Sonoma County Hells Angels Members Convicted Of Murder, Racketeering

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Two members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in Sonoma County were convicted Wednesday in federal court of murder in aid of racketeering, along with a third Angel from Fresno.

At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a federal jury found Jonathan Nelson, aka "Jon Jon," 46, of Santa Rosa; Russell Taylor Ott, aka "Rusty," 69, also of Santa Rosa, and Brian Wayne Wendt, 45, of Tulare, guilty of killing one of their own members and taking part in a conspiracy to commit murder and other serious crimes, the U.S. Department Of Justice said.

The Sonoma County Hells Angels club was formed in 1972 and makes some of its income from selling shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and other swag bearing the club's logo. They have also sponsored toy drives for children.

Eleven members of the Hells Angels were indicted in 2017 for conspiracy, which the DOJ said involved murder, drug dealing, assault, robbery, extortion, illegal possession of firearms and obstruction of justice. Nelson, Ott and Wendt were all part of that sweep, which ultimately led to the current trial in which they were convicted of killing Joel Silva, a Sonoma County Hells Angel whom they determined had been "creating problems" for the motorcycle club, according to the DOJ.

At the time of the killing, Nelson was the president of Hells Angel of Sonoma County, Wendt was the president of the Hell’s Angels Fresno chapter, and Ott was a former president and well-respected member of Hells Angels of Sonoma County whom Silva trusted. According to evidence presented at the trial, Nelson, Wendt and Ott each concluded for varied reasons that Silva had to be killed.

According to federal prosecutors, Nelson arranged for Silva's murder with Ott. The deed went down in Fresno on July 15, 2014, when Ott drove Silva there on the pretense of his needing to "fight" with Wendt in order to resolve his problems with the club. Upon arrival at the Fresno clubhouse, Wendt shot Silva in the head. The next day, Silva's body was incinerated at a local crematorium.

The trial brought out other information about the Hells Angels club in Sonoma County. Witnesses testified that there was a pattern of threatening anyone who approached the police about the motorcycle gang's activities. Those who might testify or serve as witnesses — as well as their families — were told in no uncertain terms that harm would come to them.

All three defendants are facing a mandatory life sentence in prison at their sentencing, which is set for Oct. 13, the DOJ said.

The eight-year investigation into the Sonoma County club involved the DOJ, the FBI, the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol.

"Each agency involved in this investigation provided crucial expertise and resources, making a guilty verdict possible,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. "Criminal acts perpetrated by the convicted members of the Sonoma County and Fresno County Hells Angels adversely affected our communities, and their presence infested our citizens with worry. Today’s verdict is a step toward removing their violent and criminal ideals from our community."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.