Hells Angels, Outlaws, Motorcycle Clubs, and Organized Crime

The Hells Angels www.hells-angels.com... have within the past few years practically forced out the Outlaws www.outlawsmcworld.com... in my city.

Bikers are known for organized crime, and much of what they do is "covert" in their way of thinking. They have a lot of money and power, and have been known to actualy kill people. Drugs, prostitution, money laundering, extortion, blackmail, grand theft, bank robberies, many illegal activities can be attributed to the bikers in my town. They run the escort businesses and massages parlours, and have a hold on the drug market.

These groups can be a cause for concern, maybe fear, depending if you get on the wrong side of them.

A co-worker that was being offered membership into the Hells Angels once told me, that if he wanted me killed, he could have it done, describing the type of power these guys have.

Anyone have experience with biker gangs, motorcycle clubs, and organized crime?

CC

Don't take this the wrong way, just need clarification, what exactly is it you want to know?

I ride with a lot of guys from many different walks of life. None of them are the harden criminals you describe.

But I have seen some other clubs that do want to play the role of hard core. And I have known some guys who are into the stuff you describe.

Problem with your hypothesis is that you are describing organized crime activity and making the leap that it is specific to bikers. Same could be said of latinos, blacks, italians, and many other groups.

There are bad apples in every bunch.

I'm asking what experiences you may have concering bikers and organized crime...yeah, not all bikers are bad....but groups like the Hells Angels are always associated with organized crime.

Hells Angels are the biggest motorcycle club in the world, and they DO have a lot of power, and are involved in a lot of illegal activity.

It is not a false assumption to associate a group like the HA with organized crime, that's a given....

Originally posted by chief_counsellor

It is not a false assumption to associate a group like the HA with organized crime, that's a given....

Yup, the drug trade alone would be a good example. Sorry, I was busy, new shoes, so to speak.

The thing is that with the exception of business, HA will probably not have any contact with nonmembers. What your co-worker said about "having you killed", I'd say he was FOS. It's bad for business. The guys they're whacking are the competition bikers.

I don't know if you CAN make that leap. Most chapters of any MC are individually run.

Some, and maybe the one in your town, are into some nefarious shyte. But others chapters are just about riding with the guys and having fun. Their definition of fun maybe different then yours. They might like hanging out in strip clubs and chasing broads. That doesn't mean they run ALL the prostitution in that town.

Originally posted by phreak_of_nature
They might like hanging out in strip clubs and chasing broads.

You said that like it was a BAD thing. Sign me up.

Originally posted by intrepid

Originally posted by phreak_of_nature
They might like hanging out in strip clubs and chasing broads.

You said that like it was a BAD thing. Sign me up.

If you've ever seen some of those biker mamas strip it is a bad thing.

But we do like to envibe in some adult beverages every now and again.

Originally posted by phreak_of_nature
But we do like to envibe in some adult beverages every now and again.

YES

Originally posted by chief_counsellor
It is not a false assumption to associate a group like the HA with organized crime, that's a given....

Yep, same with the town I grew up in. There was a chapter right across the street from my nanny/family friend. They were very racist as well.

HOG = Harley Owner's Group btw...

HOG being a factory authorized club most definately distances itself form any of the illegal/underground/nefarious caca that goes on in some CHAPTERS of some MCCs...

While I understand what you are saying here about the HA's, I think it is becoming more and more a thing of the past and a "chapter specific" problem.

Most of the Bikers I meet are professionals/technicians and the like... The sheer cost of a decent ride makes the economics a whole lot different than it was even 15 years ago...

While I am aware the HA's control most of the Methamphetamine business on the West Coast and in the North East, I assure you they are fairly rare in the South.

The typical Biker Bars I have been in are pretty much a bunch of nearing middle age business/professional/technical types who simply enjoy the freedom and brotherhood of the Harley.

m...

[edit on 9-11-2004 by Springer]

These are the guys I run with too. We're all midle aged techies or professionals. When I was MUCH younger, I did know a bunch of ex-con types who either were, or on the edges of the, HAs. Most of those guys were not your big time syndicate guys though.

The HA is not what it was 30 years ago.

Please don't label bikers as the new mafia. We just enjoy having the wind whip through what's left of our hair.

Here is a group of bikers you ought to check out. BACA - Bikers Against Child Abuse

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. We do not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner, however, if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle.

The local chapter where I live attend court appearances where children are alleged to have been physically or sexually abused. Their presence provides moral support for the victims - making them feel secure to testify without fear of repercussion.

They are a terrific group - there website can be found here

There are alot of bad and false things said about biker clubs such as the Hells Angels.
I grew up with many of them as family friends.Almost every weekend my mother and stepfather had parties where quite a few would come join in on.
No heavy drug use.No drunken rough housing.Even the leader of the San Diego chapter would be there.I still know him to this day.Though he is not with them anymore.
Always a bad apple in every group.But that doesnt mean the whole batch is bad

BTW,,,,,,,the racist thing,my mother is full blooded mexican and I am half.

