The Popeye Moto Club , also referred to as the Popeye(s) MC , and often shortened to simply The Popeyes was a French-Canadian outlaw motorcycle club and criminal organization based in Quebec . At their peak, they were as the second-largest biker gang in all of Canada, behind the rivaling Satan's Choice .
158-583: In 1977, the Popeyes were "patched over" (absorbed) by their longtime allies the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and subsequently rebranded as the very first Canadian Hells Angels charter. The Popeye Moto Club was founded in the populous city of Montreal by over half-a-dozen avid Quebecois motorcycle enthusiasts which included Michel "Sky" Langlois, Gilles "Super Gilles" Charette, Roger Calve and Yvon "Gorille" Bilodeau. The specific year of
316-593: A Sicilian Mafia leader, Antonio Manno. Rizzuto emigrated from Sicily with his family to Montreal in 1954. In the 1970s, Rizzuto was an underling in the Sicilian faction, led by Luigi Greco until his death in 1972, of the Calabrian Cotroni crime family . As tension then grew into a power struggle between the Calabrian and Sicilian factions of the family, a mob war began in 1976. In December 1970,
474-465: A 2000 BBC interview, "The club, as a whole, is not racist but we probably have enough racist members that no black guy is going to get in it." At that time the club had no black members. A few nonwhite members have been noted in the United States. In 1967, Hunter S. Thompson remarked upon a "Chinese Mel from [San Francisco] and Charley, a young black person from Oakland". Steven Wayne Yee,
632-518: A 300 kilogram shipment of a total 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, co-organized by Rizzuto family confidant, Francesco Del Balso and West End Gang member, Richard Griffin, was intercepted in Boucherville, Quebec , by police. After Griffin invested $ 1.5 million in the purchase and transportation of the cocaine, he demanded $ 350,000 from the Rizzutos for not taking preventative measures in transporting
790-724: A Chinese-American member of the Hells Angels' Cleveland charter, was convicted of murder in 1990. The Satan's Angels MC in Vancouver had a black member when it merged with the Hells Angels in 1983. The San Francisco and Anchorage charters threatened to have the Vancouver charter expelled from the club when they learned of the situation; the matter was ultimately resolved when the man changed his nationality to " Hawaiian ". An unsanctioned Hells Angels charter in Windsor , England
948-550: A Franco-Algerian man who once lived in Montreal was likewise extradited to Italy, where he received a suspended sentence for Mafia associations. Canada refused to extradite either Ranieri or Rizzuto to face trial in Italy. Adriano Iasillo, an anti-Mafia prosecutor stated in an interview with Isabelle Richer of Radio Canada that: "Without Rizzuto, it would have been impossible for a criminal organization from outside to invest in one of
1106-416: A Hells Angel member from San Bernardino ("Berdoo"), implying that the "Frisco" Hells Angels were very much aware of their forebears. The "Frisco" Hells Angels were reorganized in 1955 with 13 charter members, Frank Sadilek serving as president, and the smaller, original logo. The Oakland charter, at the time headed by Barger, used a larger version of the "Death's Head" patch nicknamed the "Barger Larger", which
1264-755: A Mafia "village" along a section of Gouin Boulevard, where most of the imposing Tudor-style mansions were owned by Mafiosi. The Rizzuto family and their allies in the Cuntera-Caruana clan were more cosmopolitan than the Cotroni family as Peter Edwards, the crime correspondent of the Toronto Star noted they lived "...on a grandiose international scale, driving BMW 732i's and Mercedes-Benz 500SELs and owning English country mansions with names such as Broomfield Manor and The Hook. Their children kept away from
1422-590: A Spanish gangster who been a family associate since the 1980s. In January 2001, Rizzuto called a meeting at a Toronto restaurant attended by members of the Gambino family of New York, the Magaddino family of Buffalo, and the seven 'Ndrangheta clans of Toronto to discuss his plans to complete his takeover of the underworld in Ontario. Vito Rizzuto was arrested on January 20, 2004, in Montreal, for his involvement in
1580-467: A bottom rocker with the state, province or territory name along with the rectangular "MC" patch. To become a full member, a "prospect" must be unanimously confirmed by the rest of the full club members. Before votes are cast, a "prospect" usually travels to every charter in the sponsoring charter's geographic jurisdiction (state, province, or territory) and introduces himself to every "full-patch" member. This allows each voting member to become familiar with
1738-604: A branch of-shifted its support from Violi to Rizzuto in the aftermath of the CECO hearings. Vito Rizzuto went to New York to meet "the Commission" (the governing board of the American Mafia) and asked for their approval to have Violi killed as he argued that Violi was simply too "stupid" to be the next boss of the Cotroni family as proven by l'affaire Ménard . "The Commission", which was very unhappy with Violi following
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#17327757395761896-563: A consequence of aligning with Desjardins and attempting to overthrow the Rizzuto family around 2009–2010. Five days before the death of Rizzuto, on December 18, 2013, 54-year old Roger Valiquette Jr., a loan shark and Raynald Desjardins ally who also had ties to Joe Di Maulo, was gunned down in the parking lot of a restaurant in Laval. Vito Rizzuto died of natural causes on December 23, 2013. After his release from prison, Rizzuto had been on
2054-415: A crime "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization." As part of the same operation, the police charged Maurice Boucher with ordering the failed assassination plot on Desjardins from his prison cell. On March 1, 2016, 52-year-old Lorenzo "Skunk" Giordano, a Rizzuto lieutenant and confidant who had expressed wishes to become the next boss of the Rizzuto family,
2212-684: A diamond-shaped "81" patch on their vests, which indicates their adherence to the Hells Angels. The Red Devils Motorcycle Club , a biker group with chapters in nearly 20 countries, is the official and most prominent support club of the Hells Angels. The Hells Angels have more than two dozen support clubs in Canada. In Norway, the Hells Angels have built up a network of support clubs over which they exert control and hold responsibility for administering three-piece back patches. The Hells Angels have also formed support groups, such as AK81 in Denmark and
2370-649: A feud with a rival gang. According to an alternative theory, the Hells Angels were founded on November 15, 1951, in San Bernardino , by Dick White, a member of the Redlands Road Runners. According to its website, the club's name was suggested by Arvid Olsen, an associate of the founders who had served in the "Hell's Angels" squadron of the Flying Tigers in China during World War II. In
2528-546: A firearm silencer, and he was sentenced to 10 months in April 2010. In November 2015, Vito Rizzuto's son, Leonardo Rizzuto, along with Rocco Sollecito's son, Stefano Sollecito, believed to be the heads of the Mafia in Montreal, were arrested along with more than 40 other people, and were charged with taking part in a conspiracy to traffic in drugs between January 1, 2013, and November 16, 2015. They were also charged with committing
2686-528: A former Rizzuto family lieutenant who was ousted after attempting to overthrow the Rizzuto family in around 2009–2010. Colapelle allegedly served as a double-agent for Raynald Desjardins and was spying on Salvatore Montagna by mid-2011. On May 4, 2012, 53-year old Giuseppe "Joe" Renda was kidnapped and never seen again. Renda met with Antonio Pietranto and Montagna two days before the failed assassination attempt on Desjardins on September 16, 2011, Renda allegedly gave Montagna his full support in taking control of
2844-577: A gunman inside an Italian restaurant in the Mexican city of Acapulco . He had lived in Canada throughout the 1950s but was deported in January 2013 after the Canadian government formally accused him of murder and organized crime charges. The murder of Gallo is believed to have marked the three-year anniversary of the murder of Nicolo Rizzuto, Sr. on November 10, 2010. It is suspected Gallo was killed as
3002-578: A hotel. Among the group members was Yves Buteau . The Popeyes were patched over by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in 1977 to form the Hells Angels Montreal chapter (a.k.a. the North Chapter), establishing the very first Hells Angels chapter in Canada. However, only a fraction of the Popeyes members were considered worthy of wearing the Hells Angels kutte and gang colors . A total of 35 members are believed to have patched over,
