Prosecutors charge 9 associates of Outlaws Motorcycle Club

OFF THE WIRE
The crackdown on the Outlaws Motorcycle Club continued Thursday as federal prosecutors charged nine more members or suspected associates of the gxxg following raids in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Ohio.

One Outlaws member, Christian Miller, 40, Sandusky, Ohio, and seven suspected associates of the motorcycle gxxg — all from Indianapolis — have been arrested and charged, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. One other Outlaws member — whom prosecutors declined to name — remains at large.

Thursday’s arrests come about four months after federal agents raided the Outlaws’ headquarters at East New York Street and Jefferson Avenue on the city’s Near Eastside. In July, authorities arrested 42 people associated with the gaxxg on federal charges ranging from mail fraud to money laundering.

New charges in the updated indictment include distributing and possession of cocaine, unlawful use of communication facilities in trafficking drugs, multiple robberies and several firearms violations.

Federal prosecutors think the defendants are part of an extensive criminal network in Indianapolis and throughout the Midwest. U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett said during a news conference Thursday afternoon that his office intends to completely dismantle the Outlaws.

Robert Jones, FBI special agent in charge, said authorities have arrested more than 100 people linked to the gaxxx and organized crime in Indiana.

The latest arrests came Thursday morning when federal agents raided two bars in the Fountain Square area and arrested suspected Outlaws associates. Prosecutors believe that the defendants used the Club Paradise strip club on English Avenue and Sidewinders Bar and Grill on South State Avenue as conduits for criminal activities, particularly drug conspiracy.

Sidewinders Bar, said lead prosecutor Bradley Blackington, served as the front for cocaine trafficking. The owners of the bar, Thomas Griffin, Sr., 60, and his son, Thomas Griffin, Jr., 42, as well as bouncer Frank Jordan, 56, were among those arrested and charged.

Blackington said that at both locations, the defendants had customers other than Outlaws members.

Prosecutors have begun forfeiture proceedings against Sidewinders Bar, Blackington said, as they did with the Outlaws clubhouse last July. It remains unclear if prosecutors will forfeit Club Paradise. Its owner, Robert Roberts, 36, also was arrested Thursday.

Another motorcycle club — the Black Pistons — has claimed the former Outlaws clubhouse, which now bears the group’s logo. Prosecutors said the Black Pistons are a “support club’’ of the Outlaws and took over the building to keep other gxxgs at bay.

Blackington said that will not stop the forfeiture of the property, which will be pending until the defendants are convicted, Blackington said.

“We believe that the only way to really shut down these drug trafficking operations that are so organized is to seize and forfeit their assets and property that they use as a base to conduct their trafficking activity,” Blackington said. “Similarly, we’re hoping that the forfeiture of the Sidewinders Bar will shut down this Mexican operation along with the rest of the people who are involved with it.”

All defendants will have a detention hearing sometime next week.

Contact Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209

http://www.indystar.com/article/20121025/NEWS02/121025008/New-arrests-more-charges-Outlaws-motorcycle-gaxxx-probe