Hells Angels case going to trial

The federal government is prosecuting current and former members of the Washington Nomads chapter of the Hells Angels under RICO. Defendants are Richard "Smilin' Rick" Fabel, Joshua Binder, Rodney Rollness, and Ricky Jenks. "Prosecutors allege a laundry list of crimes perpetrated by the four defendants between 1996 and 2006" -- extortion, robbery, kidnapping, murder, and more. Chief Judge Robert S. Lasnik is presiding. Hells Angels case going to trial, Seattle Times, Feb. 26, 2007.

One of the defense lawyers in Trial Ad instructor Todd Maybrown. (See list of counsel on calendar.) The U.S. Attorney's Office press release from when the men were indicted (Feb. 14, 2006) is here.

In a separate case, on Friday, four Hells Angels members were sentenced in a Nevada district court -- and charges were dismissed against 36 other club members -- for their role in a brawl with another biker gang at a casino; two others had already been sentenced. Three people were killed in the brawl (two Hells Angels and a Mongol) and a dozen were hurt. The six all pleaded guilty or no contest. (One guilty plea was to "battery in the aid of of racketeering.") The longest sentence was 51 months. 4 Hells Angels sentenced in Las Vegas, Seattle P-I, Feb. 23, 2007.

Interested in RICO prosecutions? I recommend a recent "Justice Talking" program: Organized Crime in the 21st Century, Justice Talking, Jan. 1, 2007 (site includes audio, a transcript, some links, and references to several books.