Jury hears dueling portrayals of biker club members

MCs in the News
Fed racketeering trial's opening statements focus on character of accused Highwaymen
Paul Egan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Leaders of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club believed they "owned" Detroit and they protected their criminal enterprise by meting out threats and vicious beatings to those who crossed them, a federal prosecutor said Monday.

But defense lawyers argued the real criminals jurors will see at the trial are the government's cooperating witnesses -- who they said received sweetheart deals in connection with their own illegal conduct and more than $100,000 in cash payments.

The racketeering trial for six alleged Highwaymen leaders -- the opening chapter in a case that involves more than 80 defendants in one of the largest indictments ever brought in the Eastern District of Michigan -- is expected to last about six weeks.

"The Highwaymen are exactly who they say they are -- the evilest (expletive) on the highway," making their money from drug dealing and interstate theft, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Graveline told jurors in his opening statement.

But Henry Scharg, an attorney for defendant Joseph "Little Joe" Whiting, said the Highwaymen are men who share a love of motorcycles and the open road. He said they give to charities such as Toys for Tots and compared the group to "a Knights of Columbus on wheels."

Graveline described Leonard "Dad" Moore, 61, of Lincoln Park as the "godfather" of the Highwaymen. He was the group's leader but he let others take titles such as national president because he didn't need a title that could draw federal attention, Graveline said. Moore is charged with racketeering, threats and assault conspiracy.

National president Whiting, 56, of Westland worked closely with Moore and is accused of sending from Milan prison a list of suspected informants titled "Bad Peoples." He is charged with racketeering, assault, threats and transporting and selling stolen vehicles.

Aref "Steve" Nagi, 46, of Sterling Heights is charged with racketeering, drug dealing conspiracy, assault, transporting stolen vehicles, altering or removing vehicle identifications, and a weapons offense.

Michael "Cocoa" Cicchetti, 55, of Dearborn Heights is charged with racketeering, drug dealing conspiracy, assault, transporting stolen vehicles and a weapons offense.

Anthony "Mad Anthony" Clark, 52, of Allen Park, a former national president, is charged with racketeering, threats and drug dealing conspiracy.

Gary "Junior" Ball Jr., 44, of Dearborn is charged with racketeering, drug dealing conspiracy, assault conspiracy, transporting stolen vehicles and altering or removing vehicle identifications.

Scharg said the Highwaymen, far from being a wealthy criminal organization, often struggled to pay their rent and utility bills. Four cooperating witnesses expected to testify at the trial are the real criminals, he said.

Robert "Bobby" Burton, 41, a club member and co-defendant in the case, made thousands of dollars a week selling cocaine but was in business for himself, not on behalf of the club, Scharg said. Burton is also the man who walked into a bar and smashed an enemy of the club across the face with a shovel, causing serious injury, Scharg said.

Burton, who is expected to testify for the government, faces up to life in prison and "has every reason to say whatever the government wants him to say," Scharg said.

The government has paid Burton $11,000, Scharg said. Another witness, former national president Gerald "Byrd" Peters, was paid $20,000. Philip "Jocko" McDonald, a former Highwaymen Downriver president, was paid $10,000, Scharg added. Doug Burnett, a former member who became an informant early, wore a wire in the investigation, and made controlled drug purchases, has been paid more than $70,000, Scharg said.

McDonald and Burnett are not charged, though McDonald was charged in a related drug case involving the Latin Counts street gang.

Founded in Detroit in 1954, the Highwaymen is Detroit's largest bike club, with chapters in Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and Indiana.

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