May 28, 2020
By the One Percenters
For well-over four decades the collective authors of this site have tracked and documented an array of insidiously evil, and flat-out criminal "investigative" schemes deployed by agents and proxies of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF"). The One Percenters pull back the curtain and take you behind the scenes to expose the breadth of ATF's brinkmanship and dirty tricks it has concealed from the unsuspecting public. The schemes you are going to learn about have been uncovered from a variety of sources, to include but not limited to, ATF investigative reports, former federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") requests and FOIA litigation, confidential and other sources.
ATF's Sophisticated Vigilante Operation
No one believed what the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") was doing until a radical act became a key event in history for the public to learn what their Government was perpetrating against thousands of citizens belonging to organizations and groups deemed as "disruptive" by the FBI.
In March 1971, on the night of a title fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier a group of anti-war activists broke into a remote FBI records office in Media, Pennsylvania, and stole thousands of documents that revealed the implementation of the FBI's infamous counterintelligence program, code-named"COINTELPRO." The activists subsequently channeled the damning records to the Washington Post which published expositions showing that the FBI was targeting disfavored activists and organizations with diabolical counterintelligence techniques, scenarios, and tactics clearly not designed to maintain "the thin blue line" that separates us from anarchy and chaos and violence, rather, the government was bringing the chaos and violence. [Fn.1]
An ATF agent from the Chicago area took special note of COINTELPRO's murderous tactics and in the late 1970s he hatched the Midwest Cycle Intelligence Organization ("MCIO"). ATF Special Agent Ronald J. Holmes devised the MCIO as a nongovernmental enterprise comprised of like-minded federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel to meet in secret and exchange intelligence on targeted motorcycle clubs and other groups. The MCIO was moreover contrived to curtail the institutions and mechanisms we have long relied upon to keep executive power within the bounds of constitutional and statutory law. In other words, the MCIO has no oversight nor accountability. The lack of oversight in the investigative schemes used by the MCIO soon opened a Pandora's Box of misconduct followed by a surge of criminal and civil rights violations.
As the MCIO gained new members and operatives the enterprise evolved. Inner circles and splinter cells formed of operatives that shared "a special investigative relationship" in the innovation and concealment of an extraordinary range of insidious methods designed for, among other things, to prevent both the long-range growth of the targeted motorcycle clubs, as well as to prevent local chapters and its leaders from gaining respectability. By the 1990s, the MCIO mutated into a full-blown sophisticated vigilante operation using methods strikingly similar to the activities of the national disruption program COINTELPRO.
When The Supply of Crime is Lacking—The MCIO Creates it.
To slow the growth of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club ("OMC") in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana in the early 1990s, the MCIO needed to create strife and dissension in furtherance of its insidious scheme to facilitate acts of violence between the OMC and other motorcycle clubs, groups, and individuals. Meet the MCIO's most prolific infiltrator and agent provocateur, [Fn.2] ATF Special Agent Christopher L. Bayless, a/k/a, "Chrisser," a virtuoso in the art of manipulation. He is what defines an operative of the MCIO. A former partner, undercover ATF Agent Jay Dobyns, unapologetically characterized themselves as "professional liars who constantly misrepresented ourselves" with no qualms about "trad[ing] [our] ethics for the greater good of a case." [Fn.3] Bayless moreover coined a war cry "to describe the feeling an undercover agent gets when he senses that danger is all around but there are no obvious red flags preventing him from going forward: 'Jesus Hates a Pussy.'" [Fn.4]
Let The Dirty Tricks Begin
In areas surrounding Chicago and Milwaukee, covert teams of MCIO operatives undertook a surreptitious campaign to disseminate and distribute classified "Law Enforcement Sensitive" intelligence, a government categorization that is meant to keep them confidential. The dossiers compiled by the MCIO consisted of the personal information of members and associates of the OMC, as well as the (so-called) rivals of the OMC. The information included: photos; home & work addresses; phone & pager numbers; known hangouts; vehicles owned or used; and other confidential information. One team of MCIO operatives acting as agent provocateurs sold intelligence records to members of the OMC concerning the rivals—while another team disseminated intelligence gathered on the OMC—back to the rivals. The end goal of this scheme, in conjunction with several other investigative tactics, was designed to engender, promote, and facilitate violent acts against the collective membership and associates of the OMC, and against the rival clubs. This underhanded method of generating and gathering "evidence" for future prosecutions is a conspiration affectionately termed by the operatives as "Stirring the Pot." MCIO operative Charles Berard, a/k/a, "CB," testified that stirring the pot means for the agents "to do something to make another course of action happen or occur." [Fn.5] Federal prosecutors in Tampa Florida later presented evidence implicating MCIO operative Bobby Brown, a detective in the Chicago Police Department, with the widespread dissemination of names, addresses, photos, and other confidential information regarding members and associates of the Hell's Henchmen Motorcycle Club ("HHMC"), Hells Angels Motorcycle Club ("HAMC"), as well as other clubs (then) associated with the HAMC and HHMC. [Fn.6] The architect of the MCIO, Agent Holmes, recruited Detective Brown for his penchant to be involved in every conceivable type of criminal violation one can imagine. What was strictly business as usual for the MCIO, became strictly personal for the targets of the schemes.
