The Pagan Motorcycle Club is known for their distinctive symbols that encompass their beliefs and values. These symbols play a crucial role in the identity and culture of the club, representing their ideals and marking their affiliation. The primary symbol used by the Pagan Motorcycle Club is a patch featuring a bald eagle with its wings spread wide, holding a banner that reads "Pagan's". This patch is worn proudly by members, signifying their membership in the club and their commitment to its principles. Alongside the patch, the Pagan Motorcycle Club also incorporates other symbols into their imagery. One of the most recognized symbols is the Thor's hammer, also known as Mjolnir.
The Pagans, unlike other One-Percenter motorcycle organizations, do not display their chapter on their badge. It’s thought that they omitted this information on purpose to keep law enforcement officers guessing about which chapter they belong to.
The same may be stated for other Hells Angels MC fan groups, such as the Tri-County MC discussed later in this article , where members of the Pagans were slain in a battle. In New Jersey, Pagans membership, which has always been strong in South Jersey, has increased at an alarming rate in recent years, with 300 members in 17 chapters throughout the state.
One of the most recognized symbols is the Thor's hammer, also known as Mjolnir. This symbolizes strength, protection, and loyalty, which are highly valued traits within the club. Additionally, the number 13 is often used as a symbol by the Pagans, representing the 13th letter of the alphabet, M, which stands for Marijuana.
The Pagan’s Motorcycle Club is expanding in record numbers. Here’s why N.J. officials are worried
Alleged members of the Pagans Motorcycle Gang appear with their attorney before an SCI Public Hearing on Wednesday. From left, attorney Carlos Martir, suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club member, James Helveston Jr., suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club National vice president Hugo Nieves, and suspected Pagan Motorcycle Club National Mother/National Club member Luis Arocho. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
shares- Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, under the command of a new national president, is undergoing a major expansion in New Jersey. There is an increase in violent clashes between the Pagans and rival motorcycle clubs. The public is facing a growing safety threat.
Those were the alarming takeaways from a public hearing held Wednesday by the State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog formed in the late 1960s to investigate public corruption and organized crime.
The two-hour-plus hearing featured testimony from SCI investigators, New Jersey State Police officers and an assistant prosecutor with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. It also included audio clips of police interviews with Pagan members and videos of Pagan gatherings and an assault in Newark in which a Pagan brutally beat a Hell’s Angels associate with an ax handle at a gas station in April 2018.
In perhaps the most dramatic moment of the hearing, three-high ranking members of the Pagans, including the reputed vice president of the national organization, Hugo Nieves, were subpoenaed to testify. Peppered by commissioners with accusations of illegal activity, including drug distribution, the members each invoked their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
Nieves, a South Jersey resident who is known as “Zorro," broke his silence at the end of his testimony to say, “It is not the policy of this club to engage in any criminal activity. And that’s all I will say about that.”
The hearing provided an unprecedented look into the inner-workings of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, which is one of four major outlaw clubs nationwide identified by the FBI — Pagans, Hell’s Angels, Outlaws and the Bandidos. The Pagans formed in 1959 in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
There are 900 Pagans members spread around 12 different states and in Puerto Rico, officials said. In New Jersey, Pagans membership, which has always been strong in South Jersey, has increased at an alarming rate in recent years, with 300 members in 17 chapters throughout the state. Officials said there has been a 50% increase in chapters in New Jersey over the past three years.
“It’s expanding at a rate we’ve never seen before,” Edwin Torres, an SCI investigative agent, said in reference to Pagan membership in New Jersey. “In New Jersey, it’s going to be hard to find a county where there isn’t a Pagan presence.
The uptick in Pagan membership in New Jersey, first reported by NJ Advance Media in May 2018, is indicative of a broader national effort by Pagan President Keith “Conan” Richter to beef up numbers along the entire East Coast, officials said. Richter, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1998 for attempted murder and racketeering and released in 2012, took control of the Pagans in 2018, according to officials.
Under the control of Richter, the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club has been absorbing smaller, local motorcycle clubs to increase membership, officials said. Officials said the Pagans have also started recruiting members from traditional street gangs, like the Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings.
And while the Pagans are traditionally a white group with ties to white supremacy organizations, officials said, they have begun allowing Latino members into their ranks.
“A lot of white members hated it,” a Pagan member told an investigator, according to an audio clip played at the hearing. “You know, people quit over it.”
A Pagans M.C. jacket
Pagan members, at the urging of Richter, have started wearing a patch on their jackets that says “East Coast” — which is different from other motorcycle clubs that have patches indicating a local chapter.
“Is this a sign of dominance?” SCI Counsel Marian Galietta asked Torres, the SCI investigator.
He responded, “That is correct.”
