Hells Angels New York City

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is a world-wide motorcycle club whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training Harley-Davidson Motor Company ( formerly HDI is an American manufacturer of Motorcycles based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Some members of the Hells Angels and other motorcycle clubs nickname themselves "one-percenters" in response to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) claim, made after the infamous Hollister affair, that ninety-nine percent of motorcyclists were law abiding citizens, and the other one percent were troublemakers giving everyone else a bad name. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 280000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns The Hollister riot occurred during the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle rally in Hollister California from July 4 to July 6, 1947.

Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada classify the Angels as one of the "big four" outlaw motorcycle gangs, contending that members carry out widespread violence, drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, and extortion. Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC is an inter-agency organization in Canada designed to coordinate and share criminal intelligence amongst member police forces A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global Black market consisting of the cultivation manufacture distribution and sale of illegal Drugs Extortion, outwresting, or exaction is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person Unlawfully obtains either money property or services ^[1][2] Many Hells Angels members, associates, and supporters assert that this is a mischaracterization, and claim that they are a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who organize social events such as group road trips, fundraisers, parties, and motorcycle rallies.

History

The Hells Angels club was formed in 1948 in Fontana, California. Fontana ( is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The name "Hells Angels" was believed to have been inspired by the common historical use, in both World War I and II, to name squadrons or other fighting groups by fierce, death-defying names such as Hells Angels or Flying Tigers. The Howard Hughes film Hell's Angels was a major film of 1930 displaying extraordinary and dangerous feats of aviation. Howard Robard Hughes Jr (December 24 1905 – April 5 1976 was an American Aviator, Industrialist, Film producer / director, Philanthropist Hell's Angels is a 1930 American epic War film, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jean Harlow, Ben Several military units used the name Hells Angels prior to the founding of the motorcycle club of the same name, including the U.S. Air Force 303rd Bombardment Groups, a military unit formed in the early years of World War II, and the 11th Airborne Unit. A United States Army Air Forces (USAAF bombardment group was a military combat unit during the Second World War. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Some Hells Angels have attempted to dispel the belief that there is any connection, other than the name, between the HAMC and the historic military Hell's Angel. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The group's official website clarifies that the name was suggested to the founders of the club by a friend of theirs, Arvid "Oley" Olsen, who was a member of the Flying Tigers squadron from the 303rd Group. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout No actual members of that squadron became members of the HAMC. ^[3]

Some of the early history of the HAMC is not clear, and accounts differ. According to Ralph 'Sonny' Barger, founder of the Oakland chapter, early chapters of the club were founded in San Francisco, Gardena, Fontana, and other places independently of one another, with the members usually being unaware that there were other Hells Angels clubs. Ralph Hubert "Sonny" Barger (born October 8, 1938 in Modesto California) is a founding member (1957 of the Oakland, California Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States.

Other sources claim that the Hells Angels in San Francisco were originally organized in 1953 by Rocky Graves, a Hells Angel member from San Bernardino ("Berdoo"). This implies that the "Frisco" Hells Angels were very much aware of their forebears. According to another account,^[4] the Hells Angels club was a successor to "The Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington" Motorcycle club, which was largely responsible, along with the Boozefighters for the Hollister riot of 1947. The Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington was a motorcycle club that in 1947 along with the Boozefighters and the Market Street Commandos, participated in The Boozefighters are one of the first American working-class Motorcycle clubs formed in California just after World War II. The Hollister riot occurred during the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle rally in Hollister California from July 4 to July 6, 1947. ^[5] The "Frisco" Hells Angels were reorganized in 1955 with thirteen charter members; Frank Sadliek, who designed the original death's head logo, served as President. The Oakland chapter, at that time headed by Barger, used a larger version of the patch nicknamed the "Barger Larger" which later became the club standard.

The Hells Angels are shrouded in a cloud of mystery and controversy, thanks to a very strict code of secrecy and what can be construed as a practice of deliberate mythologizing by some members of the club. A cloud is a visible mass of droplets or frozen crystals floating in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another Planetary body Members don't use last names, even with one another. They just use a first name, and, more often than not, a nickname. Due to its colorful history and the confirmed links of some of its members to organized crime, speculation and rumour about the club's activities is rife.

