6 Highwaymen Motorcycle Club members convicted in racketeering case

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http://www.freep.com/article/20100603/NEWS01/100603043/1320/6-Highwaymen-members-convicted 6 Highwaymen Motorcycle Club members convicted in racketeering case BY BEN SCHMITT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Comments (19) Recommend (7) Print E-mail Letter to the editor Share Facebook Twitter FarkIt Digg Del.icio.us Reddit Newsvine After an eight-week trial, six members of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club were convicted today of racketeering conspiracy charges in federal court in Detroit and face up to life in prison.

Those convicted are Aref (Steve) Nagi, 46; Gary (Junior) Ball Jr., 44; Leonard (Dad) Moore, 61; Joseph (Little Joe) Whiting, 56; Anthony (Mad Anthony) Clark, 52, and Michael (Cocoa) Cicchetti, 55, who recently suffered a heart attack during the trial.

Former U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg unsealed a 35-count indictment against 74 members or associates of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club in May 2009. The case was brought in 2006 and expanded. Allegations include racketeering, attempted murder and drug trafficking.

Berg referred to the group as a “dangerous criminal enterprise.”

Many other members have yet to go to trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds.

After today’s verdict, United States Attorney Barbara McQuade said her office is dedicated to dismantling violent gangs.

"Violent crime is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney's Office, and we will use all of the tools available to us to attack violent criminal organizations like this one,” she said.

Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena agreed.

"Together we are committed to restoring safety and security to our neighborhoods,” he said.

The Highwaymen Motorcycle Club is headquartered in southwest Detroit and has numerous chapters throughout southeast Michigan and in other states, McQuade said.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Marion and Christopher Graveline prosecuted the case.