OFF THE WIRE
13wham.com
Rochester, N.Y. – Members of Rochester’s Hells Angels Motorcycle Club are facing federal charges for allegedly committing racketeering crimes.
Friday morning, FBI agents raided a house that the Hells Angels are known to frequent on Algonquin Terrace.
U.S. Attorney William Hochul announced Friday afternoon a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Rochester Hell’s Angels members Robert Moran Jr. aka Bugsy, and James Henry McAuley aka Mitch along with Gina Tata, with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity.
Moran and Tata are also charged with conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity.
The indictment also charges Tata, Rochester Hells Angels member Richard Riedman aka Eric, and Timothy Stone, with being accessories after the fact to the assault and conspiracy.
Federal authorities say the indictment identifies the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in Rochester as a criminal organization whose members functioned for the common purpose of facilitating criminal activity, including acts involving drug trafficking and murder.
The indictment describes McAuley as a Vice President of the Hells Angels, Moran as a Sergeant at Arms and Vice President, and Tata as an associate of the criminal enterprise.
The indictment states that on May 31, 2006, Tata told Moran and another that a patron inside a certain restaurant had allegedly threatened the motorcycle club. Moran is accused of repeatedly hitting the victim in the head and body with a baseball bat. The indictment alleges that all defendants in this conduct acted with the specific purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the Hell's Angels.
It also alleges that Tata, Riedman, and Stone helped Moran and McAuley avoid apprehension by police after the assault.
Moran, Tata, Riedman, and Stone have been arrested.
McAuley is currently in federal prison after being convicted on other charges.
