Crime & Safety
Bay Area Hells Angels Sentenced To Prison For Criminal Activities
Two Hells Angels members were sentenced to prison for their roles in criminal activities by the Sonoma County chapter, prosecutors said.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Two Hells Angels members have been sentenced to prison for their roles in criminal activities by the Sonoma County chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, federal prosecutors said.
Jeremy Greer, 43, was sentenced to seven years for multiple assaults, armed robbery, home invasion robbery, and witness intimidation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said Friday.
Merl Hefferman, 54, was sentenced to four years for arranging the illegal cremation of a former Hells Angel member who was murdered at the club's Fresno clubhouse, prosecutors said.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The investigation began in 2014 with the disappearance of former member Joel Silva, who was murdered by Fresno Hells Angels president Brian Wendt, Sonoma County Hells Angels president Jonathan Nelson, and former Sonoma County president Russell Ott, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Wendt, Nelson, and Ott were convicted of the murder in 2022 and are awaiting sentencing.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In addition to Silva's murder, 11 members and associates of the Sonoma County chapter were charged with narcotics distribution, assault, robbery, extortion, illegal firearms possession, obstruction of justice, and witness intimidation, prosecutors said.
The investigation involved the FBI, the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
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