Hourly Update

Racketeering case against Hells Angels all but wrapped up

PHOENIX - A high-profile racketeering case against Arizona's Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has wrapped up with disputed results. The case, the result of a sting touted as the most successful infiltration ever of the biker group, all but ended in federal court this month. In the end, half of those indicted were given plea deals on lesser offenses. Federal charges against five others were dismissed. The U.S. Attorney's Office described the outcome as a "good thing" because eight defendants pleaded guilty. "This is but one of many cases brought against the Hells Angels around the country, in Canada and around the world," Sandy Raynor, a spokeswoman for Arizona's top federal prosecutor, said in an e-mail. But the attorney for Tucson Hells Angels President Craig T. Kelly, whose charges were dismissed, called the government's take on the case "spin" and said it was a waste of time and taxpayers' money. "I was a prosecutor for 15 years, and this wasn't a `good' result," said attorney Joe Abodeely. As a result of plea deals, none of the defendants will serve more than five years in federal prison. Most of the bikers had faced possible life sentences under the indictment. The Arizona crackdown was part of a national Hells Angels sweep led by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Raids were conducted statewide, as well as in California, Nevada and Washington, in July 2003. The indictment here targeted three charter presidents with club members and associates. With help from moles, ATF agents spent two years penetrating the Hells Angels, attending drug parties and becoming privy to alleged murder plots against rival gangs. Investigators described the club as a criminal syndicate, not a fraternity of motorcycle enthusiasts. Guns, drugs and thousands of records were seized. But defense attorneys claimed the government's case was based on "snitches" who fabricated evidence and took part in beatings, drug dealing and other crimes while employed by federal agents. Patricia Gitre, an attorney for one defendant, said that details of misconduct by ATF informers have been described in court: One paid operative failed to tell his handlers that he had participated in a murder. Another became a "snitch" to avoid prosecution, then got busted with methamphetamines. Regarding those problems, spokeswoman Raynor said, "There are always issues in dealing with cases requiring the use of confidential informants. None of the issues occurring in this matter is novel."