easy blonde asked the leader of the biker gang. “What are you rebelling against?”

“What’ve you got,” Johnny replied.

It is said that Kurt Sutter, who has given the world Sons of Anarchy, keeps a copy of Johnny’s quip over his desk for inspiration. The few people who have ever actually watched The Wild One, rather than merely reading about it, know that the climax occurs when the bikers have to be rescued from the town folk.

And, all of that was then.

Times Change

Now the town of Hollister exploits the myth of the way we were with a motorcycle rally most July Fourth weekends. The town recently decided to hold the rally every year for at least the next decade. The event provides an excellent opportunity to gouge tourists. And, police from miles around are guaranteed very many hours of overtime. This year’s rally will begin Friday July Fourth and end Sunday July Sixth. The event will feature 50 bands on three stages and “two giant beer gardens.” And yes, promoters promise, “bikes will be parking on San Benito Street!”

There will even be something new in Hollister this year. The city is adding forty video surveillance cameras at a cost of $300,000. Virtually every inch of downtown Hollister will be continuously surveilled.

“It’s a force multiplier,” Police Chief David Westrick told Salinas television station KSBW. “It’s a way of expanding our eyes and ears by 20 more people with these electronic eyes.”

Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez told the station he thinks George Orwell’s totalitarian dystopia, summarized in the novel 1984, is an idea whose time has come. “There’s always Big Brother until it’s you that’s a victim,” Velazquez said while wearing a long coat and a tall hat to cover his dragon’s tail and horns. “Then you want Big Brother’s video tape to show what happened.”

So if you go to Hollister’s annual commemoration of mayhem this year, be very careful to scrupulously obey every law. Big Brother will be watching every move you make while you’re there.

Clinton Lovelace, the apparently loaded driver who ran over a pack of ten motorcycles on State Road 151 near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on May 31, 2012 was sentenced today to serve eight years in prison.

He will serve consecutive terms of three years each for the two bikers he killed and an additional two years for the other misery he caused. The two dead men were Daniel Winsemius of Twin Lake, Michigan and Douglas Yonkers of Muskegon, Michigan. After he is released Lovelace will spend seven more years on probation.

Lovelace pled guilty last September to two counts of homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle and three counts of reckless injury. The prosecutor, Fond du Lac County Deputy District Attorney Dennis Krueger, asked Judge Gary Sharpe to sentence Lovelace to 20 years.

Muskegon Motorcycle Gang

The ten bikes carried a dozen people associated with a riding club called the Muskegon Motorcycle Gang. The twelve were on the club’s annual “Bridge Run.”

The group had taken a ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee. The plan was to ride north to the Mackinac Bridge then south back home through most of Michigan.

The pack was about 70 miles into Wisconsin when Lovelace, travelling in the opposite direction, suddenly swerved into the pack. A police report said “the vehicle’s crossing wasn’t a slow gradual movement, it was almost like it jerked over the centerline striking the motorcycles.”

Eric “Ric” VanDam was at the front of the pack. Lovelace struck him in the left saddlebag. VanDam lost a leg and is now confined to a wheelchair. Winsemius and Yonkers were riding behind VanDam. Winsemius died at the scene. Yonkers died a week later. Lovelace struck all ten bikes and injured ten of the twelve riders.

Lovelace

Lovelace was injured in the crash and hospitalized. Nurses found two syringes and multiple doses of blotter acid in his clothes. His blood contained traces of marijuana and oxycodone. He told police he took Adderall and Xanax daily.

He also told police he couldn’t remember the crash or anything else about that morning.

There were no mechanical problems with his car and he initially pled not guilty.

This morning the courtroom was filled with survivors of the crash, family members and bikers from around Wisconsin. Several survivors of the tragedy told the judge they had been sentenced to “life sentences.”

This morning a jury found Adam Lee Hall, a former Sergeant at Arms for the Berkshire County Charter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping, assault and battery, witness intimidation and three counts of murder.

Hall was convicted of murdering David R. Glasser in August 2011. Glasser had been scheduled to testify against Hall in a separate case after Hall beat Glasser with a baseball bat in 2009. At that time, Hall faced charges of kidnapping, extortion, assault with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to sell.

Today, Hall was also convicted of murdering Glasser’s roommate, Edward Frampton, and their friend Robert Chadwell.

Piece Of Work

Hall has also been accused of forcing three women into prostitution and acting as their pimp. At the time he was charged with Glasser’s murder, Hall was in jail on a charge of possession of child pornography

In 2009, according to prosecutors, Hall unsuccessfully tried to frame Glasser for a robbery in upstate New York. In 2010, Hall met twice with FBI agents and offered to “take down” multiple East Coast charters of the Hells Angels including Berkshire County. Hall volunteered to wear a wire and demanded that the pending charges against him be reduced. The FBI turned him down. After Hall was indicted for trying to frame Glasser in 2011, the Berkshire County Charter mortgaged its clubhouse to make his $250,000 bail.

According to prosecutors, Hall and two other men, David Chalue and Caius Veiovis, kidnapped and murdered Glasser, Frampton and Chadwell on August 27 or 28. Police discovered the three bodies buried in a trench on September 10. Hall, Chalue and Veiovis were arrested two days later. A fourth man named David Casey was arrested a week after that and charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, kidnapping and witness intimidation. Prosecutors allege Casey, a heavy equipment operator, dug the trench.

Hall was the first of the defendants to be tried. Chalue is next. He is scheduled for trial in April.

The Dance Of Law

Last October, Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder moved Hall’s trial from Pittsfield to Springfield, Massachusetts because the case had been heavily publicized in Berkshire County.

All four defendants have been defended by a succession of defense attorneys. Attorney Alan J. Black was appointed to represent Hall in September 2012 after Hall told the court he thought there had been a “breach of trust” with his previous lawyer.

This morning the jury told Judge Kinder they had been deadlocked since Tuesday. Kinder told them to try again. The jurors returned the guilty verdict about an hour later.