Posted on 05/21/2015 5:37:51 AM PDT by Jack Black
The bloody incident at Waco’s Twin Peaks restaurant was not a “biker shootout.” At present there is no evidence that any of the nine victims were killed by fellow bikers, rather than being “taken out” by the scores of police — including snipers — who had effectively turned the parking lot into a kill zone.
The Twin Peaks Massacre has prompted the predictable outpouring of state-centered outrage over the purported threat posed by Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs (OMCs). Buried beneath the blizzard of re-purposed official press releases is a critical disclosure made by former FBI undercover operative John Matthews: During the 1990s, as part of the FBI’s PATCON (Patriot Conspiracy) operation, Matthews and his handler, Donald Jarrett, sold illegally converted full-auto machine guns to narcotics-dealing motorcycle gangs. (I first reported about this in early March.) This was done through one of the firearms stores later forced by the ATF into participating in the “Fast & Furious” gun-walking scandal, in which firearms of that kind were provided to operatives of Mexican criminal cartels.
“As we talk of gun control … over the years [of] how many cases of sporterized SKS, AK47s, and SKSs were sold to groups and case after case of ammo for them all with the blessings of the FBI & ATF with no paper work,” Matthews wrote in a November 8, 2014 email (lightly edited here for spelling and grammar). “Also let’s not forget the AR15s, they were made full auto from the Lone Wolf gun store back in the 90s by a guy brought in by the FBI for me to put in place. Those guns went to bikers who were sell[ing] drugs on the border. Those drugs were [believed] to be coming in from China.”
In March 2013 correspondence with Jarrett, Matthews referred to the David Mann, the dealer brought in by the FBI to broker the firearms transaction with the biker gang.
“I [would] pick him up in Payson, AZ on our way up to Surplus & Stuff in Snowflake … and met with a guy name[d] Tim,” Matthews recalled in a March 28, 2013 email to Jarrett. “He [would] show him his weapons that he was making and how he could make them anything they wanted. Then from there we took a trip up to where the guy [kept] the tractors that we were thinking the dope was coming in from.”
The tractors were apparently being used as part of an international narcotics smuggling operation.
During the trip recalled by Matthews, he and David Mann met with another individual who “ran the church and we [thought was] selling the drugs to the bikers. We were going to get David to sell weapons too [sic] them. This trip was where [I] got David in with this [sic] guys so I could move on. Does this sound right to you[?] Also have more info on him and [meetings] at gun store (Lone Wolf) and other places like Scottsdale, before we turn[ed] him loose.”
“Yes, that sounds absolutely correct about David,” Jarrett replied the following day. “I only introduced you to one guy that work[ed] with guns, and that was David.”
On March 2 I sent a letter to the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General requesting an investigation of Matthews’ confirmed claims about the FBI’s role in arming biker gangs. A week later I received an official reply that tacitly validated those claims while dismissing them as inconsequential: “The Investigations Division of the Office of the Inspector General has thoroughly reviewed your allegations and concluded that the issues raised do not warrant an investigation by this office.”
Salt Lake City attorney Jesse Trentadue, who has been investigating the death of his brother Kenneth in FBI custody following the 1995, following the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, has been responsible for nearly all of the key disclosures regarding the PATCON program. This was an effort by the FBI to infiltrate so-called Radical Right groups with informants and provocateurs. In a telephone interview, Trentadue told me that he firmly believes that there is a connection between the PATCON-related FBI initiative to arm biker gangs, and the bloodshed in Waco over the weekend.
“At the very least, we’re dealing with part of the legacy of PATCON,” Trentadue declared.
PATCON wasn’t the FBI’s only means of infiltrating OMCs. In 2004, James “Pagan Ronnie” Howerton, a prominent member of the Pagans OMC and a convicted murderer, was recruited by the FBI. He eventually became the club’s sergeant-at-arms. Five years later, the Feds breathlessly announced that with the help of their undercover asset they had compiled a massive indictment against the Pagans as an interstate criminal conspiracy. That bloated indictment eventually deflated into a small number of relatively trivial charges against specific members of the club. The interstate “criminal enterprise” was reduced to the accusation that the Pagans had committed a federal offense by running a raffle.
The only notable violent crime arising from the federal investigation of the Pagans was the police murder of Iraq combat veteran Derek Hale, who was tasered a dozen times and then murdered, execution-style, by Lt. William Brown of the Wilmington, Delaware Police Department. Hale, who was killed in front of the wife and children of a friend from the club, had no criminal record, nor was he a criminal suspect. He died because the State’s officially licensed gang decided to wage an indiscriminate war on the motorcycle club to which he belonged — which, in all probability, is what happened in Waco over the weekend.
“So, what’s your point?”
1%’ers rule.
