Fourteen Motorcycle Gang Leaders and Members Plead Guilty in Detroit to Violent Crime,...

Fourteen Motorcycle Gang Leaders and Members Plead Guilty in Detroit to
Violent Crime, Drug and Firearms Charges

WASHINGTON, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fourteen members of the Outlaws
Motorcycle Club have pleaded guilty in Detroit to charges including violent
crimes in aid of racketeering, illegal drug distribution and firearms
violations, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal
Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Terrence Berg and
Thomas Brandon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF Detroit Field Division,
announced today.

The guilty pleas included leaders, members and gang associates of Outlaws'
chapters in Fort Wayne, Ind., Indianapolis, and areas of Detroit including
Eastside, Detroit Westside, Downriver and Bay City. The defendants were
charged with various crimes including violent crimes in aid of racketeering;
conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering; distribution and
possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and
hashish; possessing a firearm after conviction for a felony; and sale of a
firearm to a known felon.

"Unfortunately, far too many Americans live in fear of gang-related violence,"
said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. "By working with our
federal, state and local partners to target these gangs, we take violent
individuals off the street and weaken the chokehold that gangs like the
Outlaws have on our communities."

"The guilty pleas by a large number of leaders and members of this illegal
motorcycle gang are a good example of the success that comes from effective
federal, state and local law enforcement cooperation," said U.S. Attorney
Terrence Berg. "This case has managed to put a damper on the heightened
dangers of violence and other criminal acts posed by organized gangs such as
the Outlaws. The ATF, FBI and their state and local law enforcement partners
did an excellent job in bringing down the illegal activities of the Outlaws in
the Eastern District of Michigan."

"One of ATF's primary missions is to make our communities safer from the
criminal activity of violent gangs, such as the Outlaws. The magnitude of the
pain, suffering and fear that violent gangs bring to our communities is
immeasurable," said Thomas Brandon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF Detroit
Field Division. "ATF, along with our local, state and federal partners,
remains committed to stemming the hold that violent gangs like the Outlaws
have on our neighborhoods."

The guilty pleas were the result of "Operation Broken Spoke," "Operation
Detroit Mugger," and "Operation End Game," a five-year investigation by the
ATF; the FBI; the National Drug Intelligence Center; Michigan State Police;
the Detroit Police Department; the South Bend, Ind., Police Department; and
the Fort Wayne Police Department.

The following Michigan and Indiana Outlaws members and associates pleaded
guilty:
NAME DATE OF PLEA CHARGE
Leroy Frasier, July 30, 2009 Conspiracy to commit assault with
aka "Leroy" a dangerous weapon
David Dorris, July 27, 2009 Conspiracy to commit assault with
aka "Hoggs" a dangerous weapon
Ramon Rios, July 23, 2009 Conspiracy to commit assault with
aka "Ramon" a dangerous weapon
Norman Box Jr., June 23, 2009 Assault with a dangerous weapon
aka "Stormin Norman"
Michael Radke, June 23, 2009 Distribution of cocaine
aka "Mike"
Edward Gallagher, June 23, 2009 Distribution of methamphetamine
aka "Eddie"
Danny Neace, June 12, 2009 Assault with a dangerous weapon
aka "Milky"
Bruce Wendel, June 12, 2009 Assault with a dangerous weapon
aka "Big Bruce"
Kim Galaviz, June 12, 2009 Distribution of cocaine
aka "Moe"
William Thomas McCowan, June 10, 2009 Possession of hashish
aka "Tom the Bomb"
William Merfert, June 10, 2009 Felon in possession of firearms
aka "Billy"
William Elston, June 9, 2009 Assault with a deadly weapon
aka "Jason" resulting in serious bodily
injury
Mark Guerra, April 1, 2009 Distribution of marijuana
aka "Skid Mark"
William Guinn, Aug. 25, 2008 Distribution of marijuana
aka "Slick"

Robert Castillo, aka "Big Rob" and "Mexican Rob," is currently awaiting trial
on charges of distributing cocaine. Kenneth Creslaw, aka "KC," is charged
with distributing marijuana and remains a fugitive.

The original 18-count indictment alleged that the Outlaws Motorcycle Club is
an enterprise whose members allegedly committed, attempted to, and threatened
to commit acts of violence to protect and expand the gang's criminal
operations. Several of the defendants were charged with allegedly assaulting
various members of the rival Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, in some cases with
dangerous weapons including a hammer, motorcycle parts and a cane. Several
defendants allegedly trafficked in the sale of narcotics, including
methamphetamine, marijuana, hashish and cocaine, while others were charged
with various firearms offenses.

The Outlaws Motorcycle Club has been identified as an international criminal
organization whose members and associates engage in acts of violence including
murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, narcotics sales and
distribution, illegal firearms trafficking and gambling offenses. The Outlaws
are a structured and hierarchical gang, divided into multiple regions in the
United States. The Outlaws also have members worldwide, including Europe,
Asia and Canada. The Outlaws have a long-standing violent history with the
Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including assaults/batteries, shootings and
fatalities.

The Detroit Outlaws case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane L.
Marion and Julie Beck of the Eastern District of Michigan, as well as Trial
Attorney Sam Nazzaro of the Criminal Division's Gang Unit.

The law enforcement actions in Detroit are the result of the Justice
Department's ongoing anti-gang initiative and the joint strategic and priority
targeting of violent street gangs by the ATF, FBI, the National Gang
Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center (GangTECC), the National Gang
Intelligence Center and state and local law enforcement. The Criminal
Division's Gang Unit, a specialized group of federal prosecutors charged with
attacking the most significant regional, national and international gangs in
the United States, works with fellow prosecutors around the country to disrupt
and dismantle gang activity in communities. In addition, the Gang Unit works
with domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies to construct effective and
coordinated prevention and enforcement strategies.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice, +1-202-514-2008, +1-202-514-1888 (TDD)