CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Authorities arrested 17 alleged members and associates of the Pagans motorcycle gang, including some from New Jersey, after a 21-month undercover investigation. Officials also conducted a series of raids across the tri-state area today, including at four locations in New Jersey, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney in the southern district of...
Jacket of the Pagans motorcycle gang.CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Authorities arrested 17 alleged members and associates of the Pagans motorcycle gang, including some from New Jersey, after a 21-month undercover investigation.
Officials also conducted a series of raids across the tri-state area today, including at four locations in New Jersey, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney in the southern district of New York.
Agents recovered 34 firearms and an apparent improvised explosive device (also known as an IED), the release said.
Two indictments unsealed today charge the defendants with racketeering, murder conspiracy, assault, extortion, drug distribution, witness tampering and firearms offenses.
The list of suspects include alleged ranking members of Pagans chapters in Elizabeth and Trenton.
The suspects range in age from 28 to 70. At least five of the 17 are accused of being members of Jersey chapters: Robert Leonardis, 41, Robert Deronde, 46, Walter Tarrats, 40, of Sussex, Harold Legg, 55, of Edison, and Sergio Cuevas, 70, of Rahway.
During the investigation, undercover agents at a New Jersey gathering of Pagans on Sept. 12, allegedly heard gang members discuss using grenades to kill members of the Hell’s Angels, a rival motorcycle gang, according to the release.
"As this case suggests, violent and criminal motorcycle gangs are not quaint vestiges of the past," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a release. The indictments were the result of a multi-jurisdictional effort that included the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the eastern and southern districts of New York and the New Jersey State Police.
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