The Hells Angels are variously depicted in a similar mythical fashion as the James Gang, as modern day legends, free spirited and iconic of an era of brotherhood and loyalty, or by others, particularly law enforcement agencies, as a violent criminal gang which is a scourge on society. James Gang was a rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966 Though the band wasn't a huge commercial success the fame garnered by guitarist Joe Accordingly, public opinion, fuelled by the world media, varies widely on a scale all the way from envy, respect and hero worship, to fear, loathing, and hatred. ^[6]

Insignia

The Hells Angels official web site attributes the official "death's head" insignia design to Frank Sadilek, past president of the San Francisco Chapter. ^[3] The colors and shape of the early-style jacket emblem (prior to 1953) were copied from the insignias of the 85th Fighter Squadron and the 552nd Medium Bomber Squadron. This is a list of United States Air Force squadrons. It covers both the independent United States Air Force (USAF and its period as a branch of the US Army culminating This is a believed to be comprehensive list of military units to use the Martin B-26 Marauder during World War II. ^[3]

The Hells Angels utilize a system of patches, similar to military medals. Although the specific meaning of each patch is not publicly known the patches identify specific or significant actions or beliefs of each biker^[7]. The official colors of the Hells Angels are red lettering displayed on a white background -- hence the club's nickname "The Red and White". These patches are worn on leather or denim jackets and vests, called 'cuts', so called due to the removal or 'cutting' of the collars and cuffs.

Red and white are also used to display the number 81 on many patches, as in "Support 81, Route 81". The 8 and 1 stand for the respective positions in the alphabet of H and A. These are used by friends and supporters of the club, as only full members can wear any Hells Angels imagery.

The rhombus-shaped 'One-percenter' patch is also used, displaying '1%', in red on a white background with a red merrowed border (refer to image at right, top). In Geometry, a rhombus (from Ancient Greek ῥόμβος - rrhombos “rhombus spinning top” (plural rhombi or rhombuses A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training An overlock stitch sews over the edge of one or two pieces of cloth for edging hemming or seaming The term "one-percenter" is a response to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) comment on the Hollister incident, in which the AMA stated that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens and the last 1% were outlaws. The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 280000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns The Hollister riot occurred during the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle rally in Hollister California from July 4 to July 6, 1947.

Most members wear a rectangular patch (again, white background with red letters and a red merrowed border) identifying their respective chapter locations. In Geometry, a rectangle is defined as a Quadrilateral where all four of its angles are Right angles A rectangle with vertices ABCD would be denoted as Another similarly designed patch reads "Hells Angels" (refer to image at right, lower).

When applicable, members of the club wear a patch denoting their position or rank within the organization. The patch is rectangular, and, similarly to the patches described above, displays a white background with red letters and a red merrowed border. Some examples of the titles used are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. A secretary is either an administrative assistant in business office administration, or a certain type of mid- or high-level governmental position such as a In many Governments a treasurer is the person responsible for running the Treasury. A Serjeant at Arms (also spelled Sergeant at Arms, and sometimes Serjeant-at-Arms) is an officer appointed by a Deliberative This patch is usually worn above the 'club location' patch.

Some members also wear a patch with the initials "AFFA", which stands for "Angels Forever; Forever Angels", referring to their lifelong membership in the biker club (i. e. , "once a member, always a member").

The book Gangs, written by Tony Thompson (a crime correspondent for The Observer newspaper), states that Stephen Cunningham, a member of the Angels, sported a new patch after he recovered from attempting to set a bomb: two Nazi-style SS lightning bolts below the words 'Filthy Few'. The Observer is a British Newspaper published on Sundays In about the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Some law enforcement officials claim that the patch is only awarded to those who have committed, or are prepared to commit, murder on behalf of the club. According to a report from the R. v. Bonner and Lindsay case in 2005 (see related section below), another patch, similar to the 'Filthy Few' patch, is the 'Dequiallo' patch. This patch "signifies that the wearer has fought law enforcement on arrest". ^[8] There is no common convention as to where the patches are located on the members' jacket/vest.

Membership

According to the US Department of Justice, HAMC members must be men over 21 years of age and are required to own a Harley Davidson motorcycle. For animal rights group see Justice Department (JD The United States Department of Justice ( DOJ) is a Cabinet department Harley-Davidson Motor Company ( formerly HDI is an American manufacturer of Motorcycles based in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

The full requirements to become a Hells Angel are the following: candidates must be white, have a valid driver's license, have a working Harley Davidson motorcycle and cannot be a child molester or have applied to become a police officer or prison guard. A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a Child sexual abuse is a form of Child abuse in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent A police officer (also known as a policeman or policewoman) is a warranted employee of a Police force. A corrections officer, correctional officer, detention officer, jail guard, prison guard, prison warder, or prison officer ^[9]

After a lengthy, phased process, a prospective member is first deemed to be a 'Hang-around', indicating that the individual is invited to some club events or to meet club members at known gathering places.

