June 17, 2020
By the One Percenters
"If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck, even if the government chooses to label it a cow."
—unknown author
Part I of this conscience-shocking, true account, took you behind the scenes and exposed the criminal realities of the objects and purposes of the"nongovernmental enterprise" known as the Midwest Cycle Intelligence Organization ("MCIO"). So where does its funding come from for long-term infiltration, informants, communications, transportation, planning, coordinating, record-keeping, and carrying out the means and methods of the MCIO? It's actually an ingenious scheme because while each and every operative is being paid and funded by his (or her) respective "governmental" agency, whether it be ATF, FBI, DOJ, state or local law enforcement, MCIO collaborators are simultaneously and secretly conducting the affairs of the MCIO.
In the end, it is the taxpayers that pay the bill for this sophisticated vigilante ring. But wait, if you file a FOIA request for records created by ATF agents that are acting contemporaneously as covert operatives of the MCIO, according to ATF's Chicago Field Division, and ATF's Disclosure Division in Washington, DC, "the MCIO is an independent organization and ATF maintains no files" created by its own agents acting under the guise of "that organization." This gives the MCIO free rein to conceal all of its corrupt methods.
The law of this country promises defendants due process by turning over all evidence in a criminal case to ensure a fair trial. Records created by the MCIO are NEVER DISCLOSED to defense attorneys or government prosecutors in federal cases involving motorcycle clubs—this allows the dubious prosecutors a system of plausible deniability. The MCIO's practice is to maintain (so-called) "street files," "zero files," or "White Paper" reports, which is "how ATF hides official documents by simply classifying them as unofficial." [Fn.1] Exculpatory information concealed in these clandestine files is often moved to elude detection.
How Did The Investigation of The Hell's Henchmen MC Begin?
To initiate the investigation and infiltration of the Hell's Henchmen Motorcycle Club ("HHMC") by MCIO operative and ATF Special Agent Christopher L. Bayless, the MCIO formulated a presentation to the higher-ups in ATF's bureaucracy for approval and funding. One former undercover agent, dubbed as ATF's foremost expert in the area of motorcycle clubs, revealed that "ATF management" is tough to work with because of their "fragile egos and self-promoting attitudes" and moreover, it is something of "a good-ol'-boy network with an ingrained us-versus-them mentality." [Fn.2]
Below is a "Synopsis" by Agent Bayless of so-called facts regarding the HHMC to ATF management which of course is rife with exaggerated and grossly inaccurate factual assertions. This is a routine means and method used by operatives of the MCIO to circumvent the threshold criteria necessary to gain agency approval and funding for "Organized Crime" investigations:
Below is a "Synopsis" by Agent Bayless of so-called facts regarding the HHMC to ATF management which of course is rife with exaggerated and grossly inaccurate factual assertions. This is a routine means and method used by operatives of the MCIO to circumvent the threshold criteria necessary to gain agency approval and funding for "Organized Crime" investigations:
"This investigation pertains to Federal firearms and narcotics violations by members of the Hell's Henchmen [M]otorcycle [C]lub, Rockford, Illinois. The Henchmen are a One Percenter club consisting of six chapters throughout the Midwest with approximately 250 members. The Rockford Chapter has 30 members who are reported to be supplying girls to local strip joints for prostitution activities. They also traffic in cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamines."
(Quoting Bayless ATF Report # 10).
In Part I of this series you previously learned that on January 12, 1993, Agent Bayless was introduced to HHMC member, LaMonte "Monty" Mathias, at his motorcycle repair shop in Rockford Illinois, by a cooperating individual ("CI"). Curiously, Agent Bayless makes no mention in his initial report of further contact with the HHMC until months later on April 21, 1993. Notably, this is two days after the final assault against the Branch Davidians' Mount Carmel ranch near Waco, Texas. An abundance of circumstantial evidence indicates that Agent Bayless participated in this monumental tragedy before returning to his endeavor to gain full membership in the HHMC.
With roots based in the Waco area since the 1950s, the Branch Davidians were legal dealers of weaponry. Instead of easily arresting its leader during one of his weekly visits to Waco, on Sunday, February 28 1993, ATF chose to stage a massive, D-Day-like invasion on the Branch Davidians and their property. From the day of the attack, a sixty-one-day standoff followed. Bradley fighting vehicles and M-60 tanks ended the siege. Among the dead was four ATF agents and eighty-two Branch Davidians, including 8 children all under the age of three. Afterwards, Time Magazine called ATF, "America's Most Hated Agency."
In Part I of this series you previously learned that on January 12, 1993, Agent Bayless was introduced to HHMC member, LaMonte "Monty" Mathias, at his motorcycle repair shop in Rockford Illinois, by a cooperating individual ("CI"). Curiously, Agent Bayless makes no mention in his initial report of further contact with the HHMC until months later on April 21, 1993. Notably, this is two days after the final assault against the Branch Davidians' Mount Carmel ranch near Waco, Texas. An abundance of circumstantial evidence indicates that Agent Bayless participated in this monumental tragedy before returning to his endeavor to gain full membership in the HHMC.
With roots based in the Waco area since the 1950s, the Branch Davidians were legal dealers of weaponry. Instead of easily arresting its leader during one of his weekly visits to Waco, on Sunday, February 28 1993, ATF chose to stage a massive, D-Day-like invasion on the Branch Davidians and their property. From the day of the attack, a sixty-one-day standoff followed. Bradley fighting vehicles and M-60 tanks ended the siege. Among the dead was four ATF agents and eighty-two Branch Davidians, including 8 children all under the age of three. Afterwards, Time Magazine called ATF, "America's Most Hated Agency."
Agent Bayless's Infiltration of the HHMC Continues
According to ATF Agent Jay Dobyns, a former partner and sidekick at times for Agent Bayless during his infiltration of the HHMC and Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club ("HAMC"), "there were no [undercover] operations that Chris [Bayless] had not mastered and repeated and then repeated again." Metaphors at times can do our thinking for us. Borrowing another figure of speech from Agent Dobyns aptly sums up SA Bayless' association with both groups while he acted surreptitiously and in disguise: "He was like herpes; invisible for a while with the host lulled into a belief that it's gone, then out of nowhere, a new blister." [Fn.3] Monty Mathias sponsored SA Bayless for membership in the HHMC to be followed by a fast path to full-membership in the HAMC. It has been said that the cover-up is always worse than the actual crime. In a few short months, all the evidence will show that Monty's ultimate fate will be cast by this modern-day MCIO Judas.
Part I of this series on Agent Bayless's infiltration into the HHMC left off in February, 1994. On February 8, 1994, SA Bayless reported that he "met with the enforcer [Paul Jensen], Al and Rickie at the [HHMC] clubhouse to lift [weights]. Conversation between the club members while they were lifting indicated that the Hell's Angels were flying Hell's Henchmen members around the country to visit different chapters. Rickie stated that the Minneapolis/St. Paul Hell's Angels clubhouse was very nice. The enforcer and Al stated they were going to Cleveland this weekend to meet the chapter members there and that two members had gone to Southern California to discuss business with Hell's Angel members there." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 010).
On February 10, 1994, SA Bayless reported that "members of the Antioch chapter of the Outlaws attempted to abduct a Chicago Hell's Henchmen named [Eddie] Murphy who lives in Round Lake Beach, Illinois. While on his way home, Murphy's vehicle was run off the road by Spike [O'Neill], President of the Antioch Outlaws. ... [O'Neill] and three other Outlaws exited their vehicle, maced Murphy, and attempted to handcuff him. Murphy was able to escape and drive to a convenient store where a Lake County Sheriff's Deputy was. The Deputy arrested the Outlaws." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011). SA Bayless further purported that "[d]uring questioning, Murphy told the police officer that the Outlaws had threatened him and told him that they wanted to know about the Hell's Angels coming into the Midwest." (Id). In addition, SA Bayless added that "[a]ccording to Joe Cludy, ATF St. Paul, a bomb has detonated a few days prior, destroying the president of the Hell's Angels Minneapolis chapter's truck." (Id).
Former HAMC president, Pat Matter, later describes this incident involving HHMC member Eddie Murphy in his book:
"Ed was one of the Hell's Henchmen and one night a couple of Outlaws grabbed him near his home in Fox Lake, Illinois and threw him into their van. He saw body bags in the van and that meant only one thing: they were driving him somewhere to execute him. Ed managed to get out, rolling out of the van right into the middle of the street. The Outlaws kept going.When the cops came, Ed did what you're not supposed to do.He told the cops it was the Outlaws, breaking the biker code."