3160-473: A killing and tried. A list of acknowledged charters can be found on the HAMC's official website. Hells Angels chapters often oversee smaller motorcycle clubs within their locality, known as support clubs or "puppet" clubs. These clubs serve as a potential source of recruitment and earnings for the Hells Angels, and, according to law enforcement, carry out crimes on the Hells Angels' behalf in order to shield
3318-589: A letter written to The Guinness Book of World Records by a member on the Hells Angels' behalf, it is instead stated that the club's name was taken from the "Hell's Angels" squadron of the 303rd Bombardment Group , which was active in the European theater of World War II. It is at least clear that the name was inspired by the tradition from World Wars I and II whereby the Americans gave their squadrons fierce, death-defying titles; an example of this lies in one of
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#17327757395763476-479: A liquor truck. He pleaded guilty to possessing stolen goods and received a 90-day sentence. On January 16, 2009, 37-year old Sam Fasulo was shot and killed, a convicted heroin and crack-cocaine dealer, who had close ties to Francesco Arcadi. In 2004, he was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking ring that operated out of Italian cafés in Saint-Leonard and Saint-Michel . Fasulo
3634-488: A member of both the Popeyes and the Hells Angels. Other Popeye members that later became famous Hells Angels include Laurent "L'Anglais" Viau, Normand "Billy" Labelle, Robert "Tiny" Richard, Denis "Le Cure" Kennedy, Jean-Pierre “Matt le Crosseur” Mathieu, Jean-Guy “Brutus” Geoffrion and Michel "Sky" Langlois . Trudeau, Langlois and Viau all played a role in the infamous Lennoxville massacre . Hells Angels Motorcycle Club The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club ( HAMC )
3792-633: A monopoly on street-level drug sales in Quebec. Many drug dealers and crime families resisted and established groups such as the "Alliance to fight the Angels", led by the Rock Machine . The war resulted in the bombings of many establishments and murders on both sides. More than 160 people died, over 300 were injured, and over 100 bikers were incarcerated. Members of the Spanish charter were involved in
3950-456: A preeminent position as " first among equals " because it has the largest membership of any charter the United States and because of Barger's esteem among club members internationally. The Oakland charter is responsible for making major decisions within the club and granting new charters. Any motorcycle club seeking to join to the Hells Angels must apply to the Oakland charter for membership, and
4108-563: A press conference in Rome stated the construction firm of Zappia International which had been bidding for the rights to build a bridge over the Strait of Messina was a front for the Rizzuto family, who had plans to lauder billions. On 1 August 2003, the DIA listened as Zappia in Rome called Ranieri in Montreal to tell him: "If everything does well, I will build the bridge and when everything is finished,
4266-468: A proposed transportation plan that included restrictions on motorcycle use and sales to get California to meet the new Clean Air Act standards. The Hells Angels' official website attributes the official "death's head" insignia design to Frank Sadilek, past president of the San Francisco charter. The colors and shape of the early-style jacket emblem (before 1953) were copied from the insignias of
4424-417: A prospective member is first deemed a "hang-around", indicating that he is invited to some club events or to meet club members at known gathering places. If the "hang-around" is interested, he may be asked to become an "associate", a status that usually lasts a year or two. At the end of that stage, he is reclassified as "prospect", participating in some club activities, but not having voting privileges while he
4582-534: A rare lapse in Vito's judgment and a subtle turning point in his fortunes. It would have been far better to take action himself against Panepinto if he needed to sacrifice his lieutenant. By bending to the pressure of the Italian team that visited him, Vito had further legitimized the 'Ndrangheta on the streets and undermined his own security". Panepinto was replaced as the family's Toronto agent by Juan Ramon Fernandez ,
4740-552: A red merrowed border. The term "one-percenter" is said to be a response to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) comment on the Hollister incident to the effect that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens and 1% were outlaws. The AMA has no record of such a statement and calls this story apocryphal. Most members wear a rectangular patch (again, white background with red letters and
4898-483: A red merrowed border) identifying their respective charter locations. Another similarly designed patch reads "Hells Angels". When applicable, members of the club wear a patch denoting their position or rank within the organization. The patch is rectangular and, like those described above, displays a white background with red letters and a red merrowed border. Some examples of the titles used are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms . This patch
Popeye Moto Club - Misplaced Pages Continue
5056-490: A reputation for engaging in violence - part of the reason why they would eventually be selected by the Hells Angels for recruitment. As a way of asserting their dominance as one of the most notorious and ambitious criminal organizations in the country, the Popeyes upheld a strict policy towards other local motorcycle clubs that had logos featuring a red-and-white color scheme. On multiple occasions, they would forcibly tear
5214-582: A result of the investigation, the committee six members of the family pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of a crime for the benefit of, the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization. Between September 7 and September 12, 2007, 56-year old Francesco "Frank" Velenosi, an associate of capo Francesco Arcadi, was found in the trunk of his Volvo car, stabbed to death. On January 15, 2008, Constantin "Big Gus" Alevizos, an associate of Panepinto before his murder in October 2000,
5372-585: A result of the stabbing. By 1976, the Devil's Disciples had disbanded after fifteen of their members had been murdered by one criminal group or another. With Satan's Choice MC being backed by the Outlaws Motorcycle Club , a rival of the Hells Angels, it caused conflict between them and the Popeyes MC, who were allied with the Hells Angels. This led to a two-year war between Satan's Choice and
5530-469: A revenge campaign which the Rizzuto crime family continued after his death. Several members and associates of the Cotroni family were murdered as a result. In April 2014, Carmine Verduci was shot to death outside a cafe; it is believed he was encroaching on the Rizzutos' turf following Vito's death. On August 1, 2014, 46-year old Ducarme Joseph, leader of the Haitian-based street gang "the 67s",
5688-561: A telephone call to Ranieri on September 19, 2003, Zappia stated: "What about our friend [Rizzuto]? I think our friend should send someone to get the money. He should send those people on motorcycles [the Hells Angels]. He has to send the French people, with the bikes". Sivabavanandan was arrested while on visit to France and extradited to Italy, where he was convicted of Mafia associations and served half of his two year sentence. Hammoudi,
5846-479: A trademark infringement lawsuit for the first time on October 26, 1989, when the Hells Angels lodged a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles against Concorde-New Horizons , which produced the film Nam Angels , and against Media Home Entertainment , which distributed the film on video, over infringements on the club's registered trademarks. The suit was settled out of court. According to The Globe and Mail ,
6004-499: A violent criminal gang and a scourge on society. The club became prominent within, and established its notoriety as part of, the 1960s counterculture movement in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District, playing a part at many of the movement's seminal events. Members were directly connected to many of the counterculture's primary leaders, such as Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters , Allen Ginsberg , Jerry Garcia and
6162-480: A young male. On October 15, 2016, 65-year old Vincenzo Spagnolo, considered formerly as a mediator, messenger and advisor to Vito Rizzuto , was shot multiple times at his home in Vimont, Quebec , and pronounced dead. Spagnolo was close to the Sicilian faction of the family following Rizzuto's death in 2013. In December 2016, Desjardins received a 14-year prison sentence, including time served , for connection to