If the Hang-around is interested, he may be asked to become an 'Associate', a status that usually lasts a year or two. At the end of that stage, he is reclassified as 'Prospect', participating in some club activities, but not having voting privileges, while he is evaluated for suitability as a full member. The last phase, and highest membership status, is 'Full Membership' or 'Full-Patch'. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training ^[10] The term Full-Patch refers to the complete four-piece crest, including the 'Death's Head' logo, two rockers (top rocker: 'Hells Angels'; bottom rocker: State or Territory claimed) and the rectangular MC patch below the wing of the Death's Head. Prospects are only allowed to wear a bottom rocker with the word 'Prospect'.

To become a full member, the Prospect must be voted on by the rest of the full club members. Prior to votes being cast, a Prospect usually travels to every chapter in the sponsoring chapter's geographic jurisdiction (state/province/territory) and introduces himself to every Full-Patch. Many countries are made up of a number of subnational entities called states (or related terms in languages other than English A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. Types of administrative and/or political territories include Many types of legally administered territories, each of which is a non-sovereign geographic area This process allows each voting member to become familiar with the subject and to ask any questions of concern prior to the vote. Successful admission usually requires more than a simple majority, and some clubs may reject a Prospect for a single dissenting vote. Some form of formal induction follows, wherein the Prospect affirms his loyalty to the club and its members. The final logo patch (top Hells Angels rocker) is then awarded at this initiation ceremony. The step of attaining full membership can be referred to as "being patched".

Official Charters

A Hells Angels wall mural in Southampton, UK, a well-known local landmark that can be seen by rail passengers on the London Waterloo to Weymouth south coast main line as they approach Southampton Central station. A mural is a Painting on a wall ceiling or other large permanent surface Note the profusion of CCTV cameras and the Death Head Logo.

The HAMC acknowledges more than a hundred charters spread over 29 countries. The first official charter outside of the U.S. was formed in New Zealand in 1961. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Europe did not become home to the Hells Angels until 1969, when two London charters were formed after the Beatles invited some members of the HAMC San Francisco to London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Two people from London visited California, "prospected", and ultimately joined. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Two charters were issued on July 30, 1969; one for "South London", the other for "East London" but by 1973 the two charters came together as one, simply called "London". Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The London Angels provided security at a number of UK Underground festivals including Phun City in 1970 organised by anarchist International Times writer and lead singer with the Deviants Mick Farren. This is about the 1960s cultural movement For the tube train system see London Underground. Phun City was a Rock festival held at Ecclesden Common near Worthing, England from July 24 to July 26 1970. The International Times ( it or IT) was an underground paper started in 1966 in central London, UK Michael 'Mick' Farren (born 3 September 1943, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) is an English journalist author and singer associated with the They even awarded Farren an "approval patch" in 1970 for use on his first solo album Mona, which also featured Steve Peregrin Took (who was credited as "Shagrat the Vagrant"). Steve Peregrine Took ( 28 July 1949 &ndash 27 October 1980) was an English musician ^[11]. The 1980s and 1990s saw a major expansion of the club into Canada. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page

A list of acknowledged charters can be found on the HAMC club's official web site^[12].

Activities

The Hells Angels motorcycle club is often viewed as the epitome of the biker counterculture of the 1960s. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training Counterculture (also " counter-culture " is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a Cultural group, or The club is centered around a culture of motorcycling enthusiasts and its web site states that a member's principal mode of transport has to be a motorcycle. The website adds that members travel on average 20,000 miles a year. ^[13] The club culture revolves around social events such as undertaking trips as a group, parties and rallies. Most chapters have information on upcoming and past events on their web sites.

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club also undertakes a number of charitable activities, such as collecting toys for needy children. ^[14][15] Hells Angels also have periodic World Runs, where members from all over the world gather in one location.

Although the club denies any organized criminal activity on a club level, public perception of the club as a lawless, violent organization is often supported by widespread media coverage of club members' criminal activity. Canadian authors William Marsden and Julian Sher further accentuated this view in their book: Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers' Global Crime Empire.

Criminal activities

United States

California

Altamont

Perhaps one of the most notorious events in Hells Angels' history involved the December 6, 1969, Altamont Free Concert at the Altamont Speedway — partially documented in the 1970 film Gimme Shelter^[16] — featuring Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Rolling Stones. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Altamont Speedway Free Festival was an infamous Rock concert held on December 6, 1969, at the then-disused Altamont Speedway in Gimme Shelter is a 1970 Documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, chronicling the Rolling Stones Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the Psychedelic rock movement The Flying Burrito Brothers was an early Country rock band best known for its influential debut album 1969's The Gilded Palace of Sin. The Grateful Dead were also scheduled to perform but canceled at the last minute owing to the ensuing circumstances at the venue. The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Angels had been hired by The Grateful Dead as crowd security for a fee which was said to include $500 worth of beer. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea The Angels parked their motorcycles in front of the stage in order to create a buffer between the stage and the tens of thousands of concert goers. A concert is a live Performance, usually of Music, before an Audience.

