An entire California chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was arrested on a slew of violent charges including kidnapping and robbery, as part of a local and federal investigation.
Ricardo Alvarez, 42; Armando Villasenor, 55; Joseph Soto Sr., 57; Joseph Soto Jr., 33; Joshua Zavala, 31; and John Seeger, 57 –– all of Bakersfield, California –– were taken into custody Tuesday, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office. Joshua Vaughn, 37, also of Bakersfield, was already imprisoned on other charges.
Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr., and Zavala are "active, patched members" of the Hell's Angels Bakersfield Chapter, said authorities. Vaughn and Seeger are members of the sub-affiliate Sons Of Hell Motorcycle Club.
In addition to kidnapping and robbery, the suspects were each charged with criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidating a witness or victim, and elder abuse, the sheriff's office confirmed.
Throughout the multi-agency probe involving more than 150 law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, California Highway Patrol, and the sheriff's office, 25 guns, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and gang paraphernalia were seized.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, the Hells Angels are considered a criminal enterprise involved in murder, drug manufacturing and distribution, firearms sales, and other unlawful activities, despite former president Ralph "Sonny" Barger's claims the club was comprised of "a bunch of fun loving guys who just ride motorcycles."