6320-415: Is also the club's traditional motto . Other Hells Angels slogans include "When we do right, nobody remembers. When we do wrong, nobody forgets"; "Three can keep a secret if two are dead"; and "When in doubt, knock 'em out", which was coined by New York City charter member Vincent "Big Vinny" Girolamo. The Hells Angels incorporated in 1966, trademarking the club's name and four symbols. The club filed
6478-525: Is an Italian-Canadian organized crime family based in Montreal , Quebec , whose activity covers most of southern Quebec and Ontario . The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States considers the family a faction of the Bonanno crime family of New York City , while Canadian and most other international law enforcement agencies recognize it as an independent family. The Rizzuto family
Popeye Moto Club - Misplaced Pages Continue
6636-506: Is an international outlaw motorcycle club whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation . Common nicknames for the club are the "H.A.", "Red & White", and "81". With a membership of over 6,000, and 592 charters in 66 countries, the HAMC is the largest "outlaw" motorcycle club in
6794-469: Is evaluated for suitability as a full member. The last phase, and highest membership status, is full membership or " full-patch ". The term "full-patch" refers to the complete four-piece insignia, including the "Death Head" logo, two rockers (top rocker: "Hells Angels"; bottom rocker: state or territory claimed) and the rectangular "MC" patch below the wing of the Death's Head. Prospects are allowed to wear only
6952-485: Is possible that Olivero had fallen from the good graces of the Rizzuto family and was targeted as a result. On February 9, 2022, 46-year old Domenico Macri was murdered in his garage in the LaSalle neighbourhood of Montreal during a drive-by shooting. Macri was the owner of a local sports bar, named Brasserie des Rapides. Macri is believed to have been involved in the illegal sports betting business and had connections to
7110-910: Is presumed dead. On February 3, 2018, 33-year old Daniele Ranieri was found in a ditch in Cancún, Mexico . He was shot twice in the back of the head. Law enforcement alleged Ranieri took over the Toronto crew on behalf of the Rizzuto crime family following the April 2013 murder of Joe Bravo. Ranieri fled to Mexico in 2015 following an indictment on extortion charges issued by the York Regional Police . He previously served three prison-stints for robbery, assault, bookmaking and firearm offenses. On February 19, 2018, Leonardo Rizzuto and Stefano Sollecito were released from prison since their November 2015 arrest, and acquitted of charges of gangsterism and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. The wiretap evidence that
7268-613: Is sometimes referred to as the Sixth Family . Nicolo Rizzuto , a Sicilian immigrant from Cattolica Eraclea , established the organization in the 1970s as part of the Sicilian faction of the Montreal-based Cotroni crime family . An internal war within the Cotroni family broke out by the late 1970s which resulted in the death of acting captain Paolo Violi and his brothers, allowing the Rizzutos to overtake
7426-508: Is the "Dequiallo" patch. "Dequiallo" is a reference to El Degüello , a bugle call played by the regimental band of Antonio López de Santa Anna 's army at the Battle of the Alamo . This patch allegedly "signifies that the wearer has fought law enforcement on arrest." There is no common convention as to where the patches are placed on members' jackets/vests. "Angels Forever, Forever Angels"
7584-419: Is used by the club to finance motorcycle runs and funerals, and to fund the travel of club officers to state and national meetings. Hells Angels may become exempt from paying dues after a certain period of time as a member of the club. The club is not officially a racially segregated organization. In the U.S., at least one charter allegedly requires that a candidate be a white male, and Sonny Barger said in
7742-401: Is usually worn above the charter location patch. Some members also wear an "AFFA" patch, which stands for "Angels Forever; Forever Angels", referring to their lifelong membership in the club (i.e., "once a member, always a member"). An additional patch worn by select club members consists of two Nazi-style SS lightning bolts below the words "Filthy Few". Some law enforcement officials claim that
7900-494: Is you who miss it. We don't". Some of the HAMC's early history is not clear, and accounts differ. The club's first official charter was reportedly drawn up in Fontana in 1950. Various autonomous Hells Angels charters were formed throughout California in the decade following the club's foundation, by nomadic members who moved from one city to another. The San Francisco ("Frisco") charter was reportedly founded by former members of
8058-490: The Direzione Investigativa Antimafia (DIA) arrested Giuseppe Zappia, an Italian engineer at his luxury villa outside of Rome on charges of fraud in connection with his efforts to win the contract to build a bridge to connect Sicily to Calabria on behalf of the Rizzuto family. Zappia was infamous in Canada as his firm Les Terrasses Zarolega had been awarded the contract without tender to build
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#17327757395768216-519: The 85th Fighter Squadron and the 552nd Medium Bomber Squadron . The Hells Angels have a system of patches similar to military medals. The specific meaning of each patch is not publicly known, but the patches identify each biker's specific or significant actions or beliefs. The official colors of the Hells Angels are red lettering displayed on a white background—hence the club's nickname "The Red and White". The patches are worn on leather or denim jackets and vests. Red and white are also used to display
8374-850: The Bandidos , and contend that members carry out widespread violent crime and organized crime , including drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, extortion , and prostitution operations. In Australia, the Hells Angels are included among the "big six", with the Bandidos, the Comanchero , the Finks , the Mongols , and the Rebels . All Hells Angels charters are autonomous and operate on their own. As such, some charters refrain from any illegal activity, while others operate as crime syndicates. Members of
8532-642: The Cotroni crime family . On May 8, 2013, 57-year old Juan "Joe Bravo" Fernandez and his associate 36-year old Fernando Pimentel, considered neutral in the Rizzuto war, were both found murdered in a garbage dump in Casteldaccia, Palermo , his body was burnt and riddled with over 30 bullets. His associate allegedly arrived in Sicily in March. Law enforcement considered the hit to be ordered by Vito Rizzuto. Bravo
8690-711: The Criminal Intelligence Service Canada , the Australian Federal Police , and Europol , consider the club an organized crime syndicate. The Hells Angels originated on March 17, 1948, in Fontana, California , when several small motorcycle clubs agreed to merge. Otto Friedli, a World War II veteran, is credited with starting the club after breaking from the Pissed Off Bastards motorcycle club over
8848-663: The Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan , Colombian and Venezuelan drug cartels, and the Bonanno crime family in New York City. Gerlando Sciascia was a Bonanno caporegime that served as a representative for the Rizzutos. Rizzuto was the mediator who oversaw the peace among the Hells Angels, the Mafia, street gangs, Colombian cartels, and the Irish mobs such as the West End Gang . The Rizzuto family lived in
9006-459: The Grateful Dead , Timothy Leary , The Beatles , The Rolling Stones , Mick Farren , and Tom Wolfe . " Gonzo " journalist Hunter S. Thompson 's book about the club launched his career. From 1968 to 1969 the Hells Angels of San Francisco headquarters was at 715 Ashbury (across from the Grateful Dead house at 710 Ashbury). In 1973, members from several branches of the organization protested at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing about
9164-411: The Luppino and Papalia crime gangs," according to the National Post . Shortly after Angelo's murder, Pat Musitano's home was sprayed with bullets, and shortly after Tony's death in April 2019, Pat was shot but survived. At that time, CBC News discussed other mob hits and stated that the "surge" in violence appeared to have commenced after Vito Rizzuto's death; "the Musitano family [for example]
9322-437: The Market Street Commandos in 1954. A North Sacramento charter was established in 1956, followed by another charter in Sacramento the following year, which was formed by two brothers, James "Mother" Miles and Pat Miles, who were former members of the Hell Bent for Glory biker club. The Sacramento charter later disbanded and relocated to Richmond as a Nomads chapter in 1965. According to Ralph "Sonny" Barger , founder of