Crowd management proved to be difficult: many spectators were injured and four died. Over the course of the day, the Hells Angels became increasingly agitated and violent. They had been drinking alcohol and taking drugs; and they may have been concerned at having to control such an enormous crowd. In addition, at least one witness stated that the group of Angels at the concert were relatively young and inexperienced and that "their leaders weren't there". This was due to the fact that there was a meeting requiring all HAMC leaders to attend, leaving the security for the concert, who were all either prospects or new Angels, without any supervision, and a situation in which they felt that they could prove themselves.

The Angels used sawed-off pool cues in order to control the crowd. After one of the Angels' motor bikes was knocked over, the Angels became even more aggressive, even toward the performers onstage. Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane was knocked unconscious following an altercation with an Angel on stage as seen in the documentary film Gimme Shelter. Marty Balin (born Martyn Jerel Buchwald January 30 1942, in Cincinnati Ohio) is an American Musician. Gimme Shelter is a 1970 Documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, chronicling the Rolling Stones The Grateful Dead refused to play following the Balin incident, and left the venue.

A shoving match erupted near the stage during a rendition of the song "Under My Thumb" (not, as is commonly thought, "Sympathy for the Devil"). " Under My Thumb " is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. " Sympathy for the Devil " is a song by The Rolling Stones which first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet A concert patron by the name of Meredith Hunter produced a handgun. Meredith Hunter ( October 24, 1951 &ndash December 6, 1969) was a spectator at the infamous Altamont Free Concert. Hunter was stabbed to death. A Hells Angel member, Alan Passaro, was later acquitted of murder on grounds of self-defense. Alan David Passaro ( August 23, 1948 – March 29, 1985) was a Hells Angels member known for the 1969 stabbing of Meredith Hunter After the concert and critical media attention given to the HAMC, Sonny Barger went on a local California radio station to justify the actions of the Hells Angels and to present their side of the story. He claimed that violence only started once the crowd began vandalizing the Hells Angels' motorcycles. Barger would later claim that Meredith fired a shot which struck a Hells Angels member with what he described as "just a flesh wound. " ^[17]

Nevada

River Run Riot

The River Run Riot occurred on April 27, 2002, at the Harrah's Casino & Hotel in Laughlin, Nevada. Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Harrah's Laughlin is the second largest hotel and casino located in Laughlin Nevada, USA. Laughlin is a Census-designated place (CDP in Clark County, Nevada, United States. Members of the Hells Angels and the Mongols motorcycle clubs fought each other on the casino floor; as a result, Mongol Anthony Barrera, 43, was stabbed to death, and two Hells Angels, Jeramie Bell, 27, and Robert Tumelty, 50, were shot to death. The Mongols Motorcycle Club shortened to "Mongols MC" is a " one-percenter " motorcycle gang headquartered in southern California that was originally On February 23, 2007 Hells Angel members James Hannigan and Rodney Cox were sentenced to two years in prison. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Cox and Hannigan were captured on videotape confronting Mongols members inside the casino. A Hells Angel member can be clearly seen on the casino security videotape performing a front kick on a Mongol biker member, causing the ensuing melee.

Attorneys for the group claim they were defending themselves from an attack initiated by the Mongols.

Charges were dismissed against 36 other Hells Angels originally named in the indictment. ^[18]

New York

Roberta Shalaby assault

On January 28, 2007 a woman named Roberta Shalaby was found badly beaten on the sidewalk outside the Hells Angels' clubhouse in New York City. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The City of New York The resulting investigation by the NYPD has been criticized by the group for its intensity. The police were refused access to the Hells Angels club-house and responded by closing off the area, setting up sniper positions, and sending in armored personnel carriers. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. READ DISCUSSION PAGE BEFORE MAKING ANY EDITS TO CAPTION BELOW http//en Armoured personnel carriers (APCs are Armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport Infantry on the Battlefield They usually have only a Machine ^[19] After obtaining a warrant, the police searched the club-house and arrested one Hells Angel who was later released. The group claims to have no connection with the beating of Roberta Shalaby. Five security cameras cover the entrance to the New York chapter's East 3rd Street club house, but the NY HAMC maintains nobody knows how Shalaby was beaten nearly to death at their front door. The members were later exonerated and the club is now suing the city of New York for damages to their clubhouse. ^[20]