Quoting PAT MATTER & CHRIS OMODT, "Breaking The Code: A True Story by a Hells Angels President and the Cop Who Pursued Him," pg. 93 (The Real Deal, LLC 2014)(breakingthecode.net).
Also during the previous reporting period, ATF Special Agent Paul Zamzow of the St. Paul field division initiated an OCDETF investigation into the criminal activities of the Minneapolis Chapter of the Hell's Angels. The Minneapolis Hell's Angels are the sponsors for the takeover of the Rockford Hell's Henchmen. Intelligence developed by Special Agent Zamzow indicates that the Hell's Angels organization is supported by their distribution of methamphetamine and other controlled substances; the profits of which are then laundered through legitimate enterprises. Intelligence gathered pertaining to this investigation indicates that pursuant to the takeover of the Henchmen by the Hell's Angels, the wide scale distribution of methamphetamines will begin." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 013). [Fn.5]
Agent Balkema further reported on May 6, 1994, that "the confidential informant, accompanied by SA Bayless, met with Roger Freibrantz, the president of the Rockford chapter. During this meeting, Freibrantz stated that he had recently purchased two AR-15 assault rifles and despite his desire to convert these weapons to fully automatic, individuals from the Hell's Angels had instructed him not to, as this would attract unneeded police attention. Freibrantz further stated that he would have the assault weapons converted anyway." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
On May 13, 1994, "at approximately 6:00 p.m., SA Bayless and the informant arrived at the Rockford clubhouse, where they met 30 members of the Hell's Angels from the Minneapolis/St. Paul; Omaha, Nebraska; and North Carolina chapters. As SA Bayless and the informant arrived, members of the Hell's Angels, along with Monty Mathias of the Henchmen, began moving aggressively towards a surveillance van parked nearby. SA Bayless inquired of Mathias as to the nature of their activities. Monty replied that they were 'taking care of some business.' During this incident, SA Schoenberger, who was occupying the van, was forced to leave the vicinity to avoid confrontation. When Monty and the Angels returned to the clubhouse, SA Bayless inquired about the occupants of the van. Monty informed SA Bayless that it was either the police or members of the rival Outlaws organization. SA Bayless further inquired as to what would have occurred if it had been the police, to which Monty replied, 'we would pull them out and kick their ass anyway. Better to take a hit for assaulting a cop, than killed by a van load of Outlaws.' The Hell's Angels were visiting the Rockford chapter in preparation for a Chicago Henchmen nicknamed 'Pulley's' wedding." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
ATF Agent Jay Dobyns purports in his most recent book that "Chris [Bayless] developed his tradecraft and eventually grew into one of the best, if not the best, undercover operators in the history of American law enforcement." And moreover, that Bayless is "always confident and always clever ... with an inherent sense of being one step ahead of his adversaries." (Quoting "Catching Hell: A True Story of Abandonment and Betrayal," 52-53). Any moral qualms Bayless may have had for preventing harm coming to Monty Mathias, went out the window hearing from Monty that he intended to assault the ATF surveillance team. This will make it all that much easier for Bayless to remain "one step" behind warning Mathias when the MCIO receives advance notice, a gift from CI-PW, that Monty is targeted to be killed by David Wolf.
"Pulley" is David Ohlendorf, a HHMC member from Chicago. He has no way of knowing that in just a few weeks he will be receiving his life-altering marching orders from the Boss in Minneapolis.
On May 17, 1994, "during the weekly Tuesday night support run, members of the Henchmen/Angels recorded the plate of an ATF surveillance vehicle and had begun formulating plans to confront the occupants of this vehicle. The vehicle discontinued its surveillance before any action had been taken by the Henchmen/Angels." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
On this same date, Agent Balkema further reported that during the run, "the surveillance team identified a blue Aerostar van that was following the pack. License plate information came back to Budget Rent-a-car. Further investigation revealed that it was rented by Kevin P. O'Neill, a/k/a, Spike O'Neill, the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Outlaws. The surveillance team followed the van as it followed the pack of bikes. Information was received the following day from [MCIO operative] Ron Holmes that four members of the Outlaws were staying at the Motel 6 in Rockford doing surveillance on the Hell's Henchmen." (Id).
The information received from Agent Ron Holmes came by way of MCIO operative Gary Govekar, from his informant CI-PW. Unbeknownst to the Outlaws, Probationary Outlaw David B. Wolf has been regaling his wife with a detailed play-by-play of his travels. In the upcoming months, ATF will soon take control of Patricia Wolf and she will become a documented and paid informant/operative for the ATF taskforce investigating the Outlaws. The MCIO previously airbrushed a litany of felony charges for CI-PW—and now the ATF will do the same for her.
On June 17, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless arrived at the clubhouse at approximately 6:00 p.m., and began talking to Monty Mathias. Mathias stated that the Henchmen had a person who worked for Ameritech who would be coming that evening to check the phone lines to see if they were tapped. He further stated that this would put an electrical charge through the phone line and disable any listening device that may be attached." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
Special Agent Bayless further reported while at the clubhouse on June 17, 1994, that Al Torres said "someone from the Two Wheel Inn [in Rockford] had called and stated that some Outlaws had gone into the tavern and were asking about Angels that afternoon. Al told Rickie to go upstairs and bring down the pound of 'pot.' Rickie went upstairs to Al's apartment and returned with what appeared to be one pound of cannabis. At this point, Al took approximately one ounce from the pound, put it in a separate clear bag, and handed it to Monty. Monty told Special Agent Bayless that they would be leaving Friday, July 1, 1994, to attend the 4th of July run in Humboldt, Iowa. He said that members of the Minneapolis and Omaha, Nebraska Angels would be there, along with a second possible probationary club from St. Louis, Missouri. Special Agent Bayless advised Monty that his bike was running fine and he was looking forward to going. Monty told Special Agent Bayless to meet him outside, that he had something to discuss with him." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015). "When they went outside, Monty told Special Agent Bayless that he would be able to attend the World Run in California. Monty said he felt Special Agent Bayless' bike would be able to make the trip, but he felt that the CI's bike would have a hard time making it out of the state. Special Agent Bayless told Monty that he didn't think the CI would mind sitting the California run out, that the CI would like to go, but he knows his bike would not make it." (Id).
Q: Have you seen that set of initials in the club?
MATTER: I have seen it before, yes.
Q: Where have you seen it?
MATTER: On Jerry Bokina, some Chicago people, members.
Q: What do you mean on?
MATTER: Tattooed.
See United States v. Acosta, et al., Case No. 2:03-CR-542-JCM-PAL, Volume III, Tr. at 48, 50 (D. Nev. Oct. 4, 2006).
In early 2000, the MCIO's masterful agent provocateur Ron Holmes was served a federal court subpoena to testify at the racketeering trial of eight members of the Outlaws. When he took the stand, Holmes had the look of a Hitler loyalist at the Nuremburg trials, sworn to protect the MCIO's secrets at all costs. Holmes' infidelity to the rule of law is virtually unmatched. He has had good training though, at ATF, silence is rewarded. But this coward behind the curtain is way past his prime. His attempt to display his training as a skilled law enforcement witness failed miserably. His entire testimony was riddled with contradictions, nonsensical responses, and outright perjury. Several times Holmes was confronted with documentation from ATF reports as well as other official law enforcement reports showing that his testimony was erroneous, and he still would not admit it was false. Once the master of the 180, his testimony came across more like the bumbling police lieutenant, Frank Drebin, from the old "Naked Gun" comedy. He became so distraught that it appeared at one point he was on the verge of weeping. While a packed courtroom was openly in disbelief of Holmes' preposterous answers, three assistant United States attorneys sat stone-faced with no attempt at rehabilitation of his pathetic and embarrassing performance—which proved to be his last time on the witness stand as an ATF agent.
After the puppet-reporter stipulated that Holmes, ATF Agent Bayless, and other operatives of the MCIO supplied him with the story, Holmes reluctantly coughed-up the following answers:
Q: Who is Mark Kiesling, K I E S L I N G?
HOLMES: Mark Kiesling is a reporter for the Hammond, Indiana Times
newspaper.
Q: And he wrote an article about the Outlaws?
HOLMES: I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question?
Q: He wrote an article about the Outlaws on 7-24-94; right?
HOLMES: I suppose so, yes sir.
Q: And you gave him---you fed him a whole bunch of quotes for that
story; didn't you?
HOLMES: I don't remember.
Q: So it could be that you did it?
HOLMES: Yes, sir, it could be.
See United States v. O'Neill, et al., Case No. 97-CR-98, Docket # 1882, Tr. at 4622-4623, (E.D.Wis., May 9, 2000).