9480-411: The Montreal Mafia . From 1968 up until 1970, a short but violent turf war for control of the drug trade went between the Popeyes and Devil's Disciples MC , another Canadian outlaw biker gang (unrelated to the similarly named U.S.-based club ). A violent confrontation that involved roughly 100 people, both members of the Popeyes and the Devil's Disciples, occurred on 1 June 1968. The skirmish involved
9638-459: The Oakland charter in 1957, other early charters of the club were founded in Gardena , and elsewhere, with the members usually unaware that there were other clubs. One of the lesser-known clubs was in North Chino /South Pomona in the late 1960s. Barger has been credited with helping to unify these various disparate charters under common club bylaws. Other sources claim that the San Francisco Hells Angels were organized in 1953 by Rocky Graves,
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#17327757395769796-407: The Red & White Crew [ sv ] in Sweden, which consist of young males who do not own motorcycles. Over the years, the Hells Angels have amalgamated a number of smaller outlaw motorcycle clubs in a process known as a "patch-over". Various U.S. law enforcement agencies classify the Hells Angels as one of the "big four" motorcycle gangs , along with the Pagans , the Outlaws , and
9954-402: The " Grande Noirceur ", birthed a rebellious counterculture within the province as a deliberately oppositional response to the emphasis that was placed on society's traditionalist norms. Furthermore, countless biker gangs arose across Quebec that were fundamentally based on the values of liberty and freedom. The Popeyes were regarded to be the most violent outlaw biker club in Quebec, and had
10112-407: The "Filthy Few" patch is awarded only to those who have committed or are prepared to commit murder on the club's behalf. Hells Angels have denied this interpretation, however, comparing it instead to a merit badge awarded to those who are "the first to arrive at a party and the last to leave". According to reports from law enforcement and prosecutors, another patch similar to the "Filthy Few" patch
10270-417: The "prospect" and ask any questions of concern before voting. Some form of formal induction follows, wherein the "prospect" affirms his loyalty to the club and its members. The final logo patch (top "Hells Angels" rocker) is then awarded at the initiation ceremony. The step of attaining full membership can be called "being patched". Even after a member is patched in, the patches remain the property of HAMC, not
10428-459: The 'Ndrangheta hitman Salvatore Calautti on October 3, 2000. Though the murder had been sanctioned by Rizzuto who withdrew his "protection" of Panepinto (meaning that Panepinto could be killed without fear of revenge by the Rizzuto family), the fact that the family had not taken action themselves against Panepinto for unsanctioned murders damaged its image in the underworld. The journalists Peter Edwards and Antonio Nicaso wrote: "The murder marked
10586-470: The 1990s and later tried uniting street gangs in Quebec after Boucher was imprisoned. In another interview with Barger in 2000, he said, "if you're a motorcycle rider and you're white, you want to join the Hells Angels. If you're black, you want to join the Dragons . That's how it is whether anyone likes it or not. We don't have no blacks and they don't have no whites." When asked whether that could change, Barger replied, "Anything can change. I can't predict
10744-504: The CECO hearings, gave their permission for Rizzuto to have Violi killed along with his followers. However, "the Commission" did not give its approval for the murder of either Vic or Frank Cotroni. The first victim of the gang war was Pietro Sciara, a Rizzuto loyalist who joined Violi's faction. Sciara was killed on February 14, 1976 as he was leaving a cinema after watching The Godfather Part II dubbed into Italian. In 1977, Rizzuto and Cotroni capodecina Paolo Violi met face-to-face in
10902-629: The Chosen Few a Hells Angels patch, an offer that was declined. The Hells Angels became the first notarized and organized outlaw motorcycle club, and the biker clubs formed subsequently have reportedly imitated the Angels' insignias, rules, doctrines and rituals. Hells Angels charters are governed by an officer corps, consisting of a president, vice president, secretary/treasurer, sergeant-at-arms and road captain. Charters are composed of between ten and twelve members on average. Each charter has autonomy regarding member discipline and minor policy changes. In contrast to other prominent motorcycle clubs in
11060-414: The Cotronis as the city's preeminent crime family. Nicolo subsequently earned the monikers the 'Canadian Godfather' and 'boss of the Mafia in Canada' from international organized crime expert Antonio Nicaso . Nicolo's son Vito was imprisoned between 2007 and 2012 for murders in which he participated in 1981, causing a power struggle among criminals in Montreal. During his imprisonment, his son Nicolo Jr.
11218-401: The HAMC without permission. The suit was eventually voluntarily dismissed after the Angels received assurances from Disney that the references would not appear in the film. On October 7, 2009, Fritz Clapp, attorney at law for the HAMC, contacted online games community FOCO, demanding the removal of all membership marks and club trademarks from the Los Santos Roleplay Forum, a messageboard for
11376-434: The Hells Angels and that when they come into Chosen Few territory they all get together and party. A Hells Angel member interviewed for the magazine insisted there was no racial prejudice in any of their clubs. He said, "we don't have any Negro members", but maintained that no blacks have sought membership. At one point in the 1970s, the Hells Angels sought to consolidate the various motorcycle clubs and offered every member of
11534-596: The Hells Angels considered seeking an injunction to block the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from broadcasting the miniseries The Last Chapter , because of how closely the biker gang at the center of the series resembled the Hells Angels. In March 2007 the Hells Angels filed suit against the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group alleging that its film Wild Hogs used both the name and distinctive logo of
11692-584: The Hells Angels from scrutiny. The Hells Angels also use support clubs to establish an initial presence in an area before forming a full-fledged charter. Support clubs may be established for the sole purpose of providing assistance to the Hells Angels, or begin as independent clubs before coming under the Hells Angels' control. Such clubs may maintain relations with the Hells Angels for protection or to bolster their reputation. Members of puppet clubs attend Hells Angels events and associate with Hells Angels at gatherings. Puppet club members are also permitted to wear
11850-595: The Hells Angels until 1969 when two London charters were formed. The Beatles ' George Harrison invited some members of the HAMC San Francisco to stay at Apple Records in London in 1968. According to Chris O'Dell, only two members showed up, Frisco Pete and Bill "Sweet William" Fritsch. Two people from London visited California, "prospected", and ultimately joined. Two charters were issued on July 30, 1969; one for "South London"—the reimagined charter renewing
12008-638: The Hells Angels' charters in the Western United States, and those who attend the East Coast Officers Meeting ("ECOM") to govern the charters in the Eastern United States. The dividing point of the east and west regions is Omaha, Nebraska . In states with multiple charters, weekly state meetings are also held in addition to charter meetings. Although the Hells Angels have no official "mother charter ",
12166-561: The Italian Mafia in Montreal and the West End Gang . On March 15, 2023, Leonardo Rizzuto was shot at six times while driving on Autoroute 440 in Laval, escaping with minor injury. In June 2023, two men were charged with attempted murder of Rizzuto. On June 5, 2023, 53-year-old Francesco Del Balso , a longtime Rizzuto confidant, was gunned down in Dorval. Writers Antonio Nicaso and Peter Edwards published Business or Blood ,
12324-604: The Italian-Montreal underworld. Walter Gutierrez, a money launderer for the Rizzuto family, was shot to death in West Montreal on July 16, 2012. Vito Rizzuto was released from prison on October 5, 2012. On November 5, 2012, Rizzuto family confidant-turned rival 70-year old Giuseppe "Smiling Joe" Di Maulo was executed by a hitman waiting outside his home in Blainville, Quebec . Di Maulo allegedly attended
