California officials arrested an entire chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club on multiple charges in an ongoing criminal street gang investigation.
California officials arrested an entire chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club on multiple charges in an ongoing criminal street gang investigation.
All seven Hells Angels members, who are from Bakersfield, are facing charges of 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.
Kern County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday the arrests of Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, and John Seeger, 57. A seventh suspect, 37-year-old Joshua Vaughn, was already in custody on other charges.
The suspects were booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Facility.
The joint investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kern County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol.
Over 150 law enforcement personnel participated in the effort, seizing around 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines and gang affiliate paraphernalia.