Playboy magazine covered the trial and reported that "[m]embers of the [MCIO & ATF] investigating team leaked details to a reporter for Indiana's Hammond Times. One 'biker watcher' [MCIO Holmes] suggested that the only way for the Outlaws to avoid all-out war was to sacrifice (i.e., murder) [Spike O'Neill's] entire Stateline [Wisconsin] Chapter. The
tactic—incite, observe, arrest—is known as stirring the pot or tickling the wire." Quoting James R. Peterson, "The Biker Wars," PLAYBOY MAGAZINE, pg. 168 November 2000 Issue.
Stayed tuned to FedsGoneBad for Part III in this series.
Quoting PAT MATTER & CHRIS OMODT, "Breaking The Code: A True Story by a Hells Angels President and the Cop Who Pursued Him," pg. 93 (The Real Deal, LLC 2014)(breakingthecode.net).
On the same date, Agent Bayless reported that "[w]hile at the [HHMC] clubhouse, SA Bayless installed a telephone in the weight room at the request of Hell's Henchmen Rickie Abrams." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 11, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse. Hell's Henchmen David Allen arrived and stated that someone had called him from the Coyote Club and stated that members of the Outlaws were there, looking to mess up some Hell's Angels. David Allen requested that the CI accompany him, along with Hell's Henchmen Al Torres to see if this was true. David Allen asked SA Bayless to remain at the clubhouse with Rickie Abrams. .... Rickie opened a fake wall located near the back door. Behind it were two shotguns and some type of cut-down carbine." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011). "David Allen, Al and the CI returned approximately 30 minutes later and stated it had been a false alarm."(Id).
On February 11, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse. Hell's Henchmen David Allen arrived and stated that someone had called him from the Coyote Club and stated that members of the Outlaws were there, looking to mess up some Hell's Angels. David Allen requested that the CI accompany him, along with Hell's Henchmen Al Torres to see if this was true. David Allen asked SA Bayless to remain at the clubhouse with Rickie Abrams. .... Rickie opened a fake wall located near the back door. Behind it were two shotguns and some type of cut-down carbine." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011). "David Allen, Al and the CI returned approximately 30 minutes later and stated it had been a false alarm."(Id).
You Better Not Be a Cop! You're Not, Okay!
On February 15, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse and put together the bunk beds that he built." Afterwards, "Paul Jensen, Al Torres, and a third individual identified only a Hell's Angel from Cleveland, went to the Hideaway strip club. After being at the club for approximately a half hour, the Hell's Angels and Al Torres had a short private conversation, after which Al approached SA Bayless and told him that they appreciated what SA Bayless and the CI had done for the club. SA Bayless told them, no problem, that he appreciated them letting him hang around. Al Torres then became very serious and told SA Bayless that he hoped to God he wasn't a cop. SA Bayless told him he wasn't and sort of laughed it off. At that time, the Hell's Angel stood next to Al, and Al told SA Bayless that this merger was very important to them and that if SA Bayless was a CI or the cops, that Al would make sure he (SA Bayless) and his family were killed. SA Bayless again told him he wasn't a cop and told Al that if they were that suspicious of him, maybe he shouldn't hang around anymore. Al said that he didn't believe in his heart that SA Bayless was a cop, but that he had to put him on notice that this is serious 'shit.' The Hell's Angel spoke up and said, all we're saying is if you're a cop, now's the time to walk away. The mood lightened up after this and Al apologized later, saying that they had to be careful. SA Bayless told them he understood." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 18, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse and met with Rickie and Al Torres. They advised SA Bayless that their weekly meeting schedule had been switched around to throw the Outlaws off. Rickie advised that all members are carrying firearms at all times and he advised SA Bayless and the CI to do the same. Rickie states that there were originally 22 members of the Hell's Henchmen Rockford chapter before the take-over. He said some of the older members had quit and that the Hell's Angels had told some members to leave. Rickie stated that the membership of the Rockford chapter was down to eight." SA Bayless further reported that "Rickie said that SA Bayless and the CI had hang-around status and would move to probate status once the club got its colors. He told SA Bayless he should be proud to know that he would be the very first Hell's Angels probate in Rockford." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 18, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse and met with Rickie and Al Torres. They advised SA Bayless that their weekly meeting schedule had been switched around to throw the Outlaws off. Rickie advised that all members are carrying firearms at all times and he advised SA Bayless and the CI to do the same. Rickie states that there were originally 22 members of the Hell's Henchmen Rockford chapter before the take-over. He said some of the older members had quit and that the Hell's Angels had told some members to leave. Rickie stated that the membership of the Rockford chapter was down to eight." SA Bayless further reported that "Rickie said that SA Bayless and the CI had hang-around status and would move to probate status once the club got its colors. He told SA Bayless he should be proud to know that he would be the very first Hell's Angels probate in Rockford." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
THE MCIO FINDS MORE INFORMANTS
While MCIO operative SA Bayless is burrowing deeper into the ranks of the HHMC /HAMC, another MCIO partisan scores a major breakthrough. Meet Lake County Illinois Sheriff's Department Detective, Gary "GG" Govekar, another operative sharing "a special investigative relationship" with the enterprise known as the MCIO. Sometime in February 1994, Govekar is able to procure and develop the wife of a probationary member of the Outlaws as an informant for the MCIO. Her name is Patricia Morris-Wolf, a/k/a, "New York" (hereinafter "CI-PW"). [Fn.4]
A few days after the incident between the HAMC and Outlaws in Janesville Wisconsin on August 5, 1993, (see Part I of this series), ATF Agent Guy R. Morice reported:
A few days after the incident between the HAMC and Outlaws in Janesville Wisconsin on August 5, 1993, (see Part I of this series), ATF Agent Guy R. Morice reported:
"I have interviewed OCDETF Coordinator [Ron] Holmes several times. He advised that a prominent member of the Henchmen in Chicago would submit to a confidential interview regarding this bombing" [on November 12, 1990 at the HHMC Rockford clubhouse]. This was completed the week of August 9, 1993.
On August 12, 1993, I interviewed a member of the Calumet City chapter of the Hell's Henchmen on the condition he remain anonymous. [At this time, Jerry Fundukian was the president of the Calumet City Chapter of the HHMC]
On August 12, 1993, I interviewed a member of the Calumet City chapter of the Hell's Henchmen on the condition he remain anonymous. [At this time, Jerry Fundukian was the president of the Calumet City Chapter of the HHMC]
He advised he believes that an individual named 'Spike'O'Neil[l] bombed the clubhouse in Rockford. The informant bases this on the fact that O'Neil[l] ... has had numerous conflicts with the Henchmen. Also at this time the Booze Runners [MC] were vying for chapter status in the Outlaws.
Shortly after the bombing, the Booze Runners [MC] did receive chapter status with O'Neil[l] being installed as President. The Outlaws and Henchmen have been feuding for some time."
Shortly after the bombing, the Booze Runners [MC] did receive chapter status with O'Neil[l] being installed as President. The Outlaws and Henchmen have been feuding for some time."
(Quoting Agent Morice Report No. 015, ATF Investigation No. 33118-91-0036-G, Title: Hell's Henchmen Clubhouse Bombing).
On February 22, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse to lift [weights]. Upon arrival, he was met by Al Torres and Paul Jensen. Both individuals carried firearms to the gate where SA Bayless was standing." SA Bayless was told "that he should always check his vehicle for explosive devices when he leaves the clubhouse. SA Bayless laughed and said like he would know what one looked like if he saw it. The enforcer told SA Bayless that the Outlaws usually set it right on top of the tire or attach it by magnet to the frame." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 24, 1994, "the CI went to the clubhouse and met with Monty Mathias. Mathias requested that the CI and SA Bayless build a soundproof room for the Henchmen. The CI asked what was going on. Mathias explained that the Hell's Angels requested that they build a room with two separate phones lines and a fax machine, and that they had to have it swept by a security agency once a month to make sure that there were no bugs in the room and that the phone lines were not tapped. The CI told him that he and SA Bayless could build such a room." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 25, 1994, "SA Bayless and the CI arrived at the clubhouse and built a 'secure room' for the Henchmen. They also ran the phone lines for the fax machine and telephone."(Id)
On February 26, 1994, "the CI met the enforcer and Al Torres at Club 51 in Rockford. At that time, Paul advised the CI that the following week, the Hell's Angels are flying them to San Bernardino, California, to meet with 'God.'The CI asked who God is. The enforcer said his name is Sonny Barger and that he's the one who started the whole thing. The CI laughed and asked why they had to go out there. The enforcer stated it was part of the club's 'on-the-job training,' that they had to meet certain high ranking members of the Hell's Angels. The enforcer told the CI to get ready to travel. The CI asked what he meant by that, and the enforcer stated that when he and SA Bayless become probates, they'll be required to travel to different Angel clubhouses around the country." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On this same date, eleven Branch Davidians were acquitted by a jury of the deaths of the four ATF agents that died during the raid of their ranch on February 28, 1993.
