8 Sonoma Co. Hells Angels Arrested In Federal Investigation

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Federal authorities Monday announced the arrests of multiple alleged members of the Sonoma County chapter of the international Hells Angels motorcycle club. The FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office San Francisco held a news conference Monday afternoon to announce a federal grand jury indictment charging eight alleged associates of the Hells Angel Sonoma County Chapter (HASC) for their alleged roles in numerous crimes including murder, assault, maiming and witness intimidation.

In addition to the alleged Hells Angels associates from Sonoma County, one alleged member of the Fresno Hells Angels chapter and one alleged member of the Salem/Boston Hells Angels were also indicated in what federal authorities called a "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations" (RICO) conspiracy, federal authorities said in a news release.

The 11th defendant is an alleged HASC associate who was charged with witness intimidation, authorities said.

The indictment against the alleged associates of the motorcycle gang was filed Oct. 10 and was unsealed Monday following the arrest of nine of the defendants — several of whom were taken into custody Saturday in Santa Rosa as part of a criminal enforcement operation, authorities said. The FBI, Santa Rosa Police Department, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol participated in the investigation.

Federal authorities released the names of the following defendants in the indictment:

Jonathan Joseph Nelson, aka "Jon Jon," 41, of Santa Rosa

Raymond Michael Foakes, aka "Ray Ray," 54, of Rohnert Park

Russell Allen Lyles, aka "J.R.," 36, of Windsor

Jeremy Daniel Greer, 37, of Santa Rosa

Brian Wayne Wendt, 40, of Tulare

Russell Taylor Ott, aka "Rusty," 64, of Santa Rosa

Christoper Ranieri, aka "Rain Man," 49, of Lynn, Massachusetts

Damien David Cesena, 36, of Santa Rosa

Brian Allen Burke, aka "Bucky," 37, of Windsor

Jason Randall Cliff, aka "Agro," 50

David Salvatore Davis III, 45

"This week we have taken a significant step toward bringing to justice an alleged conspiracy whose aim has been to commit violent crimes," said U.S. Attorney Stretch. "The indictment unsealed this morning describes an array of serious offenses allegedly committed by the defendants including conspiracy to commit murder, assault, maiming, home invasion robbery, extortion and witness intimidation."

The indictment alleges that Brian Wendt committed a murder of an unnamed victim on July 15, 2014, at the Fresno Hells Angels clubhouse. The indictment alleges that co-conspirator Jonathan Nelson "directed the victim to meet with Wendt and co-conspirator Russell Ott accompanied the victim from the Northern District of California to the Fresno clubhouse where Wendt committed the murder."

According to the indictment, some of the defendants were suspected of their involvement in the alleged RICO conspiracy as early as July and August of 2007, when Raymond Foakes allegedly committed bank fraud and money laundering to obtain a residence in which to establish an indoor marijuana cultivation operation. Additional crimes the indictment accuses defendants of committing as part of the alleged conspiracy include a home invasion robbery, extortion, assault, maiming and the illegal possession of weapons and drugs.

Federal authorities also allege that HASC members "obstructed justice by threatening, intimidating and retaliating against witnesses whom they believed to be cooperating with law enforcement and by destroying evidence and providing false information to law enforcement," according to the news release.

Further, federal authorities said, Brian Allen Burke is accused of "attempting to intimidate and threaten and corruptly persuade a victim by threatening to shoot the victim with a firearm," when he allegedly "attempted to persuade the victim not to provide evidence" in a federal case surrounding Foakes’ alleged violation of the conditions of his supervised release.

"This operation proves once again the value of pooling the resources of the federal government with those of our state and local law enforcement partners — it is only through this coordination that we are able to stamp out violence in our communities," Stretch said. "I commend and thank all of our law enforcement partners for their extraordinary work in bringing this phase of the operation to a successful conclusion."

Main image courtesy FBI San Francisco Office; Second image via FBI San Francisco/Twitter