US District Attorney details rivalry between motorcycle gangs after announcing 16 people charged
CAROLINA. THAT'S SUNDAY AT
10:00AM RIGHT HERE
ON WRAL.
>> U.S. THIS COULD TURN TO
MICHAEL EASLEY. TALKED ABOUT
16 PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING
CHARGES CONNECTED TO A
MOTORCYCLE GANG RIVALRY TODAY.
WRAL INVESTIGATES BROKE THE
STORY YESTERDAY. SOME OF THE
FIGHTS INVOLVED, GUNSHOTS AND
HAMMERS AND A BUSY FAST-FOOD
PARKING LOT. WE'VE ALSO
REPORTED THE MAN'S MURDER IS
CONNECTED TO THE RIVALRY WR
CHELSEA DONOVAN EXPLAINS WHAT
PROSECUTORS ARE REVEALING ABOUT
THESE BIKER GANGS.
>> THEY WILL ASSAULT SHOOT AND
EVEN KILL RIVALS TO GET AHEAD.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM U.S..
ATTORNEY MICHAEL EASLEY TODAY
WHO BELIEVES MEMBERS OF A
GLOBAL MOTORCYCLE CLUB HAVE
USED HEINOUS ACTS TO GET AHEAD
IN THE STANDINGS OF THEIR OWN
CLUBS. NEARLY 2 YEARS AFTER
HIS DEATH, THE MEMORIAL SITS
ON BAYBERRY LANE IN RALEIGH, A
QUIET, UNASSUMING COMMUNITY
THAT TURNED VIOLENT ON NEW
YEAR'S DAY 2023. WHEN PAGAN
MOTORCYCLE CLUB MEMBER JONAS
PADILLA WAS KILLED. THE HELLS
ANGELS HAVE ISSUED.
>> STANDING GREENLIGHT ORDER
TO ATTACK ASSAULT OR EVEN KILL
ANY PAGAN THAT THEY ENCOUNTER.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY MICHAEL
EASLEY JUNIOR BELIEVES THESE
MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE.
>> AND NOW THEY HAVE BEEN
INDICTED FEDERALLY ALONG WITH
11 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HELLS
ANGELS AND THEIR AFFILIATES.
THE RED DEVILS MOTORCYCLE CLUB,
THE HELLS ANGELS USED VIOLENCE
TO PROTECT THEIR POWER AND
THEIR TERRITORY.
>> INCLUDING PHYSICAL ASSAULT,
MURDER THREATS AND
INTIMIDATION. THIS IS ALL PART
OF AN OPERATION CALLED BROKEN
HALO, A VIOLENT RACKETEERING
ENTERPRISE OF MOTORCYCLE GANG
MEMBERS STEMMING FROM RALEIGH
TO FAYETTEVILLE, TO
FAYETTEVILLE, HELLS ANGELS.
HOLD MEETINGS KNOWN AS CHURCH
IN A FACILITY STOCKED WITH FOR
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, FORTIFIED
DOORS, WINDOWS.
>> BRASS KNUCKLES, FIREARMS,
KNIVES AND BALL TEAM HAMMERS.
8 OTHER DEFENDANTS ARE CHARGED
WITH ATTEMPTING TO KILL A PAGAN
MOTORCYCLE CLUB MEMBER.
>> LAST JULY, IN A WAY TO NORTH
CAROLINA IN THE PARKING LOT OF
A DAIRY QUEEN WHERE AUTHORITIES
SAY HAMMERS AND BULLETS WERE
FLYING WITH FAMILIES AROUND
EASILY TODAY WITH A STRONG
MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO MAY THINK
ABOUT COMMITTING VIOLENT ACTS.
IF YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISE THAT ENGAGES IN
VIOLENCE AND YOU COME THROUGH
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
YOU BETTER KEEP ON WRITING AND
ATTORNEY EASILY SAYS THESE MEN
COULD FACE AS LITTLE AS 10
YEARS IN A FEDERAL PRISON IF
CONVICTED TO MANDATORY LIFE