GANG NEWS

This section features gang news from New Zealand and around the world. Some of the incidents mentioned are currently before the courts and the allegations are unproven. All persons are presumed innocent until convicted. Names are included where they have been published in the news media. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on this site. If you find any inaccuracies or anything causing concern please contact me.

January 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S?

Two females were assaulted in Gisborne in the early hours of New Year’s Day by a group of men armed with knives, bottles and a fence post. The 27 year-old victim received stab wounds to her head, chest and hand in the unprovoked attack, while the offenders shouted Mongrel Mob slogans. Police later arrested an 18 year-old Gisborne Mob member and charged him with aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to cause GBH and assault with a weapon.

In another unprovoked attack on New Year’s Day, a 24 year old man was stabbed in Napier by a group of men who shouted Black Power gang slogans. The victim was stabbed, punched and kicked and received serious injuries, including stab wounds to his lower stomach. Police said the victim might have died if not for the intervention of a member of the public who called for urgent medical assistance. It is believed that the victim was attacked because he was wearing red clothing.

Both attacks appeared to be cases of mistaken identity where gang members suspected their victims were supporters of rival gangs.

LONE WOLF BIKIE KILLED IN SYDNEY

Lone Wolf MC patchmember Neal Todoroski was killed in Sydney on the 4th of January. Australian media reported that 37 year-old Todoroski was with two other Lone Wolf gang members, Mathew Edward Lewis and New Zealander John Haper Leger, when he was killed.

Police allege that Todoroski was armed with a .22 pistol, while Lewis was carrying a knife and Leger had knuckle dusters. They approached a person named Tarek Abdallah who was standing next to his car and Leger punched him using the knuckle dusters. They attacked Abdallah but he managed to grab a pistol from his car and he shot Todoroski in the head.

Police arrived a short time later and spoke with Lewis and Leger, who said they had nothing to say. They were arrested and charged with affray and concealing a serious indictable offence. Abdallah fled to Perth where he was arrested for the shooting.

The Lone Wolf is an established outlaw club with about 100 members in New South Wales.

NEW HELLS ANGELS CHAPTER IN SYDNEY

The Hells Angels announced that they’ve got a new Australian chapter- Bondi Beach in Sydney.

The Hells Angels first official Australian chapters, “Sydney” and “Melbourne,” received their charters on the 23rd of August 1975. The Angels added Adelaide in 1983, then a Nomads chapter in Melbourne in 1989, followed by Darwin in 1995, Brisbane in 1997 and a second Adelaide chapter, known as the “North Crew,” in 1998.

The Hells Angels formed the “East Country” chapter in Melbourne in 2003 and then the “City Crew” chapter in Sydney in 2005 and the “Dead End Crew” in Adelaide in 2006. The Angels have been on an expansion drive in New South Wales over the last few years which led to more Sydney chapters, including Chinatown (2010), East City (2011), Parramatta (2011) and West Side (2011).

SENTENCING FOR AUSSIE AIRPORT FIGHT

In March 2009 a group of up to 15 Commanchero’s and Hells Angels brawled at the Sydney Airport resulting in the death of 29 year-old Anthony Zervas, the brother of one of the Hells Angels.

It started because Sydney HAMC president (New Zealander) Derek Wainohu was on the same Qantas flight from Melbourne as five Commanchero’s, including their national president Mahmoud (“Mick”) Hawi. Words were exchanged, both sides called for backup and it was all-on when they landed at Sydney Airport. The outnumbered Hells Angels were on the receiving end and Anthony Zervas was beaten and stabbed to death in front of hundreds of horrified passengers.

On the 9th of January Commanchero members Ishmail Eken and Usama Potrus were sentenced to three years jail for rioting. They were acquitted of murder and manslaughter. Both had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter prior to their trial but the crown declined their offer and would only accept a guilty plea for murder.

Mahmoud (“Mick”) Hawi was convicted of murder, four other Commanchero’s pleaded guilty to manslaughter and another two pleaded guilty to riot and affray. They are yet to be sentenced.

ASSAULT ON POLICE BY BLACK POWER MEMBER

Gisborne Black Power member Nicholas George Smith was charged with wounding with intent to cause GBH and threatening to kill, after attacking a police officer. The constable received bite marks on his neck and leg and he was punched in the head, in what police described as “an unprovoked and extremely violent attack” on the 5th of January.

NOMAD MEMBER SENTENCED FOR TAXING

Senior Nomad gang member Wayne RIMENE was sentenced to six months community detention and 300 hours community work when he appeared in the New Plymouth District Court on the 14th of January for robbing a man of his $7000 ute..

He received discount for the year he spent in custody awaiting trial. RIMENE also received his second “three strikes” warning and if he’s convicted of another serious violence offence, he’ll have to serve the full sentence.

The Taranaki Daily Times reported that RIMENE had 79 previous convictions including 34 jail sentences.

OLD NEWS

U.S GANG MEMBERSHIP FIGURES

The FBI released the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment which revealed that there are an estimated 1.4 million gang members in more than 33,000 street, prison and outlaw motorcycle gangs in the USA.

Gang membership had increased by as much as 40 percent in the past three years. The report claimed that gangs were responsible for 48% of violent crime, in most jurisdictions.