An entire chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in California has been arrested as part of a criminal street gang investigation. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the California Highway Patrol, worked together to take the Bakersfield chapter of the outlaw motorcycle gang into custody. The arrests were made on Tuesday, and more than 150 law enforcement personnel were involved in the operation.
During the arrest, approximately 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines, and gang affiliate paraphernalia were seized by the authorities. Images of the firearms, which included several rifles, were released by the Sheriff’s Office. The individuals arrested were identified as Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, and John Seeger, 57, all from Bakersfield. Another suspect linked to the investigation, 37-year-old Joshua Vaughn, was already in custody on other charges.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr., and Zavala are active, patched members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, Bakersfield Chapter, while Vaughn and Seeger are members of the Sons Of Hell Motorcycle Club, a sub-affiliate that takes orders from the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.
The suspects now face a range of charges, including kidnapping, first-degree robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidating a witness or victim, and elder abuse, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
This incident sheds light on the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to crack down on criminal organizations and ensure the safety of communities. It also highlights the risks associated with being involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs and the serious consequences that can follow.
It is essential for authorities to remain vigilant and proactive in their efforts to combat gang-related activities and protect the public from potential harm. The collaboration between different law enforcement agencies in this case demonstrates the importance of working together to address complex criminal networks and bring those responsible to justice.