The MCIO & ATF Infiltrate The Hell's Henchmen
On January 12, 1993, Agent Bayless reported that "a cooperating individual ("CI") introduced SA Bayless in an undercover capacity to the Hell's Henchmen Motorcycle Club President, Monte Mathias, at his Harley shop, 714 Broadway, Rockford Illinois."(Quoting Bayless's ATF Report No. 001, Investigation No. 33116-93-2533-L, Title: Hell's Henchmen Motorcycle Club). Bayless further reported that the CI "rode with another One Percenter club that was closely associated with [the HHMC]." (Id).
Over the course of the next three months Bayless and the CI would periodically meet with Mathis at his shop. Bayless rode ATF's 1987 Harley-Davidson. After the CI vouched for Agent Bayless stating that he had worked for the C I for many years Mathias "became very interested" in Bayless. On April 30, 1993, "Mathias invited Bayless and the CI to the Spring Kick-Off Party at the [HHMC] clubhouse." (Id). A mere 26 miles North of Rockford, the OMC recently purchased a building as a clubhouse for the future Janesville Wisconsin Chapter.
The Hook is in!
On May 18, 1993, Agent Bayless and the CI went to the HHMC spring party at the clubhouse in Rockford. Some Henchmen from the Chicago Chapter were in attendance. "Agent Bayless was given a tour of the clubhouse by Monte Mathias, one of the originators of the Rockford Chapter." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 003). Bayless moreover reported that "usage of cocaine and marijuana was quite profuse by members and guests. Seven Henchmen acted as security for the party carrying 2-way radios. Judging from the radio traffic, they were worried about members of the DC Eagles showing up and causing problems." (Id). Later that night Agent Bayless met with Henchmen "DA, and other members at the Paradise Lounge in Rockford." (Id).
On May 20, 24, 26 and 27, 1993, Agent Bayless met with Henchmen, DA, and Monte Mathias at MC Fabrications. "During these meetings the Henchmen appeared to be more comfortable with Agent Bayless, talking more openly about the club and its business." (Id).
Harley-Davidson's 90th Anniversary
In early June, 1993, tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country rode to the Harley-Davidson 90th Anniversary celebration which took place at various locations in-and-around Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Agent Bayless documents the arrival of undercover ATF Agent Jay Dobyns, from ATF Tucson Arizona, in for the event working jointly with Bayless and other operatives of the MCIO. According to one former agent, as well as several other witnesses, patches and other indicia of the HAMC was stolen from evidence storage locations, or never inventoried from warranted searches, was used as props in a scheme to further the affairs of the MCIO's conspiracy to facilitate acts of violence between motorcycle clubs. [Fn.7] Teams of operatives donned the indicia masquerading as genuine HAMC members making appearances at strategic, public locations talking trash and intimidating bar patrons. The cowardly impostors would stay at a location for short duration's—then quickly leave.
