OFF THE WIRE
DENVER - They're known as Hell's Lovers, a national motorcycle gxxg that has been around since the late 60's. As of Saturday, at least a dozen members were sitting in a Denver jail.
Federal and ATF agents raided several homes in the metro area on Friday night and arrested at least 15 members from the gxxg.
ATF agents aren't saying specifically what the charges are, only that they have been arrested for "violent crime."
The gxxg, which was formed in Chicago almost 50 years ago, has now spread to Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas.
"These members are not young. They are primarily older, some of them are grandfathers," says Terrance Roberts, gang expert and founder of Prodigal Son Initiative in Denver.
"The members in Denver are primarily African American," says Roberts.
Hell's Lovers in general has been associated with cocaine trafficking and use of weapons and explosives.
"Every one of them is dangerous. Most of them are armed. They are not in the business of contributing to society. They are in the business of taking away from it," says Malcolm Brady, retired ATF Assistant Director.
One of the homes that was raided Friday night is located at 41st Avenue and Garfield Street in Denver.
All the windows on the home are blacked out and there is a sign on the front door that says "Danger. Weapons Firing in Progress."
One neighbor that didn't want to go on camera said he often hears gunshots being fired off inside the house.
The mailman, Garry Samora, has been delivering mail to the neighborhood for years. He says the gxxg moved in just three months ago and they are friendly guys.
"I have been inside two or three times. They invited me in to check out their club. They are all cool, regular people. They were real cordial to me," says Samora.
VIDEO: http://www.9news.com/news/article/243977/222/Who-are-Hells-Lovers