PHOENIX - Haven't heard much from the Hells Angels motorcycle club lately? That doesn't mean there isn't a lot going on. There's word the motorcycle club known for its violent past is recruiting heavily in Arizona -- and the question is why.
The Hells Angels motorcycle gang in Arizona is rumored to be recruiting.
"They're the biggest baddest most powerful motorcycle company in the world," says Steve Tretheway, who spent 25 years with Arizona DPS.
Motorcycle gangs were his beat. He says the Hells Angels are always looking for so called prospects.
"That prospecting phase can be anywhere from six months to a year, you do tasks for the club, they're going to test you."
On the Hells Angels website, you will find pictures posted of club gatherings and a chance to buy T-shirts supporting the club.
We found pictures of some prospects wearing the patch they hope to trade in some day when they become full fledged Hells Angels.
The death head is one of the more prominent Hell's Angels symbols. They display it loud and proud on their club houses, which are usually tucked in low income neighborhoods.
They have a club house in a neighborhood south of downtown Phoenix. Trethewy says Hells Angels also have clubs in Tucson, Flagstaff, and Cave Creek.
No one would talk on camera in the neighborhoods with Hell Angels' Clubhouses located in the valley, though one resident told us when the H.A. club house moved in about two years ago, crime in the neighborhood dropped 30 percent.
"People fear these people. Fear and intimidation are interpreted as respect for the club, so who's going to go in and mess up the neighborhood when you have a gxxg that's predominant in that area," he says.
With their own constitution, leaders, and laws, Hells Angels club shun conformity. Tretheway estimates about 80 to 100 Hells Angels members are in the valley, but there's no way to tell.
"Those are guys that wear the patches. The rule of thumb is for every one you have 10 strong associates. If you say you have 100, you multiply that by 10. You see how big the network gets, it doesn't have to be patch member, it's someone associated, someone who can do something for the club."
If the Hells Angels club is actively recruiting, the question is why? Our sources say they don't know, and they won't speculate.
But logic says, you recruit to beef up your numbers because perhaps you're expecting trouble.
"It's about power and territory. Hells Angels want to claim Arizona as their territory."
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/only_on_fox/hells-angels-recruits-1-27-2011#
