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
