An indictment was unsealed in the Eastern District of North Carolina charging 16 members of two outlaw motorcycle gangs — the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) and the Red Devils Motorcycle Club (RDMC) — for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaging in violent criminal activity in and around Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The RDMC is the main support club nationwide for the HAMC.
Five of the defendants are charged with murder in aid of racketeering for allegedly killing a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club (PMC), a rival gang, on January 1, 2023, in Raleigh.
Two additional defendants are charged with accessory after the fact for their alleged actions following that murder.
Eight defendants are charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering for their alleged roles in a July 22, 2023, violent assault of PMC members in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade, North Carolina.
One defendant is charged with obstruction for allegedly attempting to dissuade a witness from assisting the criminal investigation of this case.
“According to the indictment, these defendants were leaders, organisers, and members of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club and committed multiple crimes to advance their positions in this violent gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
The gang’s alleged violent acts included the murder of a rival gang member on a public street and the assault and attempted murder of other rival gang members in a restaurant parking lot, added Argentieri.
Most of the charges are being brought under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR) statute, which makes it illegal to commit certain violent crimes to join, maintain one’s position with, or move up in rank within the enterprise.
The violent crimes included in this statute include murder, kidnapping, maiming, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and threatening to commit a crime of violence.
The indictment alleges that all 16 defendants are members or associates of the HAMC. This violent outlaw motorcycle group allegedly uses violence, threats, and intimidation to carry out its perceived mission and enforce its rules. According to the indictment, RDMC members are subservient to the HAMC and provide support by acting as a source of recruitment for the HAMC and carrying out violent acts to further the HAMC’s interests.
The indictment alleges that HAMC members are under a standing order to attack, injure, and kill members of the PMC. The indictment also alleges that HAMC members commonly commit physical assaults, including murder, threats to injure, and intimidation to keep witnesses to their criminal conduct silent.
Vidaul Rashaad Reed, 31, also known as Hootie, Anthony Edward Cheever, 34, also known as Rowdy, David William Stephens, 26, also known as 007; Martinus Jermaine Starks, 43, also known as Tee; and Tyler Scott Grissom, 31, also known as Snow, are all alleged members of the RDMC and are each charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharge of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and, in doing so, causing death related to the alleged murder of a member of the PMC on Jan. 1, 2023. Murder in aid of racketeering carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted.
Christopher Dylan Manor, 28, and Robert Scott Brown, 62, are both charged with accessory after the fact to the Jan. 1, 2023, murder. As alleged, Manor was a member of the RDMC at the time of the alleged offence, and Brown is a member of the HAMC. Each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted.
Jason Lee Hathaway, 47, Fred Joseph Prosperi, 42, also known as Freddy and Snow Boy, William Scott Gardner, 33, also known as Big Will, Terry Lewis Akins Jr., 51, J.R. Nevarez Darr, 31, Darrell Dewayne Strickland Jr., 26, William Franklin Beasley, 64, and David Lee Woodall, 45, are charged with attempted murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering related to the alleged attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon of members of the PMC on July 22, 2023, in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Wade, North Carolina. They were all allegedly members of the HAMC at the time of the offence. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Jonathan Michael Robarge, 40, is charged with tampering with a witness, victim or informant by harassment. Robarge allegedly has ties to both the HAMC and the RDMC. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
