More NJ Arrests As Pagans, Hells Angels Feud Continues: Feds

NEWARK, NJ — More members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club have been arrested in New Jersey, as a violent, long-running “rivalry” with the Hells Angels continues, federal prosecutors said Monday.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Luis Arocho, 43, of Keansburg, and Maurice Guzman, 51, of Newark, were charged with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering.

Prosecutors allege that Arocho, Guzman, and other associates of the Pagans brutally assaulted an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club at a gas station in Newark in April 2018. The victim was beaten with an axe handle, punched and kicked by the Pagans assailants, causing “significant injuries.”

Arocho and Guzman are both high-ranking leaders in the Pagans’ organization, authorities alleged. They are among 11 members of the “outlaw motorcycle” gang who have recently been charged with various weapons, drug-trafficking and violent crimes.

In a separate case, a federal grand jury returned an indictment on Monday, charging Nicholas Bucciarelli, 56, of Brooklawn, with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

Prosecutors said Bucciarelli commissioned a “gang-related gunpoint assault,” in which an associate of the Pagans was assaulted for breaking the organization’s rules.

According to prosecutors:

“Nicholas Marino, 75, of Williamstown, Anthony D’Alessandro, 55, of Williamstown, and Michael Dorazo, 42, of Gloucester City, were previously charged by federal criminal complaint for their roles in the assault. At the time of their arrests, Bucciarelli was the sergeant at arms for the Pagans’ Camden County membership chapter, Marino and D’Alessandro served as the president and sergeant at arms, respectively, for the Pagans’ Gloucester County membership chapter, and Dorazo was a member of the Pagans.”

Bucciarelli was also indicted for distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, prosecutors added.

The recent charges against Arocho, Guzman and Bucciarelli were filed as part of a multi-agency investigation into the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, which has been accused of narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking and “violent crimes,” authorities said.

According to prosecutors:

“The Pagans have established membership chapters in numerous states and U.S. territories, including multiple active chapters in New Jersey. This investigation involved court-authorized wiretaps, the use of multiple undercover law enforcement agents, and execution of multiple search warrants at physical locations in multiple jurisdictions. Through the investigation, law enforcement seized 10 firearms and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig credited a joint task force comprised of special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gibson; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Taylor; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Ruotolo; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges.

“Long-term operations of this magnitude require a tremendous amount of work and patience by cooperating detectives, and while the full scope and impact of this investigation may yet be fully realized, its success continues a year after it began,” Callahan said. “I commend the hard work and dedication of all the agencies involved.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office previously announced the arrest of Keith Richter – the national president of the Pagans – in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm in February. Those charges remain pending.

Law enforcement officials also previously arrested several other people in connection with the investigation, prosecutors said.

‘GANG-RELATED SHOOTING’

Larry Ortiz, 31, of Elizabeth, and Junius Aquino, 38, of Vauxhall, were charged with aggravated assault in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence for their roles in a gang-related shooting, authorities said.

According to prosecutors:

“On Oct. 28, 2020, Ortiz and Aquino shot at an associate of a rival gang while driving on the New Jersey Turnpike. The shooting was committed as part of an ongoing dispute between the Pagans and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Aquino was also charged in a separate criminal complaint with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon in connection with a shooting that occurred three days later. On Oct. 31, 2020, Aquino shot at an occupied vehicle in Elizabeth. Law enforcement officers recovered seven .40 caliber shell casings from the shooting scene. On Nov. 5, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Aquino’s residence and recovered, among other items, multiple .40 caliber rounds of ammunition and approximately 50 grams of cocaine. After law enforcement officers recovered the cocaine from Aquino’s residence, Aquino was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.”

At the time of Aquino’s arrest, he was the vice president of the Pagans’ Elizabeth membership chapter, prosecutors said.

Ortiz was also charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On Nov. 17, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ortiz’s residence and recovered approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.

At the time of his arrest, Ortiz was the president of the Pagans’ Jersey City membership chapter, prosecutors said.

‘DRUG TRAFFICKING’

Daniel Hooban, 33, of Bayonne, New Jersey, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Prosecutors alleged:

“On June 29, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hooban’s residence and recovered approximately 30 grams of cocaine and a loaded firearm. At the time of Hooban’s arrest, he was the sergeant at arms for the Pagans’ Jersey City membership chapter.”

‘METH POSSESSION’

Glen Turner, 73, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

On Dec. 10, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Turner’s residence and recovered about 450 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Turner is a “long-time member” of the Pagans.

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