Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Rosga, better known as Milwaukee Jack, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

It took two trials and just under two years to convict Outlaws Motorcycle Club National President Jack Rosga, 54, of racketeering and conspiracy to commit violence in aid of racketeering. His first trial ended with a hung jury.

Friday, Rosga, better known as Milwaukee Jack, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Rosga was one of 27 Outlaws arrested during regional raids conducted on June 15, 2010 by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Simultaneous ATF raids were conducted in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, Montana, Massachusetts and Wisconsin

During the operation, agents raided the Outlaws clubhouse in Newton.

They worked with federal marshals who used a shape charge to blast a square hole in the clubhouse wall. It was empty at the time, but agents seized photos, posters and other items.

Of the 27 outlaws arrested during the June 2010 raid, three were members of the Hickory club headquartered in Newton. They were arrested on federal anti-gang laws enacted to target organized crime.

Mark “Lyntin” Spradling, 52, a member of the Hickory chapter and the treasurer of the Copper Region, was arrested. He faced 23 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit RICO, and conspiracy to commit violence in aid of racketeering.

Spradling was acquitted of all charges on Nov. 3, 2010.

The Hickory chapter’s president, Michael Smith, was also arrested. He was charged with conspiracy to commit RICO, conspiracy to commit violence in aid of racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering and possession of firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence.

He faced life in prison if convicted on all charges.

On Dec. 22, 2010, Smith was convicted of violence in aid of racketeering and possession of firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence and sentenced to 42 months in prison. Upon his release, he will be on supervised probation for three years.

Brian McDermott, 50, of the Hickory chapter, also was arrested. He was charged with distribution of methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence. He testified in the federal trial against his fellow Outlaws including Spradling.

McDermott was found guilty of his charges and sentenced to serve 64 months in prison. He’ll be on probation for three years following his release.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ALLEGED IN THE 2010 INDICTMENT:

* In October 2009, Outlaws retaliated against the Hell’s Angels for their attack on two Outlaws members, which resulted in the alleged attempted murder of a Hells Angels member in Canaan, Maine. The Outlaws were accused of shooting their victim multiple times.

* In November 2008, Outlaws attacked a black man at the Hard Times Café in Fredericksburg, Va., because of his race, then intimidated witnesses and ordered fellow Outlaws members to lie to obstruct law enforcement’s investigation of the assault.

* Smith and other suspects are accused of going to a club called Cockades Bar in Petersburg, Va., to fight Hells Angels and clubs allied with them, including the Desperados.

The indictment said an Outlaw wearing his club colors and patches stood outside the bar to try to lure the rival gang members inside. Once in the bar, three smaller Outlaws, also wearing their colors, would try to goad their rivals into a fight. Then three bigger gang members, who were armed and had gone into the bar “slicked back” or without Outlaw colors or insignia, would join in the fight.

They put their plan into action on March 14, 2009. The fight spilled into the parking lot where the rival gang members pulled guns on each other and the local police broke up the fight.

* On Feb. 28, 2009, Spradling and other Outlaws are accused of assaulting Hells Angels at local bars.

* During last summer’s Copper Region Open Air Meeting in Newton, Copper Region boss Leslie Werth is accused of ordering an end to “free travel passes,” meaning that rival gang members would be attacked if found traveling through Outlaw territories.

* Smith is accused of telling his fellow members how to make explosives on several occasions. The explosives were to be used against Hells Angels members.