Four men were arrested Friday morning in Northeast Alabama as part of major investigation of the Devils Diciples motorcycle gxxg.
Tony Wayne “Trouble” Kitchens was arrested in Albertville. Dean Edward “Jesus” Jakiel was arrested in Jacksonville. Cary Dale “Gun Control” Vandiver and Michael Kenneth “Tatu” Rich were arrested in Anniston.
The four were among 41 people indicted in the federal investigation of the motorcycle gxxg. National President Jeff Garvin Smith and Vice President Paul Anthony Darrah are among those arrested.
Jakiel, Kitchens, Rich and Vandiver had their first appearance in federal court on Friday and a detention hearing is scheduled Monday. The four are expected to be extradited to Michigan, considered the organization's main headquarters.
The indictment alleges the organizational associates, including Smith and Darrah, participated in various criminal acts including violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, illegal firearms offenses, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling and other federal offenses.
Smith and Darrah are charged with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act by conducting their illegal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity that included murder, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and other federal and state offenses, according to a news release from Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division; Barbara McQuade, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan; and Acting Assistant FBI Director Valerie Parlave.
Jakiel, Kitchens, Rich and Vandiver were among 31 people arrested in Michigan and Alabama on Friday. Five people already were in custody, including Patrick Michael “Magoo” McKeoun, who was arrested recently in Huntsville.
Agents with the FBI office in Gadsden handled the investigation in this area.
More than 60 firearms and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition were seized during the investigation. Eight methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories also were dismantled during the investigation.
According to the indictment, the Devils Diciples is a criminal enterprise with its national headquarters in Clinton Township, Mich. The gxxg operates regional chapters in Michigan, Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere, and engages in criminal activities including distribution of narcotics, theft, transportation and sale of stolen motorcycles, conducting illegal gambling businesses, robbery, extortion and acts of violence.
The indictment states membership in the Devils Diciples is based in part on successfully completing a probationary period, followed by formal approval by one or more members or leaders.
Members are required to own Harley Davidson motorcycles and are commonly referred to as “full patched members.” They are identified by a club name or nickname to conceal their identity and thwart identification by law enforcement. They are required to follow orders from leadership, including orders to assault people or use threats and intimidation, to transport or distribute drugs, to lie to law enforcement or to hide or destroy evidence. Members also are required to follow the gxxg's bylaws and attend regular meetings referred to as “church.”
The indictment alleges that the Devils Diciples committed acts involving attempted murder, robbery, extortion, assault and threats of violence to maintain the organization's territory and protect it and its members from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
Sixteen of the members and associates named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business. The defendants operated slot machines in several Devils Diciples clubhouses in Alabama, Arizona and Michigan to generate income for the criminal enterprise and its members.
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120713/NEWS/120719920/1016/NEWS?Title=Four-in-arrested-in-Northeast-Alabama-in-motorcycle-gang-crackdown
Agents with the FBI office in Gadsden handled the investigation in this area.
More than 60 firearms and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition were seized during the investigation. Eight methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories also were dismantled during the investigation.
According to the indictment, the Devils Diciples is a criminal enterprise with its national headquarters in Clinton Township, Mich. The gxxg operates regional chapters in Michigan, Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere, and engages in criminal activities including distribution of narcotics, theft, transportation and sale of stolen motorcycles, conducting illegal gambling businesses, robbery, extortion and acts of violence.
The indictment states membership in the Devils Diciples is based in part on successfully completing a probationary period, followed by formal approval by one or more members or leaders.
Members are required to own Harley Davidson motorcycles and are commonly referred to as “full patched members.” They are identified by a club name or nickname to conceal their identity and thwart identification by law enforcement. They are required to follow orders from leadership, including orders to assault people or use threats and intimidation, to transport or distribute drugs, to lie to law enforcement or to hide or destroy evidence. Members also are required to follow the gxxg's bylaws and attend regular meetings referred to as “church.”
The indictment alleges that the Devils Diciples committed acts involving attempted murder, robbery, extortion, assault and threats of violence to maintain the organization's territory and protect it and its members from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.
Sixteen of the members and associates named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business. The defendants operated slot machines in several Devils Diciples clubhouses in Alabama, Arizona and Michigan to generate income for the criminal enterprise and its members.
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120713/NEWS/120719920/1016/NEWS?Title=Four-in-arrested-in-Northeast-Alabama-in-motorcycle-gang-crackdown