On Monday, California authorities made a major arrest by apprehending the entire Bakersfield chapter of the notorious Hells Angels motorcycle gang. The arrests were made on a range of charges, which included the serious charge of kidnapping.
In a statement, the Kern County Sheriff’s office, which is situated north of Los Angeles, announced that they have conducted a law enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of six gang members on Tuesday morning. It was reported that the seventh member was already in police custody.
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The office did not disclose much information regarding the reason behind the arrests. However, it was revealed that it followed a collaborative investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and California Highway Patrol.
According to reports, the individuals suspected of being involved in a gang have been accused of a range of crimes including kidnapping, first-degree robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, criminal conspiracy, and other related offenses.
On Tuesday, law enforcement executed eight search warrants in various locations in Bakersfield and seized 25 firearms, ammunition, numerous high-capacity magazines, and associated gang paraphernalia.
Seven suspects have been identified by the sheriff’s office, namely Rocardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, John Seeger, 57, and Joshua Vaughn, 37.
According to jail records posted online by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the defendants are currently being held at the Lerdo Justice Facility, with the exception of Vaughn, who was already in police custody on Tuesday and is now at the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility, as stated in his jail record.
All but two of the defendants were granted bail, with the amount set at $800,000 for most. However, Vaughn, who was charged with 13 offenses, received a bail amount of $670,000, while Zavala, who is facing 15 offenses, was granted a bail amount of over $1 million.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr., and Zavala are currently active and patched members of the Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Meanwhile, Vaughn and Seeger are identified as members of the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Club, which follows the orders and directives of the former group.
According to the Justice Department, the Hells Angels have been labeled as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. This classification is given to motorcycle clubs that engage in criminal activities by utilizing their club as a means to conduct illicit operations.
According to the Justice Department, there are currently over 300 active OMGs, one of which is the Hells Angels, considered to be a significant national domestic threat.