Alleged Mick Jagger murder plot

In March 2008 it was revealed in a BBC documentary interview of an FBI agent that Hells Angels members attempted to carry out a plan to murder Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones in 1969 in response to a dispute with him over concert security they had provided. Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger, Kt (born 26 July 1943 is a Golden Globe -winning and two-time Grammy -winning English rock The gang members planned to kill Jagger by reaching him by sea at his vacation home in Long Island, NY. Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The plan failed, however, when a storm hit their boat, throwing the men overboard. ^{[21] [22]}

Washington

Michael Walsh murder, racketeering

In 2001 Hell's Angels Rodney Lee Rollness and Joshua Binder murdered Michael "Santa" Walsh, who had allegedly falsely claimed to be a member of the Hell's Angels. ^[23] Paul Foster, hoping to join the Hell's Angels, aided in the murder by luring Walsh to a party at his house and helping cover up the crime. ^[24] West Coast leader Richard "Smilin' Rick" Fable, along with Rollness and Binder, were also convicted of various racketeering offenses. A racket is an illegal business usually run as part of Organized crime. ^[25]

Canada

The Vancouver Sun newspaper reports that Canada has more Hells Angels members per capita than any other country, including the U. The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912 S. , where there are chapters in about 20 states. ^[26] Mr. Réal Ménard (Hochelaga, BQ) testified in Parliament that the Hell's Angels had 38 chapters in Canada in 1995-1997. ^[27]

The Hells Angels established their first Canadian chapters in the province of Quebec during the seventies. The Outlaws and several affiliated independent clubs were able to keep the Angels from assuming a dominant position in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, until the nineties, while the Grim Reapers of Alberta, Los Bravos in Manitoba, and several other independent clubs across the prairies formed a loose alliance that kept the Hells Angels from assuming dominance in the prairie provinces until the late nineties. The Grim Reapers MC (motorcycle club was a One-percenter Motorcycle club based in Western Canada that was founded in 1958 active during the sixties and Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America By 1997, under the leadership of Walter "Nurget" Stadnick, the Hells Angels had become the dominant club not just in BC and Quebec, but all across Canada, with chapters in at least seven of ten provinces and two of the three territories. ^[28]

Lindsay & Bonner Trial

In 2002 Crown Prosecutor Graeme Williams sought to have the Hells Angels formally declared a "criminal organization" by applying the anti-gang legislation (Bill C-24)^[29] to a criminal prosecution involving the HELLS ANGELS and two of its members, Stephen (Tiger) Lindsay and Raymond (Razor) Bonner. The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the Common law Adversarial system, or the civil law Legislation (or " Statutory law " is law which has been promulgated (or " Enacted quot by a Legislature or other Governing

The prosecution team launched a three year investigation with the aim of collecting evidence for the trial.

At the conclusion of the trial in June 2005, Ontario Justice Michelle Fuerst ruled that Lindsay and Bonner had committed extortion in association with a criminal organization and had used the Hells Angels’ reputation as a weapon. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Extortion, outwresting, or exaction is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person Unlawfully obtains either money property or services ^[30]. ^[31]

Quebec

Maurice (aka Mom) Boucher was the alleged leader of the Quebec chapters and second-in-command of the Canadian Nomad chapter, a chapter with no fixed geographic base. Maurice "Mom" Boucher (born June 21, 1953) is a high-ranking Hells Angels member and a Canadian convicted criminal. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk He is currently in prison, having been convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. A prison, penitentiary, or correctional facility is a place in which individuals are physically confined or interned and usually deprived of a range of In May 2002 Maurice received an automatic life sentence, with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years. MAY ( also known as: Mei メイ 메이 is a Korean singer well known in South Korea for singing the song "Miracle" See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system ^[32]

British Columbia

Project E-Pandora

In late 2004 to 2005 the culmination of investigations into the actions of the Motorcycle club led to charges against 45 people including members of the Hells Angels and other associates of the gang, including 17 full-patch Hells Angels members, and a chapter president. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training ^[33] The investigation that brought the majority of the arrests, with a significant media impact, was Project E-Pandora,^[34] a 23 month covert investigation. The investigative task force for Project E-Pandora was launched in August 2003, and involved the RCMP, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) and the Vancouver Police Department. "E" Division is the British Columbia division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Vancouver Police Department ( VPD) is the Police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. ^[35] The project concluded with 12 search warrants, 17 arrests, and charges against 18 individuals. ^[34]

In total, investigators seized^[34]:

1 - more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine

2 - more than 20 kilograms of cocaine

3 - more than 70 kilograms of marijuana

4 - Restricted and Prohibited Weapons which include 5 Handguns, fully automatic weapons including silencers, 11 sticks of dynamite with detonation cord and blasting caps, 4 grenades and an assortment of ammunition