The same week of the Harley 90th celebration there is a meeting between members of the OMC and HAMC in a motel parking lot by Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee. The reason for the meeting was in regards to (then) HAMC president Patrick Matter's controversial plan (and egotistical demands)to race his motorcycle in an AMRA event held at a drag strip in Union Grove,Wisconsin. The same location of the OMC's annual national event. Matter co-authored a book in 2014 with his self-serving rendition of the facts and circumstances surrounding this meeting. In his book, Matter's hypocrisy is only surpassed by his fragile ego. Conveniently omitted are his actual words uttered to the OMC in a phone call AFTER the meeting. [Fn.8] Words, that would soon have consequences, and a continuing ripple effect experienced for years and generations afterward. All this becomes plain when time gives it perspective. Of course, his actions down the road does little to inspire trust in his objectivity back then—and now. In December 2003, Matter fell from grace by becoming a turncoat against his club. [Fn.9]
Let's Be Cops!
In another twist of destiny, after testifying for federal prosecutors at multiple trials involving the HAMC, and upon his release from the Federal Witness Security Program (WITSEC), Matter and the former sergeant at arms of his chapter, Richard Rohda, became consultants for the Midwest Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association ("MOMGIA"). (See Fn.9,Breaking The Code, at 221-222). Spawned from the MCIO and other similarly situated enterprises, the MOMGIA was founded in 2002. Matter and Rohda actually speak at training conferences offering their insight and suggestions to operatives from across the country that are hell-bent "towards dismantling and eliminating [one-percenter motorcycle clubs] and their membership through the application of unique investigative techniques." (Quoting www.midwestomia.org)(accessed 9/1/2014, since removed).
Agent Bayless Gains The Trust of The HHMC
Once Agent Dobyns arrived in the Chicago area to assist, Agent Bayless's wayward "Jesus Hates a Pussy" methods contained in his reports became cloaked with redactions indicative of an official cover-up. Entire pages are now conspicuously blacked out from an investigation that took place over 25 years ago? Through the rest of the summer and into the early Fall of 1993, Bayless reveals only a sprinkling of dates in his reports where he has been working construction with either the CI, or for HHMC members. However, according to confidential sources, Bayless began a slow, methodical dissemination of confidential law enforcement intelligence to Monty Mathias and other members in an effort to gain to the trust of the HHMC.
On October 11, 1993, a report of a "Reference Telcall" between FBI
resident agencies in Springfield Massachusetts & Kenosha Wisconsin, and to SA Ron Holmes, Chicago ATF, purports:
"On 8/5/93, over 30 Hells Angels Motorcycle Club members en route to Sturgis, South Dakota motorcycle rally stopped overnight in Janesville Wisconsin, at Best Western, located at 3900 Milton Avenue. During the following evening hours, [HAMC members from Massachusetts] went to Slick's Bar located at 1405 Milton Avenue in Janesville. During the night several rival gang members from the Outlaw[s] Motorcycle Club entered and attacked [HAMC members] in attempts to remove their 'colors.' According to witnesses, [HAMC members] were beaten and sprayed with chemical mace. Upon Police arrival [HAMC members refused to give statements]. Several witnesses positively identified Outlaw[s] Motorcycle Gang colors as being worn by the suspects involved in the aforementioned armed robbery."
(From FBI File Numbers: 166E-BS-69106, and 166E-MW-28378-30).
On October 20, 1993, an "Information Communication" from SA Grant Mendenhal, Kenosha Wisconsin FBI Resident Agency, is sent to the Springfield, Massachusetts FBI Resident Agency. The report depicts a traffic stop of the "President of the Wisconsin Outlaws" by SA Mendenhal and MCIO operative Larry Zarletti. The OMC member was "provided" a teletype to read from FBI Boston, to FBI Milwaukee dated "10/14/1993," advising that "an East Coast meeting of the Hell's Angels took place in Providence Rhode Island was monitored." Intelligence was gained from a "very accurate and reliable source"
indicating that "members of the Hell's Angels will be traveling from the East Coast to Wisconsin, to kill members of the Wisconsin Outlaws." After the OMC member reviewed the document, SA Mendenhal readily touted, "We did our job, now you need to do yours." In addition, and in furtherance keeping with the means and methods of the MCIO's campaign of crime promotion, MCIO Zarletti chimed in with, "Don't expect us to protect you, you're on your own!" (FBI File Number: 166E-MW-28378-33).