12482-524: The Mafia and the Hells Angels taking the largest share. Between 1988 and 1995, Quebec-based organized crime groups were responsible for 90 percent of all the cocaine and hashish seized in Canada. Canadian Mafia journalists Lee Lamothe and Adrian Humphreys dubbed the Rizzuto clan the Sixth Family to describe them on an equal footing with the Five Families of Cosa Nostra in New York. According to
12640-549: The May 5, 1981, gangland killings of three rival Bonanno crime family captains ( Alphonse Indelicato , Philip Giaccone and Dominick Trinchera ) and was sentenced to a 10-year prison sentence on May 4, 2007, after being extradited to the United States. After Rizzuto was arrested in 2004, a committee of caretaker leaders for Vito Rizzuto was formed of Nicolo Rizzuto , Paolo Renda , Rocco Sollecito , Francesco Arcadi , Lorenzo Giordano and Francesco Del Balso . On February 11, 2005,
12798-644: The Mongols' members was future Popeye president Yves Buteau . Buteau would end up being personally courted by Hells Angels national president Sonny Barger from Oakland, California who was highly instrumental in cultivating the Hells Angels' rebellious and nonconforming image. In the early 1970s, the Popeyes began working as " muscle " for the Dubois Brothers , a prominent crime family in Montreal . Popeyes members initially worked as assassins and later on as drug dealers . They also became involved with
12956-559: The Netherlands the first country to completely ban the Hells Angels. The presiding judge called it "a danger to public order and the rule of law". Other countries such as Germany had banned local charters, but never the entire club. On July 15, 2022, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands reaffirmed the ban, making it permanent. Montreal Mafia The Rizzuto crime family ( Italian: [ritˈtsuːto] )
13114-500: The Olympic Village for the 1976 Olympics at the express wish of Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau . The Olympic Village that Les Terrasses Zarolega built cost the city of Montreal $ 100 million, which was three times the cost projected, and Zappia ended up facing 27 counts of fraud, extortion and paying bribes in connection with the Olympic Village fiasco. Zappia returned to Italy and became a billionarie by construction projects in
13272-475: The Popeyes which resulted in the death of at least one Popeyes patch-holder and the injuries of many Satan's Choice members. On January 21, 1976, Popeye members Gilbert "Gros Lot" Groleau and Richard "Joker" Bertrand were killed when the home-made bomb they had built detonated unexpectedly as the pair sat in their car across the street from the Voyageur Bus Terminal in downtown Montreal. The bomb
13430-464: The Reggio Bar, which served as the office of the Cotroni family underboss, Paolo Violi , was bugged by an undercover policeman Robert Ménard , who for the next five years recorded everything that Violi said in the Reggio Bar. In 1975-1976, Ménard's recordings were played in public at the CECO hearings, which ruined Violi's underworld reputation. The Bonnano family-which the Cotroni family was only
13588-456: The Rizzuto crime family. Calabrese mobsters led by the old Cotroni family were among the suspects for the murders of Rizzuto crime family members. The Rizzutos have dominated organized crime activities in Montreal since its inception and now their weakened organization is being challenged for control of rackets in the area, most notably the drug trade. An associate of capo Francesco Arcadi and Francesco Del Balso, 44-year old Antonio Di Salvo,
13746-571: The Rizzuto family employed the fishermen to use their boats to smuggle drugs from Turkey into Montreal with the fishermen being paid between $ 17,000 and $ 25,000 per voyage. In October 1987, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized one fishing boat, the Charlotte Louise that was carrying 17 tons of Turkish hashish. Vito Rizzuto, Desjardins, Hiscock and Rothier were all charged with conspiracy to smuggle drugs, but
13904-527: The San Andreas Multiplayer modification for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas . While members of the community were skeptical at first, Clapp posted a tweet confirming his identity. In October 2010 the Hells Angels filed a lawsuit against Alexander McQueen for "misusing its trademark winged death heads symbol" in several items from its Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. The lawsuit also aimed at Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos.com , which stock
14062-573: The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Libya, though there were complaints about cost overruns in his Middle Eastern projects. Despite this inauspicious history, Zappia was a friend of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and he was favored to win the contract to build the bridge over Strait of Messina. As part of the same investigation, Italy filed an extradition request with Canada for Vito Rizzuto to send to Italy to face charges of fraud and money laundering. Likewise as part of
14220-482: The United States, the Hells Angels organization is not headed by a national or international president; it is instead governed by regional officers, who are each chosen to represent a collective of localized charters at monthly regional meetings. Regional officers are divided into two groups: those who attend the West Coast Officers Meeting ("WesCOM") to conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of
14378-542: The Vagrant"). In 1977, the Hells Angels arrived in Canada with the Popeye Moto Club patching over to form the Hells Angels' Montreal charter. During the 1980s and 1990s, there was a major expansion of the club into the rest of Canada. The Quebec Biker War was a violent turf war that began in 1994 and continued until late 2002 in Quebec. The war began when the Hells Angels in Quebec began to try to establish
14536-605: The acting boss of the Bonanno family until his deportation to Canada in 2009, was believed to be attempting to reorganize both families under his control; however, he was murdered in November 2011. On March 1, 2012, 38-year old Giuseppe "Joe Closure" Colapelle, was shot inside of his parked car in North Montreal and later pronounced dead upon arrival of the hospital. It is believed Colapelle worked for Giuseppe De Vito,
14694-488: The already existing 1950 South London charter—and the other for "East London", but by 1973 the two charters came together as one, called "London". The London Angels provided security at a number of UK Underground festivals, including Phun City in 1970, organized by Mick Farren . They awarded Farren an "approval patch" in 1970 for use on his first solo album Mona , which also featured Steve Peregrin Took (credited as "Shagrat
14852-745: The applicant club must be monitored and approved of by the Oakland Hells Angels before being granted membership. In New York state, the HAMC is incorporated as the Church of Angels, a nonprofit religious organization . The HAMC acknowledges more than 100 charters in over 29 countries. New Zealand had the first charter of the Hells Angels outside the United States; the club founded a charter in Auckland in 1961, and has since taken over gangs in Whanganui . Europe did not become widely home to
15010-481: The back and abdomen and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. On December 4, 2008, 40-year old Rizzuto family soldier Mario "Skinny" Marabella was kidnapped at a gas station on Autoroute 440 in Laval, Quebec . He was forced into a minivan and his car was later found in flames in Montreal. Marabella had several convictions for loansharking, breaking probation and extortion. In 1992, he and Giuseppe De Vito robbed
15168-520: The biggest projects of the century. And it was here [in Italy] that this project of the century was supposed to see the light of day". Cédilot and Noël wrote: "That a Canadian, Vito Rizzuto, was the chief architect of this massive campaign to plunder Italian government funds and European Community subsidies spoke volumes about his reach and influence. This was power that not even the bosses of New York's Five Families had ever dreamed of possessing". In 2005,
15326-574: The book The Sixth Family : By 2003, the Rizzuto organization was variously listed in FBI and DEA files as merely 'the Canadian crew of the Bonanno Family' or the 'Montreal faction of the Bonannos.' The reality is far different. The territory under its control is huge—more than a million square miles of Quebec and Ontario directly fall under its influence, an area larger than one-quarter the size of
15484-491: The businessmen who do mostly non-criminal favors for the organization. In 1996, the firm of Olifas Marketing Group (OMG) was founded in Vaughan by Salvatore Oliveti, a recycling/garbage company. two of the men on OMG's board of directors had Mafia associations; Giancarlo Serpe had been a business partner of Enio Mora . Another board member, Frank Campoli was the first cousin to Giovannia Rizzuto (the wife of Vito Rizzuto) and
