Part 4 (2/2)
”From that chapter the h.e.l.ls Angels spread across North America. Eventually other groups also went national, then international. Today the big four are the h.e.l.ls Angels, the Outlaws, the Bandidos, and the Pagans. All but the Pagans have chapters outside the States, though none to the extent of the Angels.”
A man sitting across the table raised his hand. He had a large paunch and receding hairline, and looked strikingly like Andy Sipowicz of NYPD Blue NYPD Blue.
”How big are we talking here?”
”Figures vary, depending on the source, but the best estimate is that the h.e.l.ls Angels have over sixteen hundred members throughout Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Most are in the United States and Canada, of course, but, as of today, they have one hundred and thirty-three chapters around the globe.
”The 1998 Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada annual report estimates the Bandidos have sixty-seven chapters and about six hundred members worldwide. Other estimates b.u.mp it to eight hundred.”
”Sacrement!”
”What qualifies as an outlaw motorcycle club?” This questioner looked about nineteen.
”Technically the OMC label designates those clubs not registered with the American Motorcycle a.s.sociation or the Canadian Motorcycle a.s.sociation, the North American affiliates of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, now headquartered in Switzerland. According to the AMA, these nonregistered clubs account for only one percent of all motorcyclists, but it's this deviant fringe that gives biking a bad name. And it's a tag the boys have graciously accepted, by the way. I've seen the one-percenter logo tattooed on some of the ugliest shoulders in the province.”
”Yeah. The little triangle identifies the truly righteous biker.” The investigator to my right wore a ponytail and a silver stud in his ear.
”The truly rat puke, you mean.” Sipowicz. His French sounded exactly as I would expect if NYPD Blue NYPD Blue had been set in Trois-Rivieres. had been set in Trois-Rivieres.
More laughter.
Roy indicated a stack of notebooks in the center of the table.
”There's information in those about the structure of OMCs. Read it and we'll discuss it later. Today I want to take a look at the local scene.”
He clicked on a projector. The screen filled with the image of a clenched fist, swastika tattooed on the wrist, the letters F.T.W. in red and black rippling across the knuckles.
”The basic philosophy of outlaw bikers can be summed up in one phrase.”
”f.u.c.k the World!” Shouted in unison.
”F.T.W. f.u.c.k the World,” Roy agreed. ”Your colors and brothers come first and demand total loyalty. Nonwhites need not apply.”
Roy clicked to the next slide. The screen showed a black-and-white photo of sixteen men arranged in three ragged rows. All were unshorn and wore sleeveless leather vests accessorized with pins and patches. Their tattoos would have impressed a Maori warrior. So would their scowls.
”At the end of the seventies the Outlaws and the h.e.l.ls Angels from the States both partied hard with certain Quebec gangs they wanted to take over. In 1977 the Popeyes got asked to the prom and became the first h.e.l.ls Angels chapter in the province. At that time the Popeyes were the second-largest OMC in Canada, with 250 to 350 members. Unfortunately, only about 25 or 30 of the boys had impressed the Angels enough to wear the colors, so the rest got the boot. You're looking at some of the rejects here. This is the infamous North chapter. Five of these guys were liquidated by their brother Angels and the chapter became extinct.”
”Why?”
”Each club has a code of conduct that applies to every member. Ever since the h.e.l.ls Angels formed back in the forties their rules have prohibited heroin and the use of needles. This has become even more important in today's business atmosphere. Keep in mind, these are not not the bikers of old. This is the bikers of old. This is not not the social rebellion of the fifties, or the subculture of drugs and revolution that danced through the sixties. Today's bikers are engaged in sophisticated organized crime. First and foremost these guys are businessmen. Junkies can cause trouble and cost the club money, and that isn't tolerated.” the social rebellion of the fifties, or the subculture of drugs and revolution that danced through the sixties. Today's bikers are engaged in sophisticated organized crime. First and foremost these guys are businessmen. Junkies can cause trouble and cost the club money, and that isn't tolerated.”
Roy gestured at the screen.
”Getting back to the choir here, in 1982 the Montreal chapter pa.s.sed a drug law and called for death or expulsion of any Angel defying it. But the members of the North chapter were too attached to their c.o.ke, and decided to go their own way. Apparently the blow had affected their math, because they failed to note that they were strongly outnumbered on this question.”
One by one, Roy tapped his pen on five of the men in the photograph.
”In June of 1985 these guys were found taking the cement siesta in the St. Lawrence Seaway. One of the sleeping bags had floated up, the others had to be dredged from the bottom.”
”Taking care of business.” Ponytail.
”Permanently. They were killed in the h.e.l.ls Angels' clubhouse out in Lennoxville. Apparently the party they'd gone out there to attend turned out not to be the one they'd expected.”
”Kind of contrary to the old righteous brother outlaw doctrine.” Ponytail shook his head.
”Is that what started the present war?” I asked.
”Not really. A year after the h.e.l.ls Angels adopted the Popeyes, a Montreal group called Satan's Choice became the first Outlaws chapter in Quebec. They've been killing each other ever since.”
Roy indicated a gaunt man squatting in the front row of the photo.
”War was declared when this h.e.l.ls Angel killed an Outlaw in a drive-by. For several years after that it was open season.”
”'G.o.d forgives, the Outlaws don't.' That's their slogan.” Sipowicz wrote his name, ”Kuricek,” on a notebook as he spoke. I wondered how many people called him Sipowicz by mistake.
”True. But the Quebec Outlaws have suffered a severe reversal of fortune since then. Five or six are now in jail, and their clubhouse was burned to the ground a few years ago. The present war really involves the Angels and a Canadian group called the Rock Machine, and their puppet clubs.”
”Cla.s.sy guys,” offered Sipowicz/Kuricek.
”But the Rock Machine also fell on hard times,” Roy continued. ”Until recently.”
He clicked to a slide showing a man in a beret embracing a leather-jacketed comrade. Centered on the embracee's back was a cartoon-like Mexican bandit, knife in one hand, pistol in the other. Red and yellow crescent-shaped banners above and below the figure identified the wearer as the national vice president of the Bandidos MC.
”The Machine was on its last legs, but appears to be undergoing a major resuscitation since members have recently been spotted wearing patches identifying them as tentative Bandidos.”
”Tentative?” I asked.
”The Machine has been granted hang-around status while the Bandidos decide if they're worthy to prospect.”
”I can see the advantage to the Rock Machine, but what's in it for the Bandidos?” I asked.
”For years the Bandidos were satisfied with local meth and narcotics sales, and a few bucks from prost.i.tution. The national organization ran a pretty loose s.h.i.+p. Now power has s.h.i.+fted, and the new leaders.h.i.+p recognizes the advantage of expansion and tight control over member chapters.
”Check out the bottom rocker.” Roy pointed to the lower banner on a jacket in the background. ”Quebec has been changed to Canada. That's a pretty clear indicator of where the Bandidos want to go. But it may not be that easy.”
New slide. A formation of bikes on a two-lane highway.
”This was taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a few weeks ago. The Bandidos were on their way to a run organized by the Oklahoma chapter. When police pulled over some of the boys for traffic violations, the club's international president was among them, so investigators took the opportunity to query him about all the new faces. He admitted the Bandidos were checking out wanna-be clubs around the world, but refused to answer when asked about the Rock Machine.
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