On October 21, 1993, Agent Bayless noted in the "Progress" section of hisreport that he "met with Monty Mathias and a second Hell's Henchmen known as Ron at a construction site in Malta, Illinois. During the conversation, Monty Mathias invited the CI and [Bayless] to the [HHMC] New Year's Eve party" at the clubhouse. (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 008).
In Minnesota, MCIO & ATF agents strategically placed stickers with the slogan "Support Your Outlaws" on the front door of the HAMC clubhouse and on vehicles of its members to incite retaliation against members of the OMC. At first glance, this particular scheme may seem innocuous to the lay public. However, although the ripple effect from schemes of this nature are generally unknown, it may also be the spark or causation that results in violence, days, weeks, months, or even years later. 1993 became something of a fortuitous year for the MCIO. Its playbook of dirty tricks unleashed against the targets widened the rift between rival clubs and delivered the desired results.
On December 10, 1993, the HHMC "formally invited Special Agent Bayless and the CI to become members of the Henchmen." The HHMC explained that if they were "deemed nasty enough," they would then become probates of the Rockford chapter. Bayless further reported that he and the "CI have established an undercover apartment in Kirkland, Illinois," as their permanent residence. Bayless noted in the "Progress" section of his report he "has been working out with the enforcer, Paul Jensen, and another club member, Al [Torres] , approximately four nights per week at the clubhouse." Furthermore on this date, "[t]he enforcer told Special Agent Bayless that he felt [he] had the right attitude to become a Henchmen." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010).
On January 20, 1994, agents Bayless and Jay Dobyns arrived at the clubhouse. "SA Dobyns wore his white supremacist colors from the Aryan Brotherhood that he worked in Tucson. The agents were let in by Hell's Henchmen Rickie Abrams." They did not search SA Dobyns when he entered the clubhouse. "Rickie told SA Bayless 'if he's a friend of yours, he's okay.'" A short time later, the enforcer, Paul Jensen, arrived and they all proceeded to the basement to lift weights.
After working out, the agents were invited over to the enforcer's house for a couple of beers. "During that time, SA Dobyns advised the enforcer that he was part of a white supremacist organization that was stockpiling weapons for the big race war that they anticipated would occur sometime in the near future." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010). The agents further "alluded to the enforcer that they also deal in large quantities of marijuana that's flown in from Mexico." (Id)
On January 25, 1994, while at the clubhouse Agent Bayless "showed the enforcer a picture of four Outlaws that was in Easy Riders Magazine. One of them had a T-shirt on that said 'I hate you.' SA Bayless laughed and pointed it out to the enforcer. The enforcer said yeah, those guys are assholes. SA Bayless said 'I guess that's why they make guns.'" In reply, "[t]he enforcer said, yeah, but they have guns too. The enforcer asked SA Bayless if he knew who those individuals were. SA Bayless looked real close at the pictures like he was trying to look for some type of clue as to who they were. A short time later, the enforcer said, 'they're Outlaws.' SA Bayless said, oh, I heard the Outlaws are assholes and so are the DC Eagles. The enforcer told SA Bayless he had to watch what he said about other clubs. He said some of the other Henchmen might think that SA Bayless may know some of the other members that they were at war with and that SA Bayless might be some kind of a plant from another club." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010). Agent Bayless stayed at the clubhouse for a couple hours longer "talking about how great it is to be a Henchmen and what the club could offer SA Bayless." (Id)
The Takeover of the Hell's Henchmen
On February 2, 1994, "SA Bayless spoke with SA Ed Diamond who advised that the Friday before (1/28/94), he [performed] surveillance on the Hell's Henchmen clubhouse [at 1734 W. Grand Avenue] in Chicago. There were numerous cars around the clubhouse, more than SA Diamond had ever seen before. SA Diamond advised that he observed three individuals with long rifles on the roof of the clubhouse." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010).
On February 3, 1994, from an obscure war room located at 1 South 450 Summit Avenue, Suite 250, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, MCIO mastermind, Ron Holmes, "contacted SA Bayless and advised that two members from the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club in California had met with members of the Chicago Hell's Henchmen to discuss a merger and takeover of the club." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010).