15642-401: The cities of Ottawa, Markham, London, Hamilton, Windsor and St. Catharines as well with numerous school boards and universities across Ontario. On May 30, 2002, Vito Rizzuto was arrested for drunk driving in a blue Grand Cherokee jeep that belonged to OMG. An investigation by journalists from La Presse revealed that Rizzuto-who had no official role with OMG-routinely drove OMG vehicles such as
15800-702: The club established several additional chapters throughout the province, located in Drummondville , Gatineau , Laval , Saint-Hyacinthe , Quebec City , Rive-Sud , Sherbrooke , Sorel-Tracy , and Trois Rivieres . At their largest, the Popeyes were estimated to have several hundred members across Quebec. From 1936–1939 and 1944–1959, Quebec underwent a period of socially conservative policies implemented by then- Premier Maurice Duplessis and his right-wing nationally conservative party Union Nationale . This era, referred in Francophone Canada as
15958-469: The club excludes child molesters and people who have applied to become police or prison officers . Intravenous drug use is also forbidden among club members. Members in North America are required to ride U.S.-built motorcycles; Harley-Davidson bikes are most common in the club, although other American brands, such as Victory and Indian , are also permitted. After a lengthy, phased process,
16116-400: The club's de facto national headquarters remained in its founding location of San Bernardino, California until club founder Otto Friedli was imprisoned in 1958. The club's unofficial headquarters was then relocated to Oakland, California by Sonny Barger , who succeeded Friedli as the Hells Angels' de facto national president. The Oakland charter has traditionally been able to maintain
16274-546: The club's formation has been a subject of dispute - but is variously reported as either 1951 or 1965 (with the latter being widely accepted as more accurate). Inspired by the iconic cartoon figure Popeye the Sailor Man , the Popeyes' center-patch depicted the fictitious character smoking his signature tobacco pipe whilst riding a cruiser motorcycle . Headquartered within the densely-populated borough of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal located at 4862 Drolet St., Montreal , Quebec,
16432-669: The company's parent company, PPR, could not be reached for comment. The company settled the case with the Hells Angels after agreeing to remove all of the merchandise featuring the logo from sale on their website, stores and concessions and recalling any goods that had already been sold and destroying them. In fall 2012 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California , Hells Angels sued Toys "R" Us for trademark infringement , unfair competition , and dilution in relation to
16590-553: The criminal organization were arrested as part of the four-year investigation known as Project Colisée . Among the 90 people arrested, were Nicolo Rizzuto, Paolo Renda , Rocco Sollecito , Francesco Arcadi, Lorenzo Giordano and Francesco Del Balso. During the investigation, the RCMP penetrated the group's inner sanctum by hiding cameras in the Consenza Social Club where the leaders had business. On September 18, 2008, as
16748-490: The drugs. After arguments about the debts, Griffin was riddled with gunfire outside his home in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce on July 12, 2006. On August 30, 2006, 35-year old Domenico Macri, a Rizzuto family enforcer and protégé of Francesco Del Balso, was murdered in a drive-by shooting as he waited at a traffic light in his Cadillac car in downtown Montreal. On November 22, 2006, the senior leadership committee of
16906-478: The economy of Venezuela via their holding company of Aceroes Prensados, which owned much real estate, ranches, trucking companies, factories, hotels, shipping, service providers and building contractors whose assets in Venezuela in the 1980s were worth $ 500 million. Nicolo's son, Vito , later followed him into the Mafia. He kept a low profile, working only with trusted people close to the family. They worked with
17064-501: The election of Philip Rastelli as the Bonanno family boss in 1973 with Desjardins and Paolo Violi , it also noted that he was the brother-in-law of Desjardins. On December 8, 2012, Rizzuto family lieutenant 50-year old Emilio Cordileone was gunned down in Ahuntsic , near his parked car. His murder was verified as Montreal's 33rd homicide in 2012. Cordileone's murder was possibly the result of his association with Giuseppe De Vito and
17222-500: The entire United States. It includes major cities, the busiest border crossings between the U.S. and Canada, and many mature Mafia clans that are, by and large, cooperating under the Sixth Family's banner. Where American Mafia bosses controlled criminal activity in portions of a city or a New York borough or the criminal activity in an industrial or commercial sector—such as construction or New York's garment district—the Sixth Family
17380-489: The family, was killed together with his bodyguard 44-year old Liborio Sciascia on June 30, 2010. After three decades of relative stability, the face of the city's Mafia hierarchy was subject to a major management shuffle. 36-year old Ennio Bruni, former Rizzuto family enforcer was shot and killed around 3:15am outside of Café Bellerose in Vimont, Quebec , on September 29, 2010. Bruni previously managed to escape an assassination attempt on his life on November 24, 2009, after he
17538-423: The friend [Rizzuto] can return to Italy...One one side there is the Mafia, on the other side is the 'Ndrangheta. We will make both them happy and we will do the bridge." Zappia spoke on the telephone with Rizzuto about the bridge project, which Rizzuto was deeply involved in, though Zappia told Ranieri that he could not be seen with Rizzuto because "if they see me with him, my reputation is over. You understand?". In
17696-563: The future." Tobie Levingston, who formed the black motorcycle club East Bay Dragons MC, wrote in his book that he and Barger have a long-lasting friendship and that the Hells Angels and Dragons have a mutual friendship and hang out and ride together. In a 1966 Ebony article about motorcycle rebels in the African-American community, the Chosen Few Motorcycle Club said that they see no racial animosity in
17854-414: The getaway car in the Rizzuto murder. It is alleged the Rizzuto family offered $ 200,000 for the death of Joseph. His boutique shop on Saint Jacques Street was shot at on March 18, 2010. Joseph managed to flee however his bodyguard and associate 27-year old Peter Christopoulos, and the store manager 60-year old Jean Gaston, were killed. He was arrested on March 19 on charges of assault and the possession of
18012-407: The home of a Montreal resident for a last-ditch effort to resolve their differences, according to a police report. But the peace talks failed, and most of the Rizzuto family fled to Venezuela. This led to a violent Mafia war in Montreal which resulted in the deaths of Violi and his brothers, along with others, spanning the mid-1970s to the early 1980s until the war ceased. Antonio Manno's son Domenico
18170-475: The jacquard box dress and knuckle duster ring that bear the symbol, which has been used since at least 1948 and is protected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A handbag and scarf were also named in the lawsuit. The lawyer representing Hells Angels claimed: "This isn't just about money, it's about membership. If you've got one of these rings on, a member might get really upset that you're an impostor." Saks refused to comment, Zappos had no immediate comment and
18328-571: The jeep. In February 2010, an audit by the Canada Revenue Agency revealed that Rizzuto's wife and children were major shareholders in OMG, leading to the Rizzutos to sell their share to Oliveti despite his claims not to know who the Rizzutos were. After consolidation of their power in the 1990s, the Rizzutos became over-exposed and over-extended. The first major blow to the family was the murder of their Toronto agent Gaetano Panepinto by
18486-593: The judge at the trial excluded much of the wiretap evidence. The trial ended in an acquittal for all of the accused on November 8, 1990. In 1995, a document from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal stated: "If sold on the street the cocaine, hashish, marijuana and heroin seized in Canada in 1993 alone would have earned criminals between $ 1.5 and $ 4 billion. Amounts seized correspond to about 10 percent of imports". The same document estimated that Quebec organized crime groups made profits of $ 30 billion in 1993 with
