49 Arrested, 50+ Guns Seized in Massive Motorcycle Gang Bust
By Marc Fortier
Published at 7:45 PM EDT on May 23, 2018


Over four dozen people have been arrested and more than 50 guns seized following a year-long investigation into violent motorcycle gangs operating in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Rhode Island State Police said 49 people were arrested Wednesday in a series of pre-dawn raids conducted by more than 150 state, federal and local law enforcement officers. Police also seized 53 illegal handguns and a large quantity of marijuana, crack, cocaine and heroin.

“These gang members are not recreational bikers organizing local charities," Rhode Island State Police Col. Ann Assumpico said. "These are violent criminals who belong to some of the most sinister motorcycle gangs in this country."

State police said search warrants were executed at 29 locations, including four in Massachusetts. According to police, the raids involved the use of heavily-armed SWAT team members and explosives to breach fortified buildings.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said the gangs represented "a vast and complex network of drug and gun traffickers in Rhode Island and bordering Massachusetts and Connecticut."

The investigation began last May when state police detectives received information that some of the most violent motorcycle gangs in the country were establishing local chapters in northwestern Rhode Island. They zeroed in on members of two gangs - the Pagans and Kryptmen - who were allegedly involved in gun and drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

Police said the local chapters are affiliated with some of the country's most notorious biker gangs, most of which have a history of violent criminal activity including murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion and large-scale drug trafficking.

“These gangs have been involved in numerous acts of violence, including shooting incidents that put innocent civilians at risk,” Rhode Island State Police Lt. Col. Joseph Philbin said.

Using electronic surveillance and court-ordered wire taps, state police said they intercepted thousands of phone conversations and text messages, in addition to other evidence.

At one point, based on intelligence gathered during the investigation, police said detectives intercepted and arrested one of the gang members who they believe was on his way to commit a murder.

The investigation also revealed evidence of other criminal activities, including large scale gun and drug trafficking, fraudulent mortgage and bank activity and the widespread theft and sale of stolen ATVs, lawn tractors, snow blowers and other equipment.

"Today's arrests send a clear and convincing message: we will not allow motorcycle gangs and other criminals to sell guns and drugs on our streets and commit violent crimes in our communities," Assumpico said.

More than a dozen additional suspects are still being sought on arrest warrants charging them with crimes including gun and drug trafficking.

I never heard of the kryptmen.. any info on them?

pagans in rhode island? never seen any up this way wow

i was thinking the same thing

Very possible they now have a chapter up there. Never heard of the other gang though.

LAMO

I AM SURE THAT most of them will be out on bail. The pagans had a dad and son team years ago from Jersey who both flipped the dad was the boss. they are in RI with other groups but it is laughable just like everything else around here. I told you before a lot of the real guys go to work because of the all the creeps that were chosen to be men when real men were not.

new england, are you saying the pagan was a rat an he opened a chapter in rhode island? im confused...all the other stuff i agree with, much is laughable..i cant believe pagans would allow a rat open a chapter, i must be reading this wrong...but i also dont believe the HA allowed them to open down there...who knows

ill know one thing, i have never seen a pagan in new england

53 guns. lotta guns.

Hi biggie

i meant that the dad and his son were rats. I do not know these new people that were arrested. I meant that there are pagans in RI not the rat dad and son. My fault i just went right to the next thing about the pagans being in RI. Since Carl died from RI even the bikers are a joke at least 95 percent of them. Even the guy CJ if you look at his interview from the news all he does is say he has law enforcement from here to CT for life long friends. How do people not see that most of the people today are all compromised. It is a complete joke. Like i said after Carl died from the HA it all changed even for them.

I have definitely never seen pagans in New England. The most dangerous bikers South of the Tobin Bridge have been the Outlaws since the turn of the century. Specifically the Brockton and FSU guys that held down the boston-southern MA outlaws shooters category. HA north of the Bridge through Lynn into NH, then Outlaws/FSU guys again in Maine. There has been an Outlaws presence in RI for a long time now and I was very surprised to open this article and see it was about Pagans...where in RI were the pagans?

vigilantes have a club i think in webster ma which boarders rhode island ma line i see them on the highway. evry few years theres dust ups with the hells angels. i always laught when i see the iron pigs on the highway there all retired cops in a mc just makes me laugh there jackets a pig with wings cracks me up or just the name iron pigs lol. there deep thou lol be like 20 of them flying down the pike

iron pigs lolololololol. i had to google it a few yrs back and once it came up retired police i cant help myself best club name EVA

new england, got you, i understand now, and yes, since carl has been gone, most are same boat as the rest of the street..shambles...there are few good guys, there, and up here, in the club, but most end up being compromised as you say....not sure if you get pm's on this, im gonna send you shortly

Hi Biggie

Good morning

Where are you from because I am from Rhode Island

i know you are you mentioned that earlier...north of boston

They are both located near the Woonsocket area. You can find a lot of information on the Kryptmen MC, this club has done a lot for communities. Seems like both clubs rubbed shoulders, but really did not work with each other until Santa died.