CENTRAL ISLIP, New York – Members of the Pagans motorcycle gang plotted to use grenades in a murderous assault on members of the rival Hells Angels, federal officials said in announcing a litany of charges against 19 reputed Pagans members and associates in five states.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, assisted by local police, arrested the 19 during early morning raids in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Massachusetts, ATF special agent-in-charge Ronald Turk said.
Seven of the defendants were based on Long Island, where they were expected to be arraigned on federal charges later yesterday.
The charges included racketeering, murder conspiracy, assault, extortion, drug distribution, witness tampering, and firearms offences.(AP)