The main cash flow for the Pagans comes from drug distribution, illegal gun trafficking, membership club dues ($25 per member a week) and merchandise sales, officials said. In New Jersey, Pagans earn a quarter- to a half-million dollars in cash from club dues, merchandise and club jackets, according to Glenn Pender, an SCI agent who testified. (Pender did not specify a time frame for that dollar amount)
The other financial component comes from drug dealing, Pender said. He said he could not provide a number on proceeds from drug sales.
Officials said Pagans are known for selling crystal methamphetamine. What’s particularly alarming, officials said, is the amount they are dealing and the source, the Mexican drug cartel based out of Atlanta and Philadelphia.
SCI Special Agent Robert Collins said investigators have identified a “prominent supplier” for the Pagans who is trafficking 55 pounds of crystal meth every five or six weeks in South Jersey. Officials said 1 pound of crystal meth has a street value of about $50,000.
Officials said the increase in Pagan membership has led to an uptick in violent incidents every month, with much of that increase seen in North Jersey, including areas that were traditionally Hell’s Angels territory.
Robert DeRonde, who goes by the name “Hellboy," is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for beating a Hell’s Angels associate at a Newark gas station a couple of blocks from the Hell’s Angels clubhouse on Clinton Avenue.
Robert Deronde, 55, appears in Superior Court in Essex County after his arrest in April 2018 for beating up an associate of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Alex Napoliello
One official described a scenario in which there was a house party attended by 100 people, including members of the Pagans and the Thug Riders, a rival motorcycle gang. A clash between the two clubs left two people stabbed and reports of gunshots fired, though no one was hit. Out of 100 witnesses, the official said, no one came forward with information.
Officials said there is also evidence of Pagans assisting traditional organized crime members with collecting gambling debts and also being hired as “protection” at events held by the A.C. Skinheads, a prominent white supremacy group in South Jersey.
Another disturbing element of the club officials highlighted at the hearing was the treatment of women by members of the Pagans.
“Women are below dogs,” SCI Investigative Analyst Nicole McCann noted.
McCann said there is a hierarchy among the women, with titles such as “Old Ladies” or “Property Of” referring to wives or longtime girlfriends of prominent Pagan members. She said “pets” is the term used to reference women who are “shared sexually” among Pagans.
Women are also not allowed to walk alone, McCann said. Those labeled as “Old Ladies” have to walk in groups of other women or with the Pagan member they “belong to,” she said.
She added, “There are Pagan rules that you can’t marry a ‘pet.'"
The hearing held by the SCI is one step in an ongoing investigation into outlaw motorcycle clubs in New Jersey. The SCI will issue a report at the conclusion of the investigation, which began about 18 months ago. The findings will then be given to the state Attorney General’s Office.
“This so-called club is undergoing a major resurgence,” said Lee Seglem, the executive director of the State Commission of Investigation. “And how that is not good news for anyone concerned with public peace and public safety.”
Alex Napoliello may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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This symbolizes their affinity for cannabis and their belief in its usage. Other symbols used by the Pagan Motorcycle Club include a skull and crossbones, representing danger and a willingness to face death for the club, and the trident, symbolizing power and authority. These symbols are often seen on clothing, accessories, and motorcycles belonging to club members. Overall, the symbols used by the Pagan Motorcycle Club hold significant meaning and represent their core values and beliefs. They serve as a recognizable visual representation of the club's identity and allow members to express their affiliation and dedication..
Reviews for "The Symbolic Journey: Exploring Pagan Motorcycle Club Symbols"
1. Sara - 1/5 Stars - I find the use of Pagan motorcycle club symbols highly offensive. As a law-abiding citizen, I believe that promoting symbols associated with criminal organizations only serves to glorify their activities. The mere presence of these symbols creates a negative and intimidating atmosphere, which can be quite distressing for those who have been victimized by motorcycle gangs. It is important to prioritize the safety and well-being of the community by discouraging the use of such symbols.
2. John - 2/5 Stars - I have mixed feelings about the Pagan motorcycle club symbols. While I understand that some people may find them intriguing or cool, we must acknowledge the negative connotations associated with these symbols. The Pagan motorcycle club has been involved in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and violence. Displaying these symbols inadvertently promotes a lifestyle that goes against the principles of a lawful society. It is important to consider the impact our choices have on society and refrain from glorifying criminal organizations.
3. Emily - 1/5 Stars - The usage of Pagan motorcycle club symbols is highly inappropriate and offensive. These symbols are associated with a criminal organization that has caused harm and instilled fear in communities. By displaying or endorsing these symbols, we are indirectly supporting the activities of the Pagan motorcycle club. It sends a message that we are accepting or glorifying their actions, which is absolutely unacceptable. Let's promote symbols of peace, unity, and positivity instead of perpetuating a culture of criminal behavior.