On March 1, 1994, "SA Bayless and the CI arrived at the clubhouse and met with all the remaining eight members of the Henchmen. .... The president explained official 'hang around' means that it's the beginning of the probationary period to become a Hell's Angel. At that time the enforcer said, 'we're gonna need to see your driver's license and your social security cards.' SA Bayless asked what for, and the enforcer said that this information, along with pictures of SA Bayless and the CI, would be faxed to Hell's Angels chapters all over the country for two reasons. One, so that when we travel to different chapters, they will know that we are really 'Chris and Grubb.' He said that sometimes, rival gangs use other Hell's Angel names in an attempt to infiltrate a particular club. He said the second reason was that the Hell's Angels do a background check through some agency (not identified) but alluded to some type of private detective that would be able to check out the CI and SA Bayless to make sure they weren't police. The enforcer said this was standard operating procedure. The CI asked where they got pictures of himself and SA Bayless. The enforcer laughed and said that pictures were taken a year ago at the Fly Fest at Club 51. SA Bayless said, yeah, right, I don't believe it. At that time, Monty Mathias showed SA Bayless a picture of himself with SA [Tina] Sherrow talking to the enforcer at the Fly Fest party. He also had a second picture of the CI speaking with the president. SA Bayless told them they were pretty sneaky guys. The enforcer said you had to be in this business." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report 011).
On this same date at the clubhouse, "[t]he enforcer told the CI and SA Bayless that the Hell's Angels would start a second club in Rockford called the Spartans. He stated that SA Bayless and the CI rank above the Spartans club. He stated that the Spartans would fade the heat for the Hell's Angels in Rockford. He explained that the Spartans would run security for all events and deal any drugs that needed to be dealt. He further stated that the CI and SA Bayless would be expected to attend all events put on by the Henchmen and Hell's Angels and to attend all runs this summer." [the next two pages are completely redacted] (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On March 19, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless, in an undercover capacity, met with two members of the Charlotte, North Carolina, Hell's Angels chapter. They were identified only as 'Stu' and 'Bo-bo.' 'Bo-bo' has been identified as Harold McLawhon, who has been the subject of previous ATF investigations. The informant and Special Agent Bayless were interviewed extensively by both Bo-bo and Stu. The Angels advised that once the Hell's Henchmen received their Hell's Angels colors, we would be brought in as the first two prospects. Stu stated that the Rockford Henchmen spoke highly of Special Agent Bayless and the CI, and advised that he felt we had what it takes to become Hell's Angels." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
On March 26, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless met four members of the Lowell, Massachusetts chapter of the Hell's Angels at the Henchmen clubhouse in Rockford. There were two full patch members and two probates. None of them identified themselves by name or nickname. They just stated they were Angels from the Lowell chapter. All members had either one or two black eyes and had advised that they had run into some difficulties while visiting the South Bend, Indiana chapter of the Henchmen." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
On April 2, 1994, Agent Bayless reported that "four members of the Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter of the Hell's Angels, along with five members of the Hell's Henchmen Chicago chapter entered Weed's Tavern, 1515 Bakin, Chicago. They pulled the bar manager aside, Greg Martinez, and asked him if Outlaw members 'Weird' and 'Spike' had been in. Martinez advised he did not know either of the individuals. The unidentified Hell's Angel advised Martinez that they were there to pay the Outlaws back for the present they left in Minneapolis (referring to the car bomb that detonated and destroyed the President of the Minneapolis chapter's vehicle). The Angels and Henchmen stayed for approximately two hours. The Angels left the bar and advised the manager to tell 'Weird' and 'Spike' they would be in touch." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
On April 9, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless was paged by Hell's Henchmen Paul Jensen who told him to meet the rest of the club members at the clubhouse that evening at 7:00 p.m. Special Agent Bayless asked what was going on. Paul advised he couldn't talk over the phone but to meet him at the clubhouse ... to take care of some business. Upon arrival at the clubhouse, Paul Jensen advised Special Agent Bayless that a motorcycle club associated with the Outlaws was going to be in Rockford doing some type of reconnaissance of the area. Special Agent Bayless asked what the plan was. Jensen advised that they would hit most of the bars in Rockford and see what happened." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
Later that night, "Special Agent Bayless, the CI, HH Paul Jensen, and HH Rickie Abrams were at Blue's Tap on 7th Street in Rockford. Paul Jensen was paged by the President, Roger Friebrantz. Friebrantz advised Jensen to get over to Al Dino's Lounge right away, that members of the [Rebel] Knights were there and looked to be causing some problems. At that time, the above individuals rode over to Al Dino's Lounge. Upon their arrival, they were met by approximately 13 members of the [Rebel] Knights. The President of the Henchmen asked one of the members what they were doing there. There was a short discussion, an unidentified member of the Knights told the President of the Henchmen they were just traveling through." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
Agent Bayless further reported, "[a]pproximately 20 minutes later, all the Knights got on their bikes and left without incident. Paul Jensen advised SA Bayless that the [Rebel] Knights were a group of Chicago police officers who rode Harleys and were good friends of the Outlaws. Jensen believed that they were sent up to see what kind of numbers the Rockford Henchmen could rally in short notice. [MCIO coordinator] Ron Holmes confirmed Jensen's belief that the Knights were close associates of the Outlaws." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012). The last page of SA Bayless's report is completely redacted.
On May 6, 1994, Special Agent Bayless "acting in an undercover capacity, met with members of the Hell's Henchmen as well as members of the 'Spartans.' The Spartans are an organization created and controlled by Hell's Angels to distribute methamphetamine and other controlled substances. As of this writing two Spartans members had been identified, convicted felon Clifford Deboard and Douglas Jackson. Initially, Special Agent Bayless, along with the CI, provided security for this meeting utilizing two-way radios. The Henchmen feel security is required to protect against possible hostile acts by the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang. Special Agent Bayless was later asked to attend the meeting where he was informed that he would be considered superior in rank to the Spartan members. The Spartans were also informed at this meeting to treat Special Agent Bayless and the CI with the same respect shown to the actual members of the Hell's Henchmen and Hell's Angels." (Quoting Agent David J. Balkema's ATF Report No. 013).
Agent Balkema was part of Agent Bayless's support cover team when he became Mathias' de facto bodyguard while he rode in the front of the pack alongside Monty during the HHMC's Tuesday night runs to bars in the Rockford Illinois area. Agent Balkema further reported:
"During this same meeting, Hell's Henchmen Secretary Monty Mathias informed Special Agent Bayless that he and the CI would assuredly be the first prospects of the newly formed Rockford Chapter of the Hell's Angels. Special Agent Bayless and the CI will become prospects after the Hell's Henchmen receive their 'patch' indicating their takeover by the Hell's Angels is official.
On February 22, 1994, "SA Bayless arrived at the clubhouse to lift [weights]. Upon arrival, he was met by Al Torres and Paul Jensen. Both individuals carried firearms to the gate where SA Bayless was standing." SA Bayless was told "that he should always check his vehicle for explosive devices when he leaves the clubhouse. SA Bayless laughed and said like he would know what one looked like if he saw it. The enforcer told SA Bayless that the Outlaws usually set it right on top of the tire or attach it by magnet to the frame." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 24, 1994, "the CI went to the clubhouse and met with Monty Mathias. Mathias requested that the CI and SA Bayless build a soundproof room for the Henchmen. The CI asked what was going on. Mathias explained that the Hell's Angels requested that they build a room with two separate phones lines and a fax machine, and that they had to have it swept by a security agency once a month to make sure that there were no bugs in the room and that the phone lines were not tapped. The CI told him that he and SA Bayless could build such a room." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On February 25, 1994, "SA Bayless and the CI arrived at the clubhouse and built a 'secure room' for the Henchmen. They also ran the phone lines for the fax machine and telephone."(Id)
On February 26, 1994, "the CI met the enforcer and Al Torres at Club 51 in Rockford. At that time, Paul advised the CI that the following week, the Hell's Angels are flying them to San Bernardino, California, to meet with 'God.'The CI asked who God is. The enforcer said his name is Sonny Barger and that he's the one who started the whole thing. The CI laughed and asked why they had to go out there. The enforcer stated it was part of the club's 'on-the-job training,' that they had to meet certain high ranking members of the Hell's Angels. The enforcer told the CI to get ready to travel. The CI asked what he meant by that, and the enforcer stated that when he and SA Bayless become probates, they'll be required to travel to different Angel clubhouses around the country." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On this same date, eleven Branch Davidians were acquitted by a jury of the deaths of the four ATF agents that died during the raid of their ranch on February 28, 1993.
