Hells Angels Members and Two Others Indicted in Connection with Racketeering-Related Assault

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Rochester has returned a five-count indictment charging Rochester Hells Angels members Robert W. Moran, Jr. a/k/a Bugsy, 59, and James Henry McAuley, Jr. a/k/a Mitch, 62, along with Gina Tata, 47, with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity. Moran and Tata are also charged with conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity. In addition, the indictment charges Tata, Rochester Hells Angels member Richard E. Riedman a/k/a Eric, 37, and Timothy M. Stone, 31, with being accessories after the fact to the assault and conspiracy. Assault with a dangerous weapon charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The accessory charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $125,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that the indictment identifies the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in Rochester as a criminal organization whose members functioned as a continuing unit for the common purpose of facilitating criminal activity, including acts involving narcotics trafficking and murder. Members of the Rochester Hells Angels claim to control certain territory up to Syracuse, and allegedly use violence for a number of illicit purposes, including those who did not show proper respect to the organization.

The indictment describes McAuley as a vice president of the Hells Angels, Moran as a sergeant at arms and vice president, and Tata as an associate of the criminal enterprise. The indictment states that on May 31, 2006, Tata told Moran and another that a patron inside a certain restaurant had allegedly threatened the motorcycle club. Thereafter, Moran repeatedly struck the victim in the head and body with a baseball pat. The indictment alleges that all defendants in this conduct acted with the specific purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the Hells Angels.

The indictment also alleges that Tata, Riedman, and Stone helped Moran and McAuley avoid apprehension by law enforcement authorities after the assault occurred. Moran, Tata, Riedman, and Stone have all been arrested and are awaiting arraignment in federal court. McAuley is in federal prison after being convicted on other charges in the Northern District of New York, and will be arraigned at a later date.

“The country’s federal racketeering statutes were specifically designed to help combat acts of violence committed by members of a criminal organization,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This Office stands ready to utilize these statutes—and aid our local law enforcement partners—whenever circumstances warrant.”

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Matthew Renneman; and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Sheppard.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.