18644-486: The main marijuana supplier in the operation. On August 17, 2017, 45-year old Antonio De Blasio, a Rizzuto family soldier and Sollecito crew member, was gunned down outside his son's football practice in Staint-Leonard. He was shot several times in the upper body. De Blasio's murder was confirmed as Montreal's 15th homicide in 2017. Jacques Desjardins, brother of Raynald, disappeared on November 2–3, 2017, and
18802-419: The member. On leaving the Hells Angels or being ejected, a member must return his patches to the club. Members must pay dues, and are required to attend mandatory club meetings and motorcycle runs. Charter meetings, known as "church", are typically held at clubhouses or a member's residence. In 1978, members were required to pay $ 20 per month to the local charter, and $ 10 per month to the state charter. The money
18960-537: The murder of Salvatore Montagna in November 2011. On January 30, 2017, 39-year old Anastasios Leventis, a former computer technician and enforcer associated with the Rizzuto crime family, was shot to death in Toronto , two firearms were recovered close to the scene of the homicide. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and marijuana -smuggling in 2009 as part of "Project Cancun" and was sentenced to 6-months in prison. A court document issued in 2009 considered Leventis
19118-427: The murders of Sollecito and Giordano. With the testimonies of Dion and Viau, Scarfo was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder of both Sollecito and Giordano and sentenced to 25 years in prison on April 11, 2022, and Massari pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder of both Sollecito and Giordano and sentenced to 25 years in prison on March 13, 2023. The power vacuum after Rizutto's death
19276-399: The number 81 on many patches, as in "Support 81", "Route 81". The 8 and 1 stand for the respective positions in the alphabet of H and A . Friends and supporters of the club use these in deference to club rules, which purport to restrict the wearing of Hells Angels imagery to club members. The diamond-shaped one-percenter patch is also used, displaying "1%" in red on a white background with
19434-461: The old neighborhood, and attended well-heeled private schools such as Selwyn House with the offspring of more mainstream capitalists". In the 1980s, Vito's French-Canadian right-hand man, Raynald Desjardins , along with Gerald Hiscock and Michel Routhier were involved in smuggling drugs via Newfoundland . Taking advantage of the high unemployment rate in the Newfoundland fishing industry,
19592-463: The organization have continuously asserted that they are only a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have joined to ride motorcycles together, to organize social events such as group road trips, fundraisers, parties, and motorcycle rallies, and that any crimes are the responsibility of the people who carried them out, not the club as a whole. In May 2019, a court in Utrecht issued a verdict that made
19750-422: The organization on the street – illustrated the power vacuum within the upper ranks of Montreal organized crime. Since the slaying of Vito Rizzuto's son, the organization suffered other major setbacks. 70-year old Paolo Renda, the consigliere of the Rizzuto crime family, disappeared on May 20, 2010. A month later 66-year old Agostino Cuntrera , the presumed acting boss who was believed to have taken control of
19908-512: The patches off of kuttes of said motorcyclists. Some motorcycle clubs that would be affected by the Popeyes' rules included the Zombi MC, Black Angels MC and Escape Hell MC. Popeyes members would also confiscate entire cut-off vests from other bikers and hang them on display in their clubhouse as "trophies". Roughly none of the Popeye bikers spoke or understood English. The exception to this
20066-483: The procurement of the registrations. The case settled and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice. As of December 2013 , the Hells Angels sells its branded merchandise at a retail store in Toronto, Ontario. In 2019, the Hells Angels sued Redbubble in the Federal Court of Australia for infringing on its trademark, launching another suit in 2021 after providing evidence that Redbubble had continued to breach
20224-591: The province of Quebec. As a well-known musical icon in the French-speaking world, he was very popular among the Québécois people – including the Popeye MC, who were big fans of his. When he arrived to perform shows across Quebec, he was welcomed by members of the Popeyes from different chapters. During his stay, Popeyes acted as security for Hallyday at his concerts. Jacques "Coco" Mercier, the president of
20382-541: The rest being either not interested or not up to the standard that the Hells Angels required. The North Chapter, itself, consisted mostly of former Popeyes members. Notorious Hells Angels hitman Yves "Apache" Trudeau was initially a member of Popeye MC until they were absorbed by the Hells Angels. At 22 years old, Trudeau joined the east-end Montreal chapter of the Popeye Moto Club, which started off his criminal career. He went on to commit over 40 murders while
20540-411: The rivaling Devil's Disciples, saw the beloved singer's association with the Popeyes to be disrespectful as they, too, were fans of his. This angered the Devil's Disciples, who responded by making public death threats towards Hallyday. When the singer later returned to Quebec for another tour the following year, the Devil's Disciples followed through with their threats they had made and shot at him while he
20698-403: The sale of yo-yos manufactured by Yomega Corporation, a co-defendant, which allegedly bear the "Death Head" logo. In its complaint, Hells Angels asserted that the mark on the yo-yos would likely lead people to mistakenly believe that the toys originate with Hells Angels. Yomega filed counterclaims against Hells Angels for cancellation of the "Death Head" registrations on grounds of alleged fraud in
20856-482: The same investigation, Italy had also filed an extradition request with the United Kingdom for Sivalingam Sivabavanandan, a Sri Lankan businessman living in London; with France for Hakim Hammoudi of Paris who was accused of being the messenger between Zappia and Rizzuto; and with Canada for the extradition of Filippo Ranieri, a building manager in Montreal and a Rizzuto family member. Colonel Paolo La Forgia in
21014-531: The three P-40 squadrons of Flying Tigers fielded in Burma and China, which was dubbed "Hell's Angels". In 1930, the Howard Hughes film Hell's Angels showcased extraordinary and dangerous feats of aviation, and it is believed that World War II groups that used that name based it on the film. According to the Hells Angels' website, they are aware that there is an apostrophe missing in "Hells", but "... it
21172-404: The trademark. The 2019 case concluded with the Hells Angels being awarded $ 5,000 in damages. In July 2022, in the second ruling against Redbubble, the company was ordered to pay the club more than $ 78,000. To become a Hells Angels "prospect", candidates must have a valid driver's license, a motorcycle over 750 cc (46 cu in), and "the right combination of personal qualities." It is said
21330-624: The use of chains and baseball bats and left four belligerents seriously wounded. On 17 June 1968, a knife fight broke out between both gangs after a group of ten Popeye MC members blocked the road on Fabre Street in Jacques Cartier while eight members of the Devil’s Disciples were riding there. The engagement led to the death of 18-year old Devil's Disciples member Jean-Yves Picquet, who later died of stab wounds . In March 1969, French singer-songwriter Johnny Hallyday went on tour in
21488-519: The vacinity of the club's Trois-Rivieres clubhouse. Montreal police were phoned in July 1970 following a gunfight that took place between the Popeye Moto Club and another outlaw motorcycle club. The authorities later questioned 13 members of the Popeyes at their Montreal clubhouse where three shotguns and a machete were confiscated. During the month of August in 1976, A group of 50 Popeyes members were arrested after they had been involved in trashing
21646-505: The world. Many Hells Angels members are involved in organized crime , such as drug trafficking, and engage in violent conflict with members of other outlaw motorcycle clubs and organized crime groups. Involvement in organized crime and violence has historically extended to the organization's most senior leadership. Many police and international intelligence agencies, including the United States Department of Justice ,
21804-522: Was Jean-Marc Denige, a veteran member. He had earned the nickname "Boston" as a result of his bilingual abilities and acted as the club's default translator. Having Denige as an asset proved to be especially useful for trips to the United States. A fellow Quebec-based club, the Drummondville-based Mongols MC (unrelated to the U.S.-based club of the same name ), became absorbed by the Popeyes's Rive-Sud chapter in late 1974. Among