On March 1, 1994, "SA Bayless and the CI arrived at the clubhouse and met with all the remaining eight members of the Henchmen. .... The president explained official 'hang around' means that it's the beginning of the probationary period to become a Hell's Angel. At that time the enforcer said, 'we're gonna need to see your driver's license and your social security cards.' SA Bayless asked what for, and the enforcer said that this information, along with pictures of SA Bayless and the CI, would be faxed to Hell's Angels chapters all over the country for two reasons. One, so that when we travel to different chapters, they will know that we are really 'Chris and Grubb.' He said that sometimes, rival gangs use other Hell's Angel names in an attempt to infiltrate a particular club. He said the second reason was that the Hell's Angels do a background check through some agency (not identified) but alluded to some type of private detective that would be able to check out the CI and SA Bayless to make sure they weren't police. The enforcer said this was standard operating procedure. The CI asked where they got pictures of himself and SA Bayless. The enforcer laughed and said that pictures were taken a year ago at the Fly Fest at Club 51. SA Bayless said, yeah, right, I don't believe it. At that time, Monty Mathias showed SA Bayless a picture of himself with SA [Tina] Sherrow talking to the enforcer at the Fly Fest party. He also had a second picture of the CI speaking with the president. SA Bayless told them they were pretty sneaky guys. The enforcer said you had to be in this business." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report 011).
On this same date at the clubhouse, "[t]he enforcer told the CI and SA Bayless that the Hell's Angels would start a second club in Rockford called the Spartans. He stated that SA Bayless and the CI rank above the Spartans club. He stated that the Spartans would fade the heat for the Hell's Angels in Rockford. He explained that the Spartans would run security for all events and deal any drugs that needed to be dealt. He further stated that the CI and SA Bayless would be expected to attend all events put on by the Henchmen and Hell's Angels and to attend all runs this summer." [the next two pages are completely redacted] (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 011).
On March 19, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless, in an undercover capacity, met with two members of the Charlotte, North Carolina, Hell's Angels chapter. They were identified only as 'Stu' and 'Bo-bo.' 'Bo-bo' has been identified as Harold McLawhon, who has been the subject of previous ATF investigations. The informant and Special Agent Bayless were interviewed extensively by both Bo-bo and Stu. The Angels advised that once the Hell's Henchmen received their Hell's Angels colors, we would be brought in as the first two prospects. Stu stated that the Rockford Henchmen spoke highly of Special Agent Bayless and the CI, and advised that he felt we had what it takes to become Hell's Angels." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
On March 26, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless met four members of the Lowell, Massachusetts chapter of the Hell's Angels at the Henchmen clubhouse in Rockford. There were two full patch members and two probates. None of them identified themselves by name or nickname. They just stated they were Angels from the Lowell chapter. All members had either one or two black eyes and had advised that they had run into some difficulties while visiting the South Bend, Indiana chapter of the Henchmen." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
On April 2, 1994, Agent Bayless reported that "four members of the Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter of the Hell's Angels, along with five members of the Hell's Henchmen Chicago chapter entered Weed's Tavern, 1515 Bakin, Chicago. They pulled the bar manager aside, Greg Martinez, and asked him if Outlaw members 'Weird' and 'Spike' had been in. Martinez advised he did not know either of the individuals. The unidentified Hell's Angel advised Martinez that they were there to pay the Outlaws back for the present they left in Minneapolis (referring to the car bomb that detonated and destroyed the President of the Minneapolis chapter's vehicle). The Angels and Henchmen stayed for approximately two hours. The Angels left the bar and advised the manager to tell 'Weird' and 'Spike' they would be in touch." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
On April 9, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless was paged by Hell's Henchmen Paul Jensen who told him to meet the rest of the club members at the clubhouse that evening at 7:00 p.m. Special Agent Bayless asked what was going on. Paul advised he couldn't talk over the phone but to meet him at the clubhouse ... to take care of some business. Upon arrival at the clubhouse, Paul Jensen advised Special Agent Bayless that a motorcycle club associated with the Outlaws was going to be in Rockford doing some type of reconnaissance of the area. Special Agent Bayless asked what the plan was. Jensen advised that they would hit most of the bars in Rockford and see what happened." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
Later that night, "Special Agent Bayless, the CI, HH Paul Jensen, and HH Rickie Abrams were at Blue's Tap on 7th Street in Rockford. Paul Jensen was paged by the President, Roger Friebrantz. Friebrantz advised Jensen to get over to Al Dino's Lounge right away, that members of the [Rebel] Knights were there and looked to be causing some problems. At that time, the above individuals rode over to Al Dino's Lounge. Upon their arrival, they were met by approximately 13 members of the [Rebel] Knights. The President of the Henchmen asked one of the members what they were doing there. There was a short discussion, an unidentified member of the Knights told the President of the Henchmen they were just traveling through." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012).
Agent Bayless further reported, "[a]pproximately 20 minutes later, all the Knights got on their bikes and left without incident. Paul Jensen advised SA Bayless that the [Rebel] Knights were a group of Chicago police officers who rode Harleys and were good friends of the Outlaws. Jensen believed that they were sent up to see what kind of numbers the Rockford Henchmen could rally in short notice. [MCIO coordinator] Ron Holmes confirmed Jensen's belief that the Knights were close associates of the Outlaws." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 012). The last page of SA Bayless's report is completely redacted.
On May 6, 1994, Special Agent Bayless "acting in an undercover capacity, met with members of the Hell's Henchmen as well as members of the 'Spartans.' The Spartans are an organization created and controlled by Hell's Angels to distribute methamphetamine and other controlled substances. As of this writing two Spartans members had been identified, convicted felon Clifford Deboard and Douglas Jackson. Initially, Special Agent Bayless, along with the CI, provided security for this meeting utilizing two-way radios. The Henchmen feel security is required to protect against possible hostile acts by the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang. Special Agent Bayless was later asked to attend the meeting where he was informed that he would be considered superior in rank to the Spartan members. The Spartans were also informed at this meeting to treat Special Agent Bayless and the CI with the same respect shown to the actual members of the Hell's Henchmen and Hell's Angels." (Quoting Agent David J. Balkema's ATF Report No. 013).
Agent Balkema was part of Agent Bayless's support cover team when he became Mathias' de facto bodyguard while he rode in the front of the pack alongside Monty during the HHMC's Tuesday night runs to bars in the Rockford Illinois area. Agent Balkema further reported:
"During this same meeting, Hell's Henchmen Secretary Monty Mathias informed Special Agent Bayless that he and the CI would assuredly be the first prospects of the newly formed Rockford Chapter of the Hell's Angels. Special Agent Bayless and the CI will become prospects after the Hell's Henchmen receive their 'patch' indicating their takeover by the Hell's Angels is official.
Also during the previous reporting period, ATF Special Agent Paul Zamzow of the St. Paul field division initiated an OCDETF investigation into the criminal activities of the Minneapolis Chapter of the Hell's Angels. The Minneapolis Hell's Angels are the sponsors for the takeover of the Rockford Hell's Henchmen. Intelligence developed by Special Agent Zamzow indicates that the Hell's Angels organization is supported by their distribution of methamphetamine and other controlled substances; the profits of which are then laundered through legitimate enterprises. Intelligence gathered pertaining to this investigation indicates that pursuant to the takeover of the Henchmen by the Hell's Angels, the wide scale distribution of methamphetamines will begin." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 013). [Fn.5]
Agent Balkema further reported on May 6, 1994, that "the confidential informant, accompanied by SA Bayless, met with Roger Freibrantz, the president of the Rockford chapter. During this meeting, Freibrantz stated that he had recently purchased two AR-15 assault rifles and despite his desire to convert these weapons to fully automatic, individuals from the Hell's Angels had instructed him not to, as this would attract unneeded police attention. Freibrantz further stated that he would have the assault weapons converted anyway." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
On May 13, 1994, "at approximately 6:00 p.m., SA Bayless and the informant arrived at the Rockford clubhouse, where they met 30 members of the Hell's Angels from the Minneapolis/St. Paul; Omaha, Nebraska; and North Carolina chapters. As SA Bayless and the informant arrived, members of the Hell's Angels, along with Monty Mathias of the Henchmen, began moving aggressively towards a surveillance van parked nearby. SA Bayless inquired of Mathias as to the nature of their activities. Monty replied that they were 'taking care of some business.' During this incident, SA Schoenberger, who was occupying the van, was forced to leave the vicinity to avoid confrontation. When Monty and the Angels returned to the clubhouse, SA Bayless inquired about the occupants of the van. Monty informed SA Bayless that it was either the police or members of the rival Outlaws organization. SA Bayless further inquired as to what would have occurred if it had been the police, to which Monty replied, 'we would pull them out and kick their ass anyway. Better to take a hit for assaulting a cop, than killed by a van load of Outlaws.' The Hell's Angels were visiting the Rockford chapter in preparation for a Chicago Henchmen nicknamed 'Pulley's' wedding." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
ATF Agent Jay Dobyns purports in his most recent book that "Chris [Bayless] developed his tradecraft and eventually grew into one of the best, if not the best, undercover operators in the history of American law enforcement." And moreover, that Bayless is "always confident and always clever ... with an inherent sense of being one step ahead of his adversaries." (Quoting "Catching Hell: A True Story of Abandonment and Betrayal," 52-53). Any moral qualms Bayless may have had for preventing harm coming to Monty Mathias, went out the window hearing from Monty that he intended to assault the ATF surveillance team. This will make it all that much easier for Bayless to remain "one step" behind warning Mathias when the MCIO receives advance notice, a gift from CI-PW, that Monty is targeted to be killed by David Wolf.