5 - more than $200,000 Canadian currency

6 - 250 kilograms of Methylamine (a precursor for the production of ecstasy)

7 - 2 methamphetamine laboratories

Due to the success of Project E-Pandora, based in large part on the tone and focus of news media stories, the province’s general public now make a direct connection between the motorbike club and organized crime. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant An automatic firearm is a Firearm that automatically extracts and ejects the fired cartridge case and loads a new case usually through the energy of the fired A suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer is a device either attached to or part of the barrel of a Firearm to reduce the amount of Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of Nitroglycerin, initially using Diatomaceous earth (kieselgur US Spelling kieselguhr Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin flexible A blasting cap is a small Explosive device generally used to detonate a larger more powerful Explosive such as Dynamite. Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which Methylamine is the Chemical compound with a formula of CH3NH2 MDMA ( 34-methylenedioxy- N -methylamphetamine) most commonly known today by the street name Ecstasy (often abbreviated E, X, ^[35]

BC Angel Acquitted

In the most recent ruling, March 27, 2008, a B. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common C. Supreme Court judge ruled against prosecutors who had attempted to convict a Hells Angels member of possession for the benefit of a criminal organization. ^[36] Although two associates of the Hells Angels, David Roger Revell, 43, and Richard Andrew Rempel, 24, were convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking, Justice MacKenzie concluded that with the acquittal of the only Hells Angel member being tried, David Francis Giles, on a charge of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, a second charge against him of possessing it for the benefit of a criminal organization had to fail as well.

In her acquittal of Giles, Justice MacKenzie said she found the evidence against him was "weak" and intercepted communications were "unreliable" because they were difficult to hear. She further stated that the Crown prosecutors had failed to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt the group was working to the "benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization, to wit: the East End charter of the Hells Angels". ^[37]

Manitoba

The Hells Angels' expansion into Manitoba began with a relationship with Los Bravos, a local motorcycle gang. In 2000 Los Bravos were "patched over," becoming a full-fledged Hells Angels chapter. ^[38]

The following investigations over the last two years have been executed with the following charges.

Project Defense

On February 15, 2006 the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force, along with over 150 police officers from the RCMP, Winnipeg Police Service and Brandon Police Service, made numerous arrests and conducted searches as part of the investigation of Project Defense^[39]. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Thirteen people were indicted on a variety of charges, including drug trafficking, extortion, proceeds of crime, and organized crime related offences. Only 3 were members of the Hells Angels.

Project Defense was initiated in November of 2004 and focused on high level members of drug trafficking cells in the province of Manitoba, including members of the Manitoba Hells Angels. During the investigation police made numerous seizures that totaled in excess of seven kilograms of cocaine and three kilograms of methamphetamine from drug traffickers within the Manitoba Hells Angels organization and other drug trafficking cells. Arrest warrants were issued for thirteen individuals and 12 search warrants were authorized for locations in Winnipeg and area.

This long-term covert investigation was initiated by the Manitoba Integrated Organized Crime Task Force, which was established in the spring of 2004 when an Agreement was signed between the Winnipeg Police Service, the RCMP, the Brandon Police Service and the Province of Manitoba. The mandate of the task force was to disrupt and dismantle organized crime in the province of Manitoba.

Project Drill

On December 12, 2007 Project Drill^[40] came to an end, with Winnipeg Police raiding the Hells Angels clubhouse on Scotia Street. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Project Drill started the previous evening with arrests in Thompson and continued throughout the night and early morning in Winnipeg and St. Pierre-Jolys. During the course of Project Drill, police seized vehicles, approximately $70,000 cash, firearms, marijuana, Hells Angel related documents/property and other offence related property. As of December 12, 14 people were in custody and four were still being sought

Police said it was the second time the chapter president was the target in a police sting since the gang set up shop in the city in 2001. Hells Angels prospect member Al LeBras was also arrested at his Barber Street home in Wednesday’s raids.

The recently amended Criminal Property Forfeiture Act gives the province the power to seize the proceeds of crime. Police have exercised similar authority against Hells Angels members in other Canadian cities.