On February 4, 1994, SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse in Rockford at 6:30 p.m. "There were already numerous Hell's Henchmen in the clubhouse upon his arrival. At the door, SA Bayless was met by Wild Bill who apologized and said he would have to search SA Bayless again" because "they had some serious club business and some out-of-town guests." Bayless observed one individual had the "Hells Angels death head tattooed on his right arm." (Id)
On February 8, 1994, SA Bayless met with the enforcer at his home. The enforcer asked SA Bayless if he was informed of the HHMC's decision to become Hell's Angels. "SA Bayless said yes, that the CI and he had talked last night and that the Hell's Henchmen were rolling their patch to Hell's Angels. The enforcer said 'it's good move for us, we are all gonna end up making a lot of money.'" SA Bayless further noted in his report that "[t]he enforcer stated that there were four members of the chapter that had quit, and three of the other hang-arounds were cut loose, and that the CI and SA Bayless were the only hang-arounds allowed to stay." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010). SA Bayless later went to the clubhouse to lift weights with the enforcer and other members. "After lifting, SA Bayless and the members went back upstairs where the enforcer advised SA Bayless to be very wary of the Outlaws. The enforcer stated that 'when they find out that the Hell's Angels have rolled our patches, all hell's gonna break loose.' The enforcer said "we gave the Hell's Angels the Midwest. They're gonna give us the world." (Id).
Stay tuned to FedsGoneBad for Part II in this series as the One Percenters uncover more of this conscience-shocking, true saga, of how MCIO and ATF (so-called) law enforcers became the ultimate law breakers. And learn about the subsequent cover-up of their crimes made possible by covert deliberations and backdoor maneuvering of DOJ consiglieres and obliging judges.
"In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
—George Orwell
MCIO operative and ATF pitchman,Christopher L. Bayless, says that his undercover mind-set was being "proactive"and all "about affording an opportunity for violent people to do their violence."(Photo & quotation from the Chicago Sun-Times, May 13, 2018)
Fn.1 See e.g., Hobson v. Wilson, 737 F.2d 1, 12 (D.C.Cir. 1984)(FBI counterintelligence program created and anonymously sent "racially-inflammatory leaflet[s]" in efforts "to engender animosity" between antiwar group and organization of black citizens and leaders).
Fn.2 An agent provocateur is defined as: "1. An undercover agent who instigates or participates in a crime, often by infiltrating a group suspected of illegal conduct .... 2. A person who entraps another, or entices another to break the law, and then informs against the other as a lawbreaker." See Black's Law Dictionary, pg. 71 (8th ed. 2004).
Fn.3 Quoting JAY DOBYNS and NILS JOHNSON-SHELTON, "NO ANGEL: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels," pg. 71, 81 (www.crownpublishing.com)(2009).
Fn.4 Quoting JULIAN SHER & WILLIAM MARSDEN, "ANGELS OF DEATH,"Pg. 168 (Carroll & Graf Publishers 2006).
Fn.5 Berard is also a lieutenant for the Milwaukee Police Department ("MPD"). He is a self-professed "walking encyclopedia [on] the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in and around Wisconsin." Quoting MICHAEL GROGAN, "You Gotta Be Dirty: The Outlaws Motorcycle Club In & Around Wisconsin," pg. i (Badger Wordsmith, LLC Marinette, WI, 2016).
Fn.6 See United States v. Bowman, Case No. 8:97-CR-333-T-30TGW (M.D. Fla. 1997)(March 27, 2001 testimony of Carl J. Warneke, Tr. At 39, 93-94).
Fn.7 The MCIO also distributed "Law Enforcement Network" videos that instructed federal, state and local law enforcement to initiate innovative methods to "seize the biker's colors," an act designed to prevent the exercise of First Amendment rights, and moreover, a means and method to stockpile club indicia for its investigative scenarios.
Fn.8 See PAT MATTER & CHRIS OMODT, "Breaking The Code: A True Story by a Hells Angels President and the Cop Who Pursued Him," pgs. 72-74 (The Real Deal, LLC, 2014 (breakingthecodebook.net).
Fn.9 See Breaking the Code, 221-222.
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