"Pulley" is David Ohlendorf, a HHMC member from Chicago. He has no way of knowing that in just a few weeks he will be receiving his life-altering marching orders from the Boss in Minneapolis.
On May 17, 1994, "during the weekly Tuesday night support run, members of the Henchmen/Angels recorded the plate of an ATF surveillance vehicle and had begun formulating plans to confront the occupants of this vehicle. The vehicle discontinued its surveillance before any action had been taken by the Henchmen/Angels." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
THE BOSS GIVES THE ORDER—SHOOT "SOMEBODY BIG!"
On June 7, 1994, "a video tape of the weekly Tuesday night run was made by Chicago Field Division TOOs [Fn.6] This video was made utilizing microwave cameras which enable surveilling agents to observe the clubhouse yet remain unobserved by clubhouse occupants. During this run, SA Bayless was instructed to accompany the Henchmen on a weekend run to their sponsor chapter, the Minneapolis Hell's Angels." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
ATF Agent Balkema's June 7, 1994 entry, from ATF Report No. 014, is conspicuously redacted (or blacked-out) as to what transpired during Agent Bayless's weekend run with the HHMC to Minnesota. But the founder and former 21-year-president of the Minnesota Hells Angels has lots to say about it in his "no holds barred" book, "Breaking the Code." In a police booking photo from 1981, Pat Matter resembled a long-haired Joseph Stalin, the serial killer who ruled the Soviet Union for thirty years. In ironic contrast, after years of collaborating with his law enforcement handlers, and a testifier for federal prosecutors in multiple trials involving the HAMC, a political cartoonist caricature of Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, bears an uncanny likeness to present-day Pat Matter—short, overweight, and with a look and stature of a school janitor. Matter recounts in the book his mind-set for the decision-making at the weekend run, June 10-12, 1994, "it so happened that the Easyriders Rodeo was being held in New Ulm, Minnesota," and "[a]ll the Hell's Henchmen prospects came up for it, at least fifty of them" from the chapters in Rockford, Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. Matter verbally ruminates that "I couldn't allow the bombing of my truck to stand. For me to be who I was, the well-respected, well-known president of a Hells Angels chapter, I could not let the bombing go unanswered. I just couldn't." Matter then addressed his revelations for retribution against the Outlaws to the roughly fifty HHMC prospects, to include, of course, MCIO operative SA Bayless, that something had to be done to the Outlaws. "You need to take care of one of their guys," and it needs to be "[s]omebody big." (Quoting "Breaking the Code," at 93).
That same weekend as the Rodeo in Minnesota, the Outlaws are having a national event at a drag strip for the All Harley Drags in Union Grove Wisconsin. The Outlaws are camped at the south end of the staging area of the drag strip. ATF Balkema and an army of federal, state, and local law enforcement are in attendance surveilling the Outlaws. The AOA [Fn.7] prospectives from Brockton Massachusetts earned full-chapter status in the Outlaws Motorcycle Club at this event.
While Pat Matter is stoking the aspiring clan of HAMC "prospects" to get his message about taking care of "somebody big" in the Outlaws, neither has an inkling that deep in their midst the MCIO is observing, listening, and smells opportunity. To see what's coming next needs no crystal ball---it's called tradecraft. Within hours a member of the Outlaws magically receives photos and a full report detailing the machinations that took place at the Easyriders Rodeo held in Minnesota. In secret, the inner-circle operatives of the MCIO are high-fiving one another in jubilation because inevitability is in the air.
ATF Agent Balkema's June 7, 1994 entry, from ATF Report No. 014, is conspicuously redacted (or blacked-out) as to what transpired during Agent Bayless's weekend run with the HHMC to Minnesota. But the founder and former 21-year-president of the Minnesota Hells Angels has lots to say about it in his "no holds barred" book, "Breaking the Code." In a police booking photo from 1981, Pat Matter resembled a long-haired Joseph Stalin, the serial killer who ruled the Soviet Union for thirty years. In ironic contrast, after years of collaborating with his law enforcement handlers, and a testifier for federal prosecutors in multiple trials involving the HAMC, a political cartoonist caricature of Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, bears an uncanny likeness to present-day Pat Matter—short, overweight, and with a look and stature of a school janitor. Matter recounts in the book his mind-set for the decision-making at the weekend run, June 10-12, 1994, "it so happened that the Easyriders Rodeo was being held in New Ulm, Minnesota," and "[a]ll the Hell's Henchmen prospects came up for it, at least fifty of them" from the chapters in Rockford, Chicago and South Bend, Indiana. Matter verbally ruminates that "I couldn't allow the bombing of my truck to stand. For me to be who I was, the well-respected, well-known president of a Hells Angels chapter, I could not let the bombing go unanswered. I just couldn't." Matter then addressed his revelations for retribution against the Outlaws to the roughly fifty HHMC prospects, to include, of course, MCIO operative SA Bayless, that something had to be done to the Outlaws. "You need to take care of one of their guys," and it needs to be "[s]omebody big." (Quoting "Breaking the Code," at 93).
That same weekend as the Rodeo in Minnesota, the Outlaws are having a national event at a drag strip for the All Harley Drags in Union Grove Wisconsin. The Outlaws are camped at the south end of the staging area of the drag strip. ATF Balkema and an army of federal, state, and local law enforcement are in attendance surveilling the Outlaws. The AOA [Fn.7] prospectives from Brockton Massachusetts earned full-chapter status in the Outlaws Motorcycle Club at this event.
While Pat Matter is stoking the aspiring clan of HAMC "prospects" to get his message about taking care of "somebody big" in the Outlaws, neither has an inkling that deep in their midst the MCIO is observing, listening, and smells opportunity. To see what's coming next needs no crystal ball---it's called tradecraft. Within hours a member of the Outlaws magically receives photos and a full report detailing the machinations that took place at the Easyriders Rodeo held in Minnesota. In secret, the inner-circle operatives of the MCIO are high-fiving one another in jubilation because inevitability is in the air.
MATHIAS PUTS AGENT BAYLESS IN CHARGE OF SECURITY
On June 14, 1994, ATF Agent Balkema reported that "during the Tuesday night run, Monty Mathias advised Special Agent Bayless that he (Bayless) would be in charge of running the Tuesday night runs from now on. This would include being responsible for security, choosing the routs, choosing which taverns we would be stopping at, and contacting them and advising them we would be there." (Quoting Balkema ATF Report No. 014).
On this same date, Agent Balkema further reported that during the run, "the surveillance team identified a blue Aerostar van that was following the pack. License plate information came back to Budget Rent-a-car. Further investigation revealed that it was rented by Kevin P. O'Neill, a/k/a, Spike O'Neill, the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Outlaws. The surveillance team followed the van as it followed the pack of bikes. Information was received the following day from [MCIO operative] Ron Holmes that four members of the Outlaws were staying at the Motel 6 in Rockford doing surveillance on the Hell's Henchmen." (Id).
The information received from Agent Ron Holmes came by way of MCIO operative Gary Govekar, from his informant CI-PW. Unbeknownst to the Outlaws, Probationary Outlaw David B. Wolf has been regaling his wife with a detailed play-by-play of his travels. In the upcoming months, ATF will soon take control of Patricia Wolf and she will become a documented and paid informant/operative for the ATF taskforce investigating the Outlaws. The MCIO previously airbrushed a litany of felony charges for CI-PW—and now the ATF will do the same for her.