Joint Investigations

Other joint investigations include:

• Project Develop^[41], a joint 18-month investigation with Ontario, New Brunswick, and British Columbia
• In January 2006, Project Husky^[42], a two-year investigation involving police forces in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, resulted in the arrest of twenty-seven suspects,^[43] including five full-patch Angels from across Eastern and Central Canada
• Project Koker,^[44] 23-month investigation in Edmonton and Calgary
• Project Halo,^[45] a three-year investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Team of the RCMP, into alleged criminal activity with the Nanaimo chapter. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training Edmonton (ˈɛdmɨntɨn is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. Calgary (ˈkælgəriː is the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada The investigation culminated in the search warrant being executed on December 12, 2003. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. On November 9, 2007 a seizure order was executed, under Section 467. Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 12(1) of the Criminal Code, on the clubhouse by dozens of heavily armed RCMP officers^[46]. The Criminal Code of Canada (long title An Act respecting the criminal law, R

The Netherlands

In 2006 two Dutch newspapers reported that the Amsterdam luxury brothel Yab Yum had long been controlled by the Dutch Hells Angels, who had taken over after a campaign of threats and blackmailing. Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west Yab Yum was one of the best-known and most exclusive Brothels in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ^[47] The city council of Amsterdam revoked the license of Yab Yum in December 2007. During a subsequent trial the city's attorney repeated these allegations and the brothel's attorney denied them. ^[48] The brothel was closed in January 2008. ^[49]

Pop culture

Wild Hogs

In March 2007 the Hells Angels sued Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group for allegedly engaging in trademark infringement. Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Inc (formerly known as Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group) is a corporation which develops scripts and oversees theatrical film production Trademark infringement is a violation of the Exclusive rights attaching to a Trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees (provided that The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of California, alleged that the Touchstone Pictures film entitled Wild Hogs used both the name and distinctive logo of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation without permission. In law a lawsuit is a civil action brought before a Court in which the party commencing the action the Plaintiff, seeks a legal or equitable remedy The US District Court for the Central District of California (commonly referred to as the CDCA CACD or C Touchstone Pictures is one of several alternate Film labels of The Walt Disney Company, established in 1984 Wild Hogs is a 2007 Comedy Film starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H A logo ( Greek el λογότυπος = el-Latn logotypos is a graphical element ( Ideogram, Symbol, Emblem, Icon, Sign) ^[50] The movie, released in 2007 and starring John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy, is described on the Internet Movie Database as "A group of suburban biker wannabes looking for adventure hit the open road, but get more than they bargained for when they encounter a New Mexico gang called the Del Fuegos. Tim Allen (born Timothy Allen Dick; June 13, 1953) is an American Comedian, Actor, Voice-over artist and Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence (born April 16, 1965) is an American Actor, Comedian, director and producer. William Hall Macy Jr (born March 13, 1950) is an Academy Award -nominated double Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. A motorcycle club (MC is an organized club of dedicated Motorcyclists who join together for Camaraderie, strength of numbers companionship education rider training New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. "

Celebrity members

While membership in the Hells Angels is kept confidential, some celebrities have publicly acknowledged their affiliation with the club. Actor Chuck Zito, best known for his role on the HBO series Oz, is a former member. Chuck Zito (born Charles Zito Jr on March 1, 1953) is an Actor, amateur boxer, Martial artist celebrity Bodyguard Oz is an American Television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes ^[51]

Pop culture references

• In The Simpsons episode Take My Wife, Sleaze; guest starring John Goodman and Henry Winkler, a spoof of the name Hells Angels was made (Hell's Satans). " Take My Wife Sleaze " is the eighth episode of the eleventh season of The Simpsons. John Stephen Goodman (born June 20 1952 is a Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning American Actor. Henry Franklin Winkler (born October 30, 1945) is an American Golden Globe Award winning Actor, director, producer
• In the film The Warriors and more so in the game of the same name the Warriors encounter a biker gang known as the Satan's Mothers, using the same 'evil and good' moniker the Hells Angels used. The Warriors is a 1979 cult classic action / thriller film directed by Walter Hill and based on the 1965 novel The Warriors is a Beat 'em up Video game published by Rockstar Games.
• In Good Omens, by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, who ride motorbikes, have Hell's Angels printed on the back of their leather jackets. Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter Witch (1990 is a Fantasy Novel written in collaboration between Terry Pratchett Terence David John Pratchett, OBE (born 28 April 1948 is an English fantasy, Science fiction, and children's author. Neil Richard Gaiman (ˈgeɪmən (born November 10, 1960) is an English author of Science fiction and Fantasy short stories and
• In Episode 8 of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a sketch called Hell's Grannies depict a group of elderly women who beat up young people. Monty Python’s Flying Circus (also known as Flying Circus or during the final series just Monty Python) is a BBC Sketch comedy Monty Python’s Flying Circus (also known as Flying Circus or during the final series just Monty Python) is a BBC Sketch comedy In one scene, they are shown driving away on motorcycles with "Hell's Grannies" crests on their leather jackets.
• In the film Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Pee-wee Herman enters a bar run by a motorcycle gang called "Satan's Helpers". Pee-wee's Big Adventure is a 1985 adventure Comedy film directed by Tim Burton in his full-length film debut He upsets them when he yells at them to be quiet as he is trying to use the pay telephone in the bar. Basic principle A traditional landline telephone system also known as "plain old telephone service" (POTS, commonly handles both signaling and audio information After being kicked out of the bar Pee-wee accidentally knocks over a row of motorcycles. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. The gang threatens to harm and eventually kill him. Pee-wee wins them over by dancing in platform shoes to the song "Tequila" as a last request. " Tequila " is a 1958 surf Instrumental by the band The Champs.
• In the Grand Theft Auto Series, there is a reappearing motorcycle gang, mainly in Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories, depicted in similar fashion as HAMC members. Grand Theft Auto Vice City is a sandbox-style action-adventure computer and Video game designed by Rockstar North (formerly Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories is a sandbox-style action-adventure Video game developed by Rockstar Leeds in association with Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories is a sandbox-style action-adventure Video game developed by Rockstar North and Rockstar The members of The Biker Gang, as they are called, ride painted cross-country motorcycles called Angels.

