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Hells Angels as a crime syndicate

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leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Nov 30, 1998, 3:00:00 AM11/30/98
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I'm wondering whether and to what extent Hells Angels have evolved into
organised crime networks over the course of the 90s.

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

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own

PimpRadio

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Dec 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/1/98
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>Perhaps some "retired" Hells are actually
>signifigant organised crime figures who keep a low profile and a respectable
>fro

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.

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/1/98
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In article <19981130225244...@ng140.aol.com>,

Hmm...dosen't sound like they're too swift. Dosen't that compound attract the
interest of police and the District Attorney?

Scrollkey1

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Dec 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/1/98
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There have been significant prosecutions of Hell's Angels and other outlaw
biker gangs in the past and I assume there are investigations open wherever
they have headquarters (bikers have HQs rather like mob social clubs. The FBI
raided the Hell's Angels NYC clubhouse some years ago.)
The FBI recognizes outlaw biker gangs as a significant organized crime threat,
ranking third in many large cities, behind Cosa Nostra and Asian organized
crime groups such as the triads, Yakuza and others.
Bikers gangs traditionally deal in drugs, prostitution, strip clubs,
extortion, auto and motorcycle theft and chop shops. They are also pretty big
into credit card fraud. Of course, they use violence and murder to maintain
control.
Among the most active U.S. biker gangs, are:
Hell's Angels
Bandidos
Pagans
Bandidos
Breed
Warlocks
Outlaws
Wheels of Soul
(of course, there are dozens more regional gangs that may operate only in one
city or state.)

In Canada, the big three are:
Paradice Riders
Satan's Choice
Vagabonds

Cheers,
Russ McDermott

PimpRadio

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Dec 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/1/98
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>Hmm...dosen't sound like they're too swift. Dosen't that compound attract
>the
>interest of police and the District Attorney?

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.

PyshJohnso

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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Rick Porrello's book on the Cleveland LCN contains a story about a Hell's
Angel, Enis Crnic. During the war between Danny Greene and the Cleveland LCN,
both sides were using bombs to get their targets. Greene had Crnic (or so the
story goes) plant a bomb on the car of a LCN associate. When the bomb
accidently (or purposefully as some say) went of in Crnic's face, the mob got
wind of the Angel's involvement. Porrello says it spelled major trouble for
the Angels...meaning that the LCN was using them as muscle/for contracts, and
were a little surprised to learn that the Angels played both sides of the
fence. At a sitdown, leaders of the HAs told mob leaders that Crnic was a
rogue former member, and that they should not be held accountable for his
actions. The bosses bought the story, but it would be two (or so) years before
the Hell's Angels would be called on by the LCN for 'work.' I do not know what
this has to do with the original post, but just thought I'd toss this into the
discussion.

pj

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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In article <19981201164832...@ng139.aol.com>,

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?

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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In article <19981201195102...@ng34.aol.com>,

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...

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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Well, cooking and dealing crank is a racket that's suited to a syndicate form
of organisation that has muscle to deal with rivals and clout routes to local
law enforcement and politics. I suppose that such a gang could also claim a
city's red light district as it's turf and charge protection to vice
operators.

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 ==----------

PyshJohnso

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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>Interesting! Hells as Hessians? How long ago was that?

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

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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In article <19981202113210...@ng27.aol.com>,

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

Scrollkey1

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Dec 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/2/98
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>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?
>
>~Leif Ericssen

In the NYC bust, the Hell's Angels were charged with RICO.
Cheers,
Russ

Jimbo- Wales

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Dec 3, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/3/98
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Leif wrote:
>Activities like credit card fraud and auto theft and prostitution are
>freelance stuff which draws down heat that can't likely be bought off.

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

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 3, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/3/98
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In article <746isf$ffl$1...@Mars.mcs.net>,

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

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Dec 4, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/4/98
to
On a number of occasions, the Hell Angels has collaborated with the LCN
on an ad hoc or continuing basis. In some cases, it has been to carry
out particular hits with some measure of distance, somewhat analogous to
the situation with the Westies, and sometimes to provide the facade of
insulation, such as involving drug dealing in Philadelphia. Biker groups
also do a large business in stolen bikes and bike parts. Other facts
worthy of note are that the bikers have ceded considerable turf in the
speed business to the Mexican Mafia, and that international affiliates
have recently waged war in otherwise peaceful locales such as the
Scandinavian countries. Interesting books are those by Yves Lavigne and
Chain Of Evidence, regarding the undercover female operative who
infiltrated the Angels in California.

-
MICHAEL DEVLIN KGZ...@prodigy.com

Sandmob

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Dec 10, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/10/98
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Could you please give me a title to this book?

Thanks,
Steve Lacy

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 11, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/11/98
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In article <19981210160017...@ng153.aol.com>,

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.

PimpRadio

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Dec 12, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/12/98
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Hunter S. Thompson Wrote Hells Angels. It is still in print and tells the
whole truth about them.