On June 15, 1994, Agent Balkema memorialized in a separate report:
"Special Agent Chris Bayless provided numerous surveillance photos of the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang. From these photos, [Agent Balkema] was able to identify the driver of the van. Special Agent Bayless further identified the driver to me as Kevin P. O'Neill, a member of the Outlaws Wisconsin chapter." (Quoting Agent Balkema's Report, in a facsimile to ATF-Milwaukee).
On June 17, 1994, "Special Agent Bayless arrived at the clubhouse at approximately 6:00 p.m., and began talking to Monty Mathias. Mathias stated that the Henchmen had a person who worked for Ameritech who would be coming that evening to check the phone lines to see if they were tapped. He further stated that this would put an electrical charge through the phone line and disable any listening device that may be attached." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
Special Agent Bayless further reported while at the clubhouse on June 17, 1994, that Al Torres said "someone from the Two Wheel Inn [in Rockford] had called and stated that some Outlaws had gone into the tavern and were asking about Angels that afternoon. Al told Rickie to go upstairs and bring down the pound of 'pot.' Rickie went upstairs to Al's apartment and returned with what appeared to be one pound of cannabis. At this point, Al took approximately one ounce from the pound, put it in a separate clear bag, and handed it to Monty. Monty told Special Agent Bayless that they would be leaving Friday, July 1, 1994, to attend the 4th of July run in Humboldt, Iowa. He said that members of the Minneapolis and Omaha, Nebraska Angels would be there, along with a second possible probationary club from St. Louis, Missouri. Special Agent Bayless advised Monty that his bike was running fine and he was looking forward to going. Monty told Special Agent Bayless to meet him outside, that he had something to discuss with him." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015). "When they went outside, Monty told Special Agent Bayless that he would be able to attend the World Run in California. Monty said he felt Special Agent Bayless' bike would be able to make the trip, but he felt that the CI's bike would have a hard time making it out of the state. Special Agent Bayless told Monty that he didn't think the CI would mind sitting the California run out, that the CI would like to go, but he knows his bike would not make it." (Id).
AGENT BAYLESS GOES "HUNTING" FOR OUTLAWS
"Hunting" is a term that the MCIO and ATF devised when club members travel to taverns and other locations looking for so-called rival club members and/or associates.
While outside the clubhouse talking with Monty about riding to the HAMC World Run in California, SA Bayless reported that "Al Torres came out and told Special Agent Bayless that they were going to the Two Wheel Inn to look for Outlaws. Monty walked over to Special Agent Bayless and told him that he should accompany Al in an attempt to keep him out of trouble. Special Agent Bayless told Monty he'd take care of Al." (Id).
"Special Agent Bayless and Al Torres rode to the Two Wheel Inn where they met with an unidentified bartender who stated that two individuals were in earlier and they were asking a lot of questions about the Hell's Angels. He had no description of the two individuals and stated he got this information from a third party who happened to be sitting at the bar when these guys walked in. Special Agent Bayless and Al stayed at the Two Wheel Inn for approximately two hours. After being satisfied that there were no Outlaws in the bar, Al suggested to Special Agent Bayless that they go back to the clubhouse." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
Back at the clubhouse SA Bayless noted that "Al proceeded to get highly intoxicated, drinking tequila and subsequently passed out on the couch while he and Special Agent Bayless watched the OJ Simpson saga on CNN. A short time later, the clubhouse phone rang. Special Agent Bayless answered it and spoke to the president of the Chicago chapter, Jerry G. Jerry G advised Special Agent Bayless that a Hell's Angel brother in South Carolina had been killed in a motorcycle accident. Special Agent Bayless woke up Al and advised him of the situation. Al got up, made a few additional phone calls, and then came back and passed out again. Special Agent Bayless left the clubhouse a short time later." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
"Special Agent Bayless and Al Torres rode to the Two Wheel Inn where they met with an unidentified bartender who stated that two individuals were in earlier and they were asking a lot of questions about the Hell's Angels. He had no description of the two individuals and stated he got this information from a third party who happened to be sitting at the bar when these guys walked in. Special Agent Bayless and Al stayed at the Two Wheel Inn for approximately two hours. After being satisfied that there were no Outlaws in the bar, Al suggested to Special Agent Bayless that they go back to the clubhouse." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
Back at the clubhouse SA Bayless noted that "Al proceeded to get highly intoxicated, drinking tequila and subsequently passed out on the couch while he and Special Agent Bayless watched the OJ Simpson saga on CNN. A short time later, the clubhouse phone rang. Special Agent Bayless answered it and spoke to the president of the Chicago chapter, Jerry G. Jerry G advised Special Agent Bayless that a Hell's Angel brother in South Carolina had been killed in a motorcycle accident. Special Agent Bayless woke up Al and advised him of the situation. Al got up, made a few additional phone calls, and then came back and passed out again. Special Agent Bayless left the clubhouse a short time later." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
NOW COMES ATF AGENT TINA SHERROW
On June 21, 1994, "Special Agents Bayless and Tina Sherrow arrived at the clubhouse at approximately 7:15 p.m., for the weekly Tuesday run. Special Agent Bayless spoke with Monty Mathias and told Monty that he and Special Agent Sherrow were all set to run the poker aspect of this run. Mathias said good and motioned Special Agent Bayless into the 'secure room'of the clubhouse. At that time, Mathias advised Special Agent Bayless that Carl Allis (who previously sold SA Bayless a sawed-off shotgun) had been arrested by the Rockford PD with an ounce of cocaine and a .38 caliber revolver. Mathias warned Special Agent Bayless not to deal with 'Rat' anymore due to the possibility of him becoming a snitch. Mathias told Special Agent Bayless that Al had left the night before to attend the Hell's Angel funeral in South Carolina. He further stated that they expected the CI and Special Agent Bayless to continue to do security for 'church' on Thursday nights. Special Agent Bayless told Monty it was not a problem and that he had worked everything out with the CI earlier. The Tuesday run went off without a hitch." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
HHMC "PROSPECTS" GOT MATTER'S MESSAGE TO SHOOT "SOMEBODY BIG"
On Saturday June 25, 1994, Agent Bayless reports, "Peter A. Rogers, a/k/a, Grease, Regional President of the Chicago/ Joliet/ Gary/ Janesville/ Milwaukee Chapters, was shot in Chicago. The preliminary report indicated that he was traveling northbound, nearing the Taylor Street exit on the Dan Ryan Expressway when an unknown person shot him. Rogers was on his motorcycle and after being shot, was able to exit the expressway and ride westbound on Taylor Street in an attempt to reach a family business at 1045 West Taylor Street. However, Rogers reportedly rode past the business. Realizing he had done so, he turned around in the 1400 block of Taylor Street, pulled to the sidewalk in front of a deli, parked his motorcycle, walked inside, and asked an employee to call 911. Chicago Police and rescue responded and Rogers was taken to the Cook County Hospital Trauma Center. The Illinois State Police were contacted due to the report that Rogers had been shot while on the Dan Ryan Expressway." (Quoting Bayless ATF Report No. 015).
A Rockford Police detective and reputed member of the MCIO, John Pozzi (Badge # 34), filed a report of a conversation with Agent Ron Holmes that occurred 3 days afterward:
A Rockford Police detective and reputed member of the MCIO, John Pozzi (Badge # 34), filed a report of a conversation with Agent Ron Holmes that occurred 3 days afterward:
"[Holmes] stated that on the prior Saturday evening the Chicago and region leader of the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang was shot and severely wounded. He went on to say that recent intelligence information gained suggested that the Hell's Henchmen and/or Hells Angels were responsible for the shooting. He also added that the Outlaws were also aware of this information and were planning some type of retaliation for the shooting." (Id).
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
MCIO operative Special Agent Rich Packert (Badge # 3303), Illinois State Police District 4, is assigned the case and reported that Ron Holmes will accompany him to meet the shooting victim in the hospital. (Report from Case No. 94E4091).
In yet another scheme straight from the playbook of the FBI's murderous counterintelligence program, COINTELPRO, MCIO scoundrels Holmes and Packert visited the wounded Outlaws member in the hospital and carried out a prearranged investigative scenario by falsely purporting that law enforcement gained "recent intelligence information" showing that Outlaws members, Kevin "Spike" O'Neill and Randy "Mad" Yager, were responsible for the shooting of their fellow Outlaw, Peter Rogers. This, of course, was a ruse designed to cause controversy and dissention within the Outlaws, with the purpose that it would initiate violent reprisals, to include murder, between members of the Outlaws.
