An entire chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in California has been arrested as part of a criminal street gang investigation, facing charges including kidnapping, robbery, and assault, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
The Bakersfield chapter of the outlaw motorcycle gang was taken into custody following a joint probe involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the California Highway Patrol. Over 150 law enforcement personnel seized approximately 25 firearms, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and gang affiliate paraphernalia during the operation.
Images released by the police show several rifles laid out on a table, along with patches, jackets, and other clothing associated with the motorcycle clubs.
The individuals arrested were identified as Ricardo Alvarez, Armando Villasenor, Joseph Soto Sr., Joseph Soto Jr., Joshua Zavala, and John Seeger, all from Bakersfield. Another suspect, Joshua Vaughn, was already in custody on unrelated charges. Eight search warrants were executed at various locations in Bakersfield as part of the investigation.
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.
All seven suspects are facing charges that include 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.