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 13, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/13/98
to
In article <19981212185312...@ng105.aol.com>,

pimp...@aol.com (PimpRadio) wrote:
> Hunter S. Thompson Wrote Hells Angels. It is still in print and tells the
> whole truth about them.

Didn't he write that in the late 1960s?

Il furore

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Dec 14, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/14/98
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That book was written in 1966 I believe. It is very accurate for it's time,
sympathetic since H.S. Thompson didn't want to be killed, and is a far cry from
how MCs handle their business today....but a fun read.

Il furore

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Dec 14, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/14/98
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Crank is only a streetname....a bike's crankcase is a lousy place to keep
anything that will breakdown under heat stress. But hell...sounds good doesn't
it?

leif_e...@my-dejanews.com

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Dec 14, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/14/98
to
In article <19981213232255...@ng-fa1.aol.com>,

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.

PimpRadio

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Dec 14, 1998, 3:00:00 AM12/14/98
to
> 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!

nurse...@gmail.com

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Sep 8, 2016, 6:46:59 PM9/8/16
to
On Wednesday, December 2, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, PyshJohnso wrote:
> Rick Porrello's book on the Cleveland LCN contains a story about a Hell's
> Angel, Enis Crnic. During the war between Danny Greene and the Cleveland LCN,
> both sides were using bombs to get their targets. Greene had Crnic (or so the
> story goes) plant a bomb on the car of a LCN associate. When the bomb
> accidently (or purposefully as some say) went of in Crnic's face, the mob got
> wind of the Angel's involvement. Porrello says it spelled major trouble for
> the Angels...meaning that the LCN was using them as muscle/for contracts, and
> were a little surprised to learn that the Angels played both sides of the
> fence. At a sitdown, leaders of the HAs told mob leaders that Crnic was a
> rogue former member, and that they should not be held accountable for his
> actions. The bosses bought the story, but it would be two (or so) years before
> the Hell's Angels would be called on by the LCN for 'work.' I do not know what
> this has to do with the original post, but just thought I'd toss this into the
> discussion.
>
> pj

nurse...@gmail.com

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Sep 8, 2016, 6:53:22 PM9/8/16
to
PJ...
> I'm wondering if you're even going to get this since it was so long ago. I'm Enis's little sister. Well not so little anymore. I'm 57. I'm trying to find out more about this and what you have written here sounds more like what could have happened. Unfortunatley I didn't attend his burial as I was a run away at the time, but I do know it was close casket and the Angels were asked not to come until the family left. My family said there was a huge procession for him. My brother was an angel...my guardian angel and protector. The neighbor kids make fun of us because of our names and we were immigrant children. One even pulled a knife on little ol' me. When I told Enis he grabbed me by the hand and told me to take him to this boy. Enis picked him up by the neck against a brick wall and said, So you like pulling knives on little girls?" Let's just say...we never had a problem with those kids again! My hero, my angel, I don't give a fuck what other's have to say. He most most likely did get set up...by that fuck Danny Greene. I'm so happy his life (Danny's) ended the way it did. Eye for an eye...Mother Fucker!

Esma Vance

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Sep 8, 2016, 6:56:02 PM9/8/16
to
On Wednesday, December 2, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, PyshJohnso wrote:
> Rick Porrello's book on the Cleveland LCN contains a story about a Hell's
> Angel, Enis Crnic. During the war between Danny Greene and the Cleveland LCN,
> both sides were using bombs to get their targets. Greene had Crnic (or so the
> story goes) plant a bomb on the car of a LCN associate. When the bomb
> accidently (or purposefully as some say) went of in Crnic's face, the mob got
> wind of the Angel's involvement. Porrello says it spelled major trouble for
> the Angels...meaning that the LCN was using them as muscle/for contracts, and
> were a little surprised to learn that the Angels played both sides of the
> fence. At a sitdown, leaders of the HAs told mob leaders that Crnic was a
> rogue former member, and that they should not be held accountable for his
> actions. The bosses bought the story, but it would be two (or so) years before
> the Hell's Angels would be called on by the LCN for 'work.' I do not know what
> this has to do with the original post, but just thought I'd toss this into the
> discussion.
>
> pj

> I'm wondering if you're even going to get this since it was so long ago. I'm Enis's little sister. Well not so little anymore. I'm 57. I'm trying to find out more about this and what you have written here sounds more like what could have happened. Unfortunatley I didn't attend his burial as I was a run away at the time, but I do know it was close casket and the Angels were asked not to come until the family left. My family said there was a huge procession for him. My brother was an angel...my guardian angel and protector. The neighbor kids make fun of us because of our names and we were immigrant children. One even pulled a knife on little ol' me. When I told Enis he grabbed me by the hand and told me to take him to this boy. Enis picked him up by the neck against a brick wall and said, So you like pulling knives on little girls?" Let's just say...we never had a problem with those kids again! My hero, my angel, I don't give a fuck what other's have to say. He most most likely set up...by that fuck Danny Greene. I'm so happy his life (Danny's) ended the way it did. Eye for an eye...Mother Fucker!
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