I'd think it's plausable that some Hells Angels as they aged and became
wealthy in the course of crank dealing and other rackets, became more
sophisticated and professional. Perhaps some "retired" Hells are actually
signifigant organised crime figures who keep a low profile and a respectable
front.
Any ideas?
~Leif Ericssen
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Mainly, biker clubs deal with drugs and prostitutuion. I have heard that
Crystal Meth is their main form of income. Why do you think they call Crystal
Meth crank? Bikers hide large amounts of it in their crank cases while
traveling from point A to point B. As for the Hell's Angels, I would not mess
with them. Outside of my town, Charleston Sc, there is a HUGE compound out in
the sticks that has razor wire and guard dogs. Outside there is a sign that
reads HELL'S ANGELS. These people are involved in something that they want to
keep away from outsiders.
Hmm...dosen't sound like they're too swift. Dosen't that compound attract the
interest of police and the District Attorney?
In Canada, the big three are:
Paradice Riders
Satan's Choice
Vagabonds
Cheers,
Russ McDermott
Thats what I thought! But if you think about it, Shriners have similer setups.
So do many companies and churches. I guess law enforcement is less likely to
break up wild parties or whatever if they occur on club owned land. I forgot
to mention that this compound is also surrounded by a trailer park inhabited
mainly by club members.
pj
I just thought of something else; dosen't that put the Hell's chapters @ risk
of being targed as a continuing criminal enterprises and busted under RICO
statues?
Interesting! Hells as Hessians? How long ago was that? Maybe that playing both
sides was also an aid to later diminishing local mafia control?
~Leif Ericssen
PS: BTW, it took me a few to suss out "LCN" = Italian mafia group...
Activities like credit card fraud and auto theft and prostitution are
freelance stuff which draws down heat that can't likely be bought off. I'd
think that those activities are taken up by club members on an individual
basis at their own risk. I'd also think that loansharking would be _very_
worthwhile for members.
~Leif Ericssen
In article <19981201141555...@ng16.aol.com>,
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
The bomb intended for John Delzoppo blew up in Crnic's face in April of 1977.
> Maybe that playing both
>sides was also an aid to later diminishing local mafia control?
Maybe, but I doubt it. There are no other instances that I know of in which
the Hells Angels interfered with the Cleveland LCN. With all the problems they
had with informants and 'shoddy' work (like killing Greene), it seems as if
losing local control was their own doing. However, speculation is always good,
right?
pj
21 years ago? I doubt the Hells around then would be very active today...maybe
my imagination is working overtime on the "some biker trash evolved into
Godfathers" notion?
~Leif Ericssen
In the NYC bust, the Hell's Angels were charged with RICO.
Cheers,
Russ
At one level, yes. You don't find "smart" operators engaging in
the petty stuff directly, not so much anyway. But there is more
to it than meets the eye.
Prostitution is a target for organized crime via traditional protection.
Mob figures who have some influence with corrupt elements in the local
police force can give a realistic measure of protection to call girl
operations, etc. Since prostitution is a victimless crime, cops may be
willing to look the other way. There isn't that much pressure to do
something about it. (Street prostitution is another story.)
Auto theft can be done in a professional way, but most important is
the disposal end of things. Any numbnuts can hoist a car, but other
than joyriding, what the hell are you going to *do* with it? An
organization can provide a mechanism for disposal (chop shops, etc.)
and then claim the lion's share of the profits.
This leaves credit card fraud. I actually don't know how this racket
would work at a professional level. Surely raiding mailboxes for
cards and then busting them out a local stores is a small-time hood's
gambit. But I have a feeling that some of our more-informed colleagues
can explain how organized crime gets into this.
--Jimbo
A very astute observation, particularly about the chop shops! After all,
aggregate parts cost several times more than the car would, and it's not
unreasonable that some entrepreneurial service stations can offer a great deal
on parts in a repair job, having bought them from a less-than-wholesale
source. I can see big players being involved in this on the supply-side.
I also thought of loansharking as a means of being involved in peripheral
rackets/scams... After all, they probably have financing needs just like any
other businessmen.
-
MICHAEL DEVLIN KGZ...@prodigy.com
Thanks,
Steve Lacy
I think there's been a misunderstanding. That was the header of a thread I
started speculating whether some of the Hells could have evolved into a mafia
style organisation.
Didn't he write that in the late 1960s?
I've been meaning to read some of Hunter Thompson's books when I have a
chance to look in a local 2nd hand bookstore. I understand he's written about
smugglers Carribean as well.
Yeah, since he has been jacked up on coke for decades, Thompson loves to write
about smuggling. I recommend picking up either THE GREAT SHARK HUNT or SONGS
OF THE DOOMED. These are both collections of various Thompson writings. Both
are excellent reading!