One of the ways to avoid problems is to NOT have more than one club with the same name or grossly similar colors. This avoids misunderstandings between clubs and between clubs and law enforcement if a member of members of one group gets into trouble.
Where? They do their stuff, the rest of us do ours. We don’t screw with each other, and that basic respect prevents trouble for everyone. You got a problem with that, brown eyes?
“How do 1%er clubs typically interact with non-1%er clubs. I ask this as someone considering joining a veterans MC, and I’m just curious. When I spoke with a member of the vet MC he mentioned that they will usually inform any 1%er club if they’ll be riding through the area. Also will show up to 1%er parties when invited, but usually just have one drink out of respect and roll out.”
https://www.reddit.com/r/Harley/comments/1u943h/new_year_new_ama_i_am_a_1er_outlaw_biker_ask_me/
“One of the ways to avoid problems is to NOT have more than one club with the same name or grossly similar colors. This avoids misunderstandings between clubs and between clubs and law enforcement if a member of members of one group gets into trouble.’
Oh. You mean you will get whacked if you wear clothing not approved by the 1%’ers. Nice.
Look, if you have to go on the internet to find out how to be a biker...well, maybe you should take up knitting.
“Where? They do their stuff, the rest of us do ours. We don’t screw with each other, and that basic respect prevents trouble for everyone. You got a problem with that, brown eyes?”
What trouble are you referring to? Do you mean that you will get whacked by the 1%’ers if you ride in the wrong area?
“Look, if you have to go on the internet to find out how to be a biker...well, maybe you should take up knitting.”
So far, everything you have posted substantiates my postings. Basically you have said that what you wear and where you ride are coordinated with the 1%’ers.
Unless the ones shot were specifically the targets.
There used to be an American tradition of minding your own business. Socially awkward situations and hard feelings can be avoided by doing that. Kinda like NOT inviting yourself to someone else’ family reunion. That doesn’t imply anyone getting killed over it.
Nope, not so, nor has it ever been.
Keep professing your ignorance, but kindly don't say it came from me.
The local COC here is run by the head of the HA club and has been for as long as anyone can remember.
“There used to be an American tradition of minding your own business.”
Getting your clothing approved by the 1%’ers to avoid trouble seems like the 1%’ers are minding your business ...
Well, you haven't hit one yet. Perfect record.
Funny thing, the police don't like people walking around in their outfits, either.
The whole idea is to avoid misunderstandings in the first place. I know guys from two clubs with the same name (different states). When they met at Sturgis, the two groups decided the others were okay, and they partied together.
How little you know.
Gee, there are lots of other groups that way...Police, military, even company logos. Try going to Disneyland dressed like an employee and see how far that gets you. Go for a stroll in a police uniform some time if you aren't a cop and see where that gets you. Really.
All you are doing here is blowing flatulence and trying to make out that every motorcyclist is somehow involved with criminal organizations. We've been known to lobby Congress and State Legislatures, but, for most of us, that's as close as it gets.
“The whole idea is to avoid misunderstandings in the first place. “
Oh. So in your two previous posts where you said to avoid trouble you really didn’t mean to imply that there would be trouble if you wore non-approved clothing or went on a non-approved ride ...
“Have a dress code where you work? Have to meet OSHA requirements? There are lots of people who tell others how to dress. The 1% clubs, like any other group, don’t want people running around wearing their particular insignia who aren’t members. “
My employer wouldn’t have shot me if I didn’t adhere to his dress code ...
Well, we got the parade permit for the last toy run, if that’s what you mean. That gang wears badges, but they did stop traffic for us. Geez. You’re certifiable.
Here's a nice link where the intimidation is explained.
It's analagous to the mafia controlling a neighborhood. A lot of people will simply knuckle under and pay protection money because they can't or won't fight the mob.
Occassionally some person or group stands up to them. Often they are smashed, and the rest of the herd leans the lesson. Less often they turn out to be big or bad enough to make their rebellion succeed.
I'm sure there are a lot of riders in Texas who would love to see the Bandidos smashed. Just like black gangs mostly make life miserable for blacks, biker gangs mostly make life bad for other bikers.
The Iron Order are well known for flaunting CoC rules concerning patches and rockers. You can read their views here. Unlike the 1% clubs they are not a front for meth dealing and theft rings. Like the 1% clubs they are quite willing and able to throw down to assert their rights.
In Detroit the Highwaymen, one of the oldest 1% clubs (and a very criminal organization) have famously refused to join the CoC because their rivals, the Outlaws (also a criminal 1% club) are the organizers of it.
I've never belonged to any sort of club besides YMCA and gyms, just FYI, but I did a lot of research on this a while ago.
I know of no one who has been shot over wearing colors of a club they don't belong to. But, then I know of no one who would do that anyway. As far as keeping non-members from wearing your insignia, think of it as combating copyright infringement.
Gee, even Harley-Davidson and Coca-Cola do that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.