Posted on 05/09/2004 12:10:31 AM PDT by South40
A federal judge yesterday ordered the president of the San Diego Hells Angels chapter held without bail pending trial on racketeering, extortion and drug charges.
Lawyers for Guy Castiglione, 53, told the judge he is a law-abiding Lakeside resident whose comments in wiretapped phone calls were misinterpreted by federal officials.
Prosecutors said the phone calls prove Castiglione – known as "Big Daddy" or "The Boss" – ran a violent motorcycle gang involved in killings and drug trafficking.
The Hells Angels extorted money from drug dealers and hunted members of the rival Mongols motorcycle gang, prosecutors said.
U.S. District Judge Irma Gonzalez issued a written ruling yesterday agreeing with prosecutors' arguments that Castiglione would be dangerous if released. She said the phone calls clearly show that he condoned the violent behavior of other Hells Angels.
Gonzalez rejected a request that Castiglione's release be secured by real estate owned by family and friends, and the Hells Angels clubhouses in Ventura, San Bernardino and Oakland.
Castiglione is one of 17 people indicted on racketeering charges last year. Ten are members of the Hells Angels; prosecutors said the others are drug dealers who were working with the gang.
Nine of the Hells Angels charged have been ordered held without bail. Gonzalez will allow the release of the 10th member if he can prove the $1 million worth of property used to post his bail was obtained legally.
In court papers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Wong said Castiglione has two felony drug convictions, spent five years in prison, and didn't stay off drugs while free on a $2.5 million property bond in a 1989 methamphetamine case.
She said he faces life in prison if convicted in this case.
Prosecutors said Castiglione was one of two gunmen who fatally shot two Mongols riding their motorcycles on Interstate 15 near Escondido in 1977. A few days later, someone detonated a bomb at a Lemon Grove funeral home where the bikers were being mourned.
Castiglione pleaded guilty to racketeering charges stemming from the shootings.
The judge described Castiglione as a leader idolized by other gang members, quoting one as saying, "Like, the only reason I became a Hells Angel is because of him."
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