21962-467: Was a guest at the wedding in 1995 of Nick Rizzuto Jr. Giovannia Rizzuto and her three adult children, namely Nick Rizzoto, Leonardo Rizzuto and Libertina Rizzuto, collectively owned shares worth $ 1.6 million in OMG. In 1997, OMG won its first contract for recycling with the city of Etobicoke just before Etobicoke was merged into Toronto. OMG then took the recycling contract for all of Toronto. OMG enjoyed massive success, winning contracts for recycling with
22120-401: Was aligned with Rizzuto, which offered protection". In July 2020, Pat Musitano was killed. On November 10, 2021, Serafino Olivero, an independent money launderer closely connected to the Rizzuto organization, survived a drive-by assassination attempt in Montreal's Riviere-des-Prairies neighbourhood. Olivero had been fined $ 75,000 by Revenu Quebec in 2018 for producing false tax returns. It
22278-549: Was also instrumental in Violi's murder. He received a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiring to kill Violi; Rizzuto confidant Agostino Cuntrera received a five-year sentence in relation to Violi's murder. By the mid 1980s, the Rizzuto crime family emerged as Montreal's pre-eminent crime family after the turf war. The Rizzuto family along with their allies in the Cuntrera-Caruana clan were major players in
22436-566: Was an enterprise with a true global reach. The Sixth Family had outpaced any crew in the Bonanno Family and, indeed, man-for-man, dollar-for-dollar, had eclipsed the family as a whole. ... 'The nucleus of the Montreal-based Sicilian Mafia ... (comprises) hundreds of soldiers and associates,' says a Canadian police report drafted in 2004. Those who merely do business with the Sixth Family or work with them in short-term ventures are not included in this. Neither, generally, are
22594-406: Was deported from Canada to Sicily in 2012. Giuseppe Carbone, Pietro and Salvatore Scaduto were convicted for the April 9th murder. Carbone led the police to the whereabouts in May, he became a cooperating witness and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. On July 8, 2013, 46-year old Giuseppe De Vito, ally of Desjardins, was fatally poisoned in his cell at Donnacona federal penitentiary . De Vito
22752-410: Was eating at a restaurant in downtown Montreal . Hallyday was not injured in the shooting, but this attempt on his life caused him to distance himself from the Popeyes. Later in May of that same year, Popeye Moto Club member Pierre Boucher was stabbed to death by three members of the Devil’s Disciples, including Andre Bureau. An autopsy report yielded that Boucher sustained a total of 58 knife wounds as
22910-524: Was first used in 1959. It later became the club standard. The first charter to open outside California was established in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1961. The Hells Angels are often depicted in semi-mythical romantic fashion like the 19th-century James–Younger Gang : free-spirited, iconic, bound by brotherhood and loyalty. At other times, such as in the 1966 Roger Corman film The Wild Angels , they are depicted as violent and nihilistic, little more than
23068-474: Was gathered by a joint police task force in 2015 was excluded as a violation of the constitutional right to solicitor-client privilege. A 2019 CBC News report later quoted a Mafia expert as stating that "Rizzuto's death paved the way for upheaval in the underworld. There's a power struggle left from the vacuum from Rizzuto". On October 17, 2019, Jonathan Massari, Dominico Scarfo, Guy Dion and Marie-Josée Viau, were arrested and charged with planning and executing
23226-539: Was granted official status in 1985 shortly after its only black member, John Mikkelsen, had died in police custody. Another notable is Gregory Woolley , a high-ranking member of the Rockers MC in Montreal who was the protégé and bodyguard of Hells Angel boss Maurice Boucher (who spent five years in a notoriously white-supremacist motorcycle gang, the SS). Woolley became an associate of the Hells Angels Montreal charter in
23384-407: Was intended to be set off inside the terminal to bring public attention the cruel treatment of inmates in Quebec prisons along with the foul conditions of these facilities. After stealing a motorcycle from a Popeye Moto Club member, Jean-Marie Viel was shot and killed by Montreal chapter president Yves Trudeau in 1970 as an act of retaliation. Viel's corpse was later discovered in a field located in
23542-399: Was killed in 2009 and Nicolo Sr. was shot by a sniper while in his home in 2010. Upon Vito's release, several people were killed in what was suspected to be retaliation for the murders of his family. Vito died of natural causes in 2013, and the head of the Rizzuto family is now assumed to be his son Leonardo. Nicolo Rizzuto married Libertina Manno during the early 1940s, the daughter of
23700-570: Was particularly apparent to mobsters from the area of Hamilton, Ontario . Angelo Musitano, boss of the city's Musitano crime family , was killed in May 2017. In April 2019, his uncle Tony Musitano died of natural causes, leaving nephew Pasquale (Pat) Musitano as the last of the dynasty. "Those deaths cost [Pat] protection in a world where he had a growing number of enemies", according to journalist Peter Edwards. The enemies included "criminal groups in Hamilton, Buffalo, Montreal and elsewhere, including
23858-495: Was shot and killed at his home in Rivière-des-Prairies, Quebec , on January 31, 2011. On October 24, 2011, Rizzuto crime family associate-turned rival 40-year old Lorenzo "Larry" Lopresti, the son of Joe Lopresti who was gunned down in April 1992, was shot and killed on his ground-floor balcony and pronounced dead at the scene. His murder was confirmed as the 31st homicide in Montreal in 2011. Salvatore Montagna ,
24016-454: Was shot and killed outside of a halfway house in Brampton, Ontario . He was serving 3 years imprisonment since February 2007 for his role in a drug conspiracy. He was accused of stealing $ 600,000 from the Rizzuto family following Panepinto's murder. A 2001 attempted hit was foiled after Juan "Joe Bravo" Fernandez gave a gun and ammunition to an undercover police agent. Alevizos was shot in
24174-406: Was shot in the chest and stomach. The killing of Calautti is believed to be revenge for the murder of Vito Rizzuto associate Gaetano Panepinto in October 2000 and Nicolo Rizzuto, Sr. in November 2010. It is noted he also had ties to the 'Ndrangheta organisation in Canada. On November 10, 2013, 67-year old Moreno "The Turkey" Gallo, a once-influential member of the crime family, was killed by
24332-610: Was shot multiple times in the upper body on the streets of Saint-Michel, Montreal and was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. Sources claimed his murder was retribution for his involvement in the murder of Nick Rizzuto Jr. in December 2009, the son of Vito Rizzuto . The 67s gang formed in the Saint-Michel district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the late 1980s and are associated with the Crips gang. Police believed Joseph drove
24490-408: Was shot several times while driving in North Montreal and died in hospital two days later from his wounds. On August 21, 2009, family associate, Federico del Peschio was killed behind La Cantina restaurant in Ahuntsic . On December 28, 2009, Nick Rizzuto Jr., son of Vito Rizzuto, was shot and killed near his car in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce , a borough in Montreal. The killing of Nick Jr. – the face of
24648-474: Was shot three times in the shoulder and once in the back shortly after his departure from a restaurant in Laval. On November 10, 2010, Nicolo Rizzuto was killed at his residence in the Cartierville borough of Montreal when a single bullet from a sniper 's rifle punched through double-paned glass of the rear patio doors of his mansion; he was 86. His death is believed to have been the final blow against
24806-429: Was shot to death in a Chomedey, Quebec parking lot. On May 27, 2016, 67-year old Rocco Sollecito was shot to death while driving in Laval. Sollecito was an underboss of the family and his death was believed to be part of a dismantling of the older generation of the family. On June 2, 2016, semi-retired Rizzuto family member, 72-year old Angelo D'Onofrio, was shot several times at close range inside of Café Sinatra by
24964-480: Was targeted by law enforcement in 2006 as part of "Operation Coliseum". He was serving a 15-year prison sentence for conspiracy to import cocaine and gangsterism charges following his conviction in 2010. His murder is believed to be orchestrated by Vito Rizzuto. On July 12, 2013, 41-year old Salvatore Calautti was shot in the head and killed while driving in Vaughan, Ontario . His associate, 35-year old Jimmy Tusek,
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