Bikers charged in Raleigh murder sought membership, status in Hell’s Angels gang
A gang of 16 Hell’s Angels and Red Devils bikers operating out of Fayetteville faced a sprawling federal indictment Wednesday on charges of murder, racketeering and assault — crimes committed largely to gain status or membership.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr. described Wednesday an ongoing feud between the Hell’s Angels in eastern North Carolina, including Raleigh, and the rising number of rival Pagans, in which both the Angels and their Red Devils support group had a “standing green light” to assault and kill.
Five of the indicted men — bearing nicknames such as “Hootie,” “Rowdy” and “007” — had already been jailed on state murder charges since early 2023, accused in the killing of motorcyclist Jonas Barrett Padilla, a Pagans member thrown from his bike in North Raleigh.
The five now face federal charges of murder in the aid of racketeering in Padilla’s death — an approach Easley said will allow law enforcement to pursue gang members based on patterns of criminal behavior. Most of the charges brought through “Operation Broken Halo” are brought under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity, or VICAR statute, which makes it illegal to commit crimes for the sake of rising in rank.
“We’ll keep pursing cases like this one, charging violence crimes in aid of racketeering, to expose patterns of violence and hold gang members and those who enable them responsible,” Easley said.
Another eight of the group stand charged with both attempted murder and assault in the aid of racketeering, for their role in an assault on a Pagan in a Dairy Queen parking lot in Wade in July 2023. Neither Easley nor other local and federal authorities would elaborate on the charges, citing the investigation’s early stage.
Hell’s Angels gang members in North Carolina
Easley would not offer a number of gang members operating within eastern North Carolina, but called it significant.
“If you think your affiliation with a criminal organization shields you from responsibility, you are wrong,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.
In his 19-page indictment, Easley accused the gang and its associates of using murder, robbery and racketeering to expand power and territory.
He described a gang hierarchy that called for regular meetings known as “church,” held inside a building with surveillance cameras and ample weapons.
Members rose through the ranks first as “hangarounds,” then as “prospects” sponsored by the gang members until they earned a “full patch” as Hell’s Angels, the indictment said. A secondary and subservient gang, the Red Devils, acted as both recruiters and potential Hell’s Angels.
Members who broke the gang’s rules were subject to “violations,” including murder.
Neighbors report gunshots, bikes speeding away
In January of 2023, Raleigh police responded to a wreck Sunday on Bayberry Lane involving a man fallen from his motorcycle. But multiple neighbors reported hearing gunshots and saw bikes speeding away up to 80 mph.
Three days later, police announced they were investigating the case as a homicide and charged the following men:
Vidaul Rashaad Reed of Fayetteville, aka “Hootie”; Martinus Jermaine Starks of Fayetteville, aka “Tee”’; Anthony Edward Cheever of Garner, aka “Rowdy; David William Stephens of Spring Lake, aka “007”; and Tyler Scott Grissom of Fayetteville, aka “Snow.”
All five were named in Easley’s indictment, accused in the murder of “J.P.” for the sake of Hell’s Angels membership. If convicted, they could face a mandatory life sentence.
Two more defendants, Christopher Dylan Manor and Robert Scott Brown, were indicted for helping the five escape capture and trial.
An eighth defendant, Jason Lee Hathaway, faced indictment for assaulting and attempting to murder an unnamed victim called only “J.W.” Seven more were indicted for assaulting and attempting to murder three victims: “J.W.,” “J.A.” and “J.C.”. They are: Fred Joseph Prosperi, aka “Freddy” and “Snow Boy”; “William Scott Gardner, aka “Big Will”’ Terry Lewis Akins Jr., J.R. Nevarezdarr, Darrell Dewayne Strickland Jr., William Franklin Beasley and David Lee Woodall.
All of the above eight were members of the Hell’s Angels and could face 30 years in prison.
The last defendant, Jonathan Michael Robarge, faced indictment for harassing a witness.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 12:21 PM.