The Rising Threat of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs: Criminal Networks Expanding Across America
How Hells Angels, Pagans, and Other Violent Motorcycle Gangs Are Infiltrating Communities and Fueling Organized Crime
Daniel Brunner | Chief Operating Officer | Brunner Sierra Group
Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) have evolved from countercultural clubs to highly organized criminal enterprises with international influence. Among the most notorious OMGs is the Hells Angels, whose reputation extends beyond its motorcycle enthusiasts to include organized crime and illicit activities. The Hells Angels have extensive chapters worldwide, operating not only in the United States but also across Europe, Australia, and parts of Latin America. Within the network of these gangs, the Hells Angels often establish affiliations with smaller clubs, aligning them as “support clubs” to carry out lower-profile or riskier tasks. These affiliated clubs, such as the Henchmen in Belgrade, Montana, help expand the Hells Angels’ reach and influence in smaller communities, where law enforcement might not expect or have the resources to monitor organized crime.
Criminal Activity of the Hells Angels and the Henchmen
In Montana, the Henchmen MC operates as an aligned club with the Hells Angels, providing local support for their operations. Like other Hells Angels affiliates, the Henchmen are believed to engage in activities that contribute to the larger club’s revenue, such as drug trafficking, extortion, and arms dealing. This relationship allows the Hells Angels to maintain influence in more rural or less policed regions like Belgrade. Their presence poses a significant challenge to local law enforcement, who may lack the resources to address an organized crime network with international ties. This alignment suggests that while the Hells Angels focus on maintaining their core operations, support clubs like the Henchmen carry out day-to-day activities that sustain their criminal enterprise.
The Role of Support Clubs in Expanding Influence
Support clubs play a crucial role in allowing major OMGs like the Hells Angels to expand their territory without attracting attention to their core members. Clubs like the Henchmen act as enforcers, distributors, or intermediaries in drug and weapons trafficking. By using support clubs, larger OMGs can distance themselves from lower-level criminal activities that could lead to arrests or public scrutiny. These clubs also help recruit new members and establish local influence, often resorting to intimidation and violence to deter competition from other gangs. This model of alliances has proven effective, allowing the Hells Angels and similar groups to control regional territories and dominate criminal markets discreetly.
Pagans, Outlaws, and Their Criminal Enterprises
Other OMGs, like the Pagans and the Outlaws, have also expanded their criminal activities and rival the Hells Angels in parts of the U.S. The Pagans, primarily based along the East Coast, have a strong foothold in narcotics distribution, weapons trafficking, and violent crime. Their growing conflict with the Hells Angels has intensified, especially in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where territory disputes often lead to confrontations. The Outlaws, another prominent gang, operates mainly in the Midwest and Southeast, engaging in similar criminal enterprises. Both the Pagans and the Outlaws have expanded their networks significantly in recent years, using intimidation and violence to maintain their hold on drug and arms markets.
Impact of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in the Modern Era
In the modern era, outlaw motorcycle gangs are more organized and strategic than ever, forming alliances with international cartels, local gangs, and other criminal organizations to support their activities. These gangs are well-connected to global drug trade networks, often collaborating with cartels in Mexico and South America to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin into the U.S. By forging these transnational partnerships, OMGs like the Hells Angels, Pagans, and Outlaws have strengthened their criminal enterprises and diversified their operations. The rise of online communication has also enabled these gangs to coordinate across vast distances, making it more challenging for law enforcement agencies to intercept their activities.
Law Enforcement Challenges and Countermeasures
Law enforcement agencies face numerous challenges in countering the activities of these motorcycle gangs due to their closed membership and violent code of loyalty. To combat the influence of OMGs, the FBI and ATF have ramped up their investigations, often using undercover agents and informants to gather intelligence on these secretive groups. However, prosecuting members is challenging, as these clubs operate under a strict code of silence, and retaliation against informants is common. Local and state authorities in regions like Montana are often unprepared for the level of organization these clubs bring to small communities. Efforts to curb OMG influence have included RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charges, which aim to dismantle their networks, but the underground nature of these gangs makes such actions a long and complex process.