Outlaws’ are indicted after regional ATF raids

Off the Wire News
MCs in the News
Two Bradley County men and one Polk County resident were caught up in federal multi-count indictments which were issued over the past two days. Sixteen people are in custody today, with additional arrests forthcoming, according to sources.

David Woodward and Danny Decker of Bradley County and Ronald “Snake” Howard of Benton are among 16 people indicted for various “narcotics, firearms and child pornography charges spanning two years,” according to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chattanooga.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents assisted by Bradley County Sheriff’s investigators and SWAT, Tennessee Highway Patrol and the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force descended on the Outlaws Motorcycle Club located on Strawberry Lane Wednesday evening. Officials also served warrants in Hamilton County.

From Chattanooga were Ryan “Lil R” Birt, Robert “BB” Boone, Jeremy “Cracker” Rittenhouse, Roger “Buddah” Roof, James “Dozer Miller, Kelly Adams and Marcus Smith. Charles “Robbie” Kinsey from Ringgold, Ga. Kinsey is a member of the Cleveland Chapter. Arrested from Rossville, Ga., were Steven “Steve-O” Tucker, James “Smiley” Westbrook and James “J.P.” Parker of Whitwell and two people from Marion County, Hershell Raines and Gary “Doodah” Raines.

A 2007 pickup truck bombing in Dalton, Ga., is what initiated the two-year investigation which led to the multiple indictments, according to Carl Maskew, ATF liaison with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators discovered James W. Brock Jr. was affiliated with the Renegades Motorcycle Gang and his truck was bombed in 2007 after an alleged shoot-out with members of the Outlaws, according to reports from the Dalton Daily Citizen.

The bomb was reportedly “planted by the Outlaws in retaliation for the death of Frank Rego Vital, a member of the Outlaws who was killed during the gunplay,” according to the reports.

“The Outlaws and Renegades are rival gangs,” said Maskew, who also noted the Renegades were a spin-off organization of the Hell’s Angels.
Howard, the Polk County man charged, faced a 10-count indictment along with several others, for allegedly conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack.

Most of the defendants were arraigned in federal court Thursday. Howard pleaded not guilty to the charges and trial has been set for May 3.
Sentences could range up to 40 years and fines up to $1 million on each count, according to information from the Department of Justice.

Original article...

http://www.clevelandbanner.com/index.cfm?event=news.view&id=0B0C43DC-19B9-E2E2-6747807B871BC6FE