I mean Hells Angles, not ha, as in ha ha ha.
Well lets see, out here on the west coast of Canada, the HA have there hand in the pocket of business, most are reputable business owners and well really nice guys. BUT, this is a huge BUT, they also have their hand in everything that happens that goes on in the crime world. I have lived around and with HA for most of my teen-early adult life, and they treated me with respect and kindness, again, BUT, I have seen some things that can only be described as scary.

I have also lived with a "Driver" for a company on the mainland (Vancouver area), this guy was nice and always talked about Karma, he was also one of the head guys for one of the biggest cross boarder trafficking operations in Canada, his company also dealt with the infamous "Triads," and these guys were the meanest MF's that you would ever meet, but for some reason they (the Triads) were scared of my roommate and friends. Everyone that was a driver for this "company"(yes it was a legit and big company, a really nice front for criminal activity) was an ex HA or other. If you want a conspiracy, these guys had everyone in their pocket, from cops to judges to lawyers to insurance agents to home owners to farm owners, and nobody ever crossed them, except the occasional junky, but they would end up "going missing".

So to answer your question ya I have had my share of dealings with organized crime and I am just glad that I got out of that seen when I did. And as for your friend, he would have been a prospect for the HA, him telling you what he could have done is laughable at the least, your friend is/was simply a neophytes and would have no pull, especially when it comes to having someone done in (he would have got hospitalized if anyone heard what he told you) One last thing is that they generally hire this job out (hence the word "contractor"), it is considered a specialty trade. It turned out that my roommate specialized in this trade, when I found out I left, thank god he liked me so much, my girlfriend and I called him uncle and I think he wanted us out for our own good, so he just let us leave after a long talk about "Karma".

Anyway hope this helps, and I know that this is probably not like the rest of the world of bikers but it is a very real world. Bikers or not, organized crime is a very real, very big and an extremely scary thing (even if there are some nice people that are involved). You know how Hollywood makes organized crime look; well it is way worse than it looks on tv, when you are in the middle of it.

Just some truth.

Edited- Spell check

[edit on 11-9-2004 by amike555]

[edit on 11-9-2004 by amike555]

Did you watch America's Most Wanted tonight?

They infiltrated the HA, the Arizona Chapter...a team of police officers went under cover for a year, and then busted them from the inside out.

Apparently HA in the area, hate Mongols becauase of some fight/riot that broke out in a Casino. The undercovers faked killing a Mongol, to "show" that they were "hitmen" and "arms dealers".

The head hauncho of the HA, forget his name, who said the police could never infiltrate them, had a picture taken with the whole undercover police team (faces blocked out of course)....

CC

Originally posted by chief_counsellor
Did you watch America's Most Wanted tonight?

They infiltrated the HA, the Arizona Chapter...a team of police officers went under cover for a year, and then busted them from the inside out.

Apparently HA in the area, hate Mongols becauase of some fight/riot that broke out in a Casino. The undercovers faked killing a Mongol, to "show" that they were "hitmen" and "arms dealers".

The head hauncho of the HA, forget his name, who said the police could never infiltrate them, had a picture taken with the whole undercover police team (faces blocked out of course)....

CC

This reminded me of a really good movie based on a true story.
It stars Charlie Sheen called Beyond the Law
Dan Saxon is an undercover cop who infiltrates a biker gang to nail the scum behind a drug-smuggling operation. In order to maintain the trust of the gang's leader, he must commit ever more dangerous and heinous crimes. Just how far 'beyond the law' will Saxon go?

Beyond the Law (1992) is based on the true story of a cop who was raised by an abusive cop uncle, was fired by a corrupt police chief, and became an undercover narc infiltrating a biker gang. Along the way, he nearly decides he likes the bikers better than the cops, but his work led to record-breaking arrests.

The beef between the Mongols and the HAMC started at a swap meet in Riverside CA in 1973.

A girl who used to ride with the HAMC said that the difference between riding with the Angels and the Mongols was the difference between soaring with the eagles and flopping with turkeys.

A Mongol unwisely chose to confront an Angel over this. I can't imagine the thought process which led to this decision.

13 Angels went to war with 42 Mongols on the spot. One Angel took out 13 Mongols with a kickstand.

In the end, the Mongols President shouted "Mongols to the doors", took off his colors and split. To a man, the remaining Mongols still standing did the same.

If you want to really understand, read any of the many books by Sonny Barger. Do not take the words written as gospel, but take note of the attitude behind them.

[edit on 12-9-2004 by Researcher]

Originally posted by SMR
There are alot of bad and false things said about biker clubs such as the Hells Angels.
I grew up with many of them as family friends.Almost every weekend my mother and stepfather had parties where quite a few would come join in on.
No heavy drug use.No drunken rough housing.Even the leader of the San Diego chapter would be there.I still know him to this day.Though he is not with them anymore.
Always a bad apple in every group.But that doesnt mean the whole batch is bad

BTW,,,,,,,the racist thing,my mother is full blooded mexican and I am half.

Yea, it sounds more like a local issue. But, make the 2000 mile trip and things will be a little different, ya know what I mean.

They were more racist towards black people btw.

One of my favorite authors, Hunter S. Thompson, and a book cronicling his take on the angels of the 60's. This book Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga recounts his experiences traveling with the Hell's Angels of California.

www.am azon.com