See also

• Bandidos
• Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
• Hells Angels on Wheels
• List of California gangs
• Mongols
• Outlaws
• Pagans MC
• Rock Machine
• Sonny Barger

References

Books and Newspaper Articles

Perhaps the most notorious and colorful account of the Hells Angels was written by Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. This article is primarily about Reuters prior to its 2008 merger with Thomson "Gonzo" redirects here For other uses see Gonzo (disambiguation Gonzo journalism is a style of Journalism which is written Hunter Stockton Thompson ( July 18, 1937 &ndash February 20, 2005) was an American Journalist and Author, most Published in 1966, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, was expanded from an original 1965 article for The Nation after he spent a year in close quarters with group. Hell's Angels The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs is a book written by Hunter S This article is about the US Publication. For other newspapers magazines and alternate uses by the same name see The Nation (disambiguation.

• Thompson, Hunter S. Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. New York: Random House, 1966; Ballantine Books, 1996 (ISBN 0-345-41008-4)
• Barger, Sonny; Zimmerman, Keith; and Zimmerman, Kent Hell's Angels: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. HarperCollins (ISBN 0060937548)
• Langton, Jerry Fallen Angel: The Unlikely Rise of Walter Stadnick in the Canadian Hells Angels. John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd. (ISBN 0-470-83710-1)
• The Assimilation: Bikers United Against The Hells Angels by Edward Winterhalder and Wil De Clercq - ECW Press 2008 (ISBN 1-5502-2824-2)
• Winterhalder, Edward, Out In Bad Standings: Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club - The Making of a Worldwide Dynasty,Blockhead City Press, 2005/Seven Locks Press, 2007 (ISBN 0-9771-7470-0)
• Sher, Julian and Marsden, William The Road to Hell : How the Biker Gangs are Conquering Canada, Random House, 2004 (ISBN 0676975992)
• Sher, Julian and Marsden, William Angels of Death; Inside the Bikers' Global Crime Empire, Knopf Canada, 2006 (ISBN 0676977308)
• Cherry, Paul The Biker Trials: Bringing Down the Hells Angels, ECW Press, 2005 (ISBN 155022638X)
• Lavigne, Yves Hell's Angels: Taking Care of Business, Ballantine Books, 1994 (ISBN 9994961950)
• Lavigne, Yves Hell's Angels: Into the Abyss, HarperTorch, 1997 (ISBN 0061011045)
• Lavigne, Yves Hell's Angels at War, Harper-Collins, 2000 (ISBN 0006385648)
• Police claim a victory over bikers in Thunder Bay CBC News, Thursday, 19 January 2006
• http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/04/11/biker-war-sher.html?ref=rss
• Storm thwarted Mick Jagger murder attempt Telegraph, UK, Sunday, 2 March 2008

External links

Official sites

• Official Hells Angels website — listing many chartered local chapters, with links
• Hells Angels MC London History
• Brazilian Hells Angels — Hells Angels chapters in Brazil
• Hells Angels NYC — main chapter
• Hells Angels — Manchester, England
• Hells Angels Oakland, referring to HAMC as Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation.

Other sites

• "Hells Angels: The federal infiltration", The Arizona Republic, 23 January 2005
• America's Most Wanted profile on Paul Merle Eischied, a member of the Hells Angels who is wanted for the murder of a woman in Mesa, Arizona
• Hells Angels slam NYPD over clubhouse raid
• FBI report on Hell's Angels from the 1960s and 1970s. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Missoulian — An article on how the Hells Angels were established.
• The Angel organised ‘’Bulldog Bash’’ – The Best Bike Show in the UK