—Voltaire
MCIO operative Special Agent Rich Packert (Badge # 3303), Illinois State Police District 4, is assigned the case and reported that Ron Holmes will accompany him to meet the shooting victim in the hospital. (Report from Case No. 94E4091).
In yet another scheme straight from the playbook of the FBI's murderous counterintelligence program, COINTELPRO, MCIO scoundrels Holmes and Packert visited the wounded Outlaws member in the hospital and carried out a prearranged investigative scenario by falsely purporting that law enforcement gained "recent intelligence information" showing that Outlaws members, Kevin "Spike" O'Neill and Randy "Mad" Yager, were responsible for the shooting of their fellow Outlaw, Peter Rogers. This, of course, was a ruse designed to cause controversy and dissention within the Outlaws, with the purpose that it would initiate violent reprisals, to include murder, between members of the Outlaws.
In ventriloquism, a comedian provides entertainment to an audience by carrying on an apparent conversation with a hand-manipulated dummy. The MCIO deploys a similar routine as a means and method to facilitate acts of violence and/or murder that is affectionately termed by the operatives as "Stirring the Pot," by "do[ing] something to make another course of action happen or occur." (Quoting Part I of this series, "Let The Dirty Tricks Begin"). The MCIO's ventriloquial routine, though, uses live manipulated-dummy reporters from an assortment of news outlets. One such dummy-reporter conspiring with Agent Holmes and other operatives concocted a front-page news story with the reasoned intention to make another course of action happen or occur when it reported:
"Not everyone agrees it was the Angels or Henchmen behind the shooting of [the Outlaw] Rogers, who is now out of the hospital. 'In my opinion, if it was really Hell's Angels, they wouldn't have let him [ride] off the expressway,' said one federal investigator."
"Not everyone agrees it was the Angels or Henchmen behind the shooting of [the Outlaw] Rogers, who is now out of the hospital. 'In my opinion, if it was really Hell's Angels, they wouldn't have let him [ride] off the expressway,' said one federal investigator."
Quoting Mark Kiesling, "Biker takeover could bring 'shooting war,'" Hammond Times, A-1, July 24, 1994. The MCIO dummy-reporter further purported:
"Says one biker-watcher, 'Spike, Shock, and Mad are young and strong and it's possible Grease [shooting victim Peter Rogers] was hit by his own people."(Id).
"Says one biker-watcher, 'Spike, Shock, and Mad are young and strong and it's possible Grease [shooting victim Peter Rogers] was hit by his own people."(Id).
[Fn.8] Mark Kiesling's source for these ludicrous quotations, that is, from "one federal investigator" and "one biker-watcher," is none other than MCIO coordinator, ATF Agent Ron Holmes. A newspaper is a platform of influence that comes with responsibility to uphold basic journalistic principles; something this reporter lost when he became a marionette, his strings pulled by the MCIO to write what they dictated.
Years later, Pat Matter in his own words revealed—
According to ATF Agent Jay Dobyns, "Filthy Few" patches mean that the member "committed extreme violence on behalf of the club, most likely a murder." [Fn.9] Dobyns met Filthy Few patch-wearing Mel Chancey at the HAMC New York City clubhouse. Dobyns shared a rare tidbit of vulnerability when he confessed that Chancey "was among the scariest dudes I've ever laid eyes on." [Fn.10]
To further induce, or otherwise endeavor to persuade the HHMC prospects to follow his command to go on the offensive against the Outlaws, Matter created "AOMD" patches, an acronym for "All Outlaws Must Die." On October 4, 2006 in Las Vegas, Matter testified for the prosecution (on day 8 of a jury trial) against several Hells Angels charged in a brawl with members of the Mongols at a 2002 motorcycle rally in Laughlin, Nevada:
Q: Mr. Matter, I'm going to show you what's been marked Government Exhibit 91-F and ask you to take a look at that. Do you recognize what is depicted in that picture?
MATTER: Yes.
Q: What is depicted in the picture?
MATTER: At the bottom AOMD, all Outlaws must die.
Years later, Pat Matter in his own words revealed—
"The rest of the Henchmen got my message about taking care of somebody and a few weeks later, in late June, none other than Pete Rogers, regional Outlaws president, was shot as he rode his bike on the Dan Ryan Expresswayin Chicago.... Later, after the Henchmen got patched Hells Angels, I presented the two shooters, Mel Chancey and David "Pulley" Ohlendorf, with their Filthy Few patches." Quoting "Breaking the Code," gs. 93-94.
According to ATF Agent Jay Dobyns, "Filthy Few" patches mean that the member "committed extreme violence on behalf of the club, most likely a murder." [Fn.9] Dobyns met Filthy Few patch-wearing Mel Chancey at the HAMC New York City clubhouse. Dobyns shared a rare tidbit of vulnerability when he confessed that Chancey "was among the scariest dudes I've ever laid eyes on." [Fn.10]
To further induce, or otherwise endeavor to persuade the HHMC prospects to follow his command to go on the offensive against the Outlaws, Matter created "AOMD" patches, an acronym for "All Outlaws Must Die." On October 4, 2006 in Las Vegas, Matter testified for the prosecution (on day 8 of a jury trial) against several Hells Angels charged in a brawl with members of the Mongols at a 2002 motorcycle rally in Laughlin, Nevada:
Q: Mr. Matter, I'm going to show you what's been marked Government Exhibit 91-F and ask you to take a look at that. Do you recognize what is depicted in that picture?
MATTER: Yes.
Q: What is depicted in the picture?
MATTER: At the bottom AOMD, all Outlaws must die.
* * * *
Q: Have you seen that set of initials in the club?
MATTER: I have seen it before, yes.
Q: Where have you seen it?
MATTER: On Jerry Bokina, some Chicago people, members.
Q: What do you mean on?
MATTER: Tattooed.
See United States v. Acosta, et al., Case No. 2:03-CR-542-JCM-PAL, Volume III, Tr. at 48, 50 (D. Nev. Oct. 4, 2006).
In early 2000, the MCIO's masterful agent provocateur Ron Holmes was served a federal court subpoena to testify at the racketeering trial of eight members of the Outlaws. When he took the stand, Holmes had the look of a Hitler loyalist at the Nuremburg trials, sworn to protect the MCIO's secrets at all costs. Holmes' infidelity to the rule of law is virtually unmatched. He has had good training though, at ATF, silence is rewarded. But this coward behind the curtain is way past his prime. His attempt to display his training as a skilled law enforcement witness failed miserably. His entire testimony was riddled with contradictions, nonsensical responses, and outright perjury. Several times Holmes was confronted with documentation from ATF reports as well as other official law enforcement reports showing that his testimony was erroneous, and he still would not admit it was false. Once the master of the 180, his testimony came across more like the bumbling police lieutenant, Frank Drebin, from the old "Naked Gun" comedy. He became so distraught that it appeared at one point he was on the verge of weeping. While a packed courtroom was openly in disbelief of Holmes' preposterous answers, three assistant United States attorneys sat stone-faced with no attempt at rehabilitation of his pathetic and embarrassing performance—which proved to be his last time on the witness stand as an ATF agent.
After the puppet-reporter stipulated that Holmes, ATF Agent Bayless, and other operatives of the MCIO supplied him with the story, Holmes reluctantly coughed-up the following answers:
Q: Who is Mark Kiesling, K I E S L I N G?
HOLMES: Mark Kiesling is a reporter for the Hammond, Indiana Times
newspaper.
Q: And he wrote an article about the Outlaws?
HOLMES: I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question?
Q: He wrote an article about the Outlaws on 7-24-94; right?
HOLMES: I suppose so, yes sir.
Q: And you gave him---you fed him a whole bunch of quotes for that
story; didn't you?
HOLMES: I don't remember.
Q: So it could be that you did it?
HOLMES: Yes, sir, it could be.
See United States v. O'Neill, et al., Case No. 97-CR-98, Docket # 1882, Tr. at 4622-4623, (E.D.Wis., May 9, 2000).
Playboy magazine covered the trial and reported that "[m]embers of the [MCIO & ATF] investigating team leaked details to a reporter for Indiana's Hammond Times. One 'biker watcher' [MCIO Holmes] suggested that the only way for the Outlaws to avoid all-out war was to sacrifice (i.e., murder) [Spike O'Neill's] entire Stateline [Wisconsin] Chapter. The
tactic—incite, observe, arrest—is known as stirring the pot or tickling the wire." Quoting James R. Peterson, "The Biker Wars," PLAYBOY MAGAZINE, pg. 168 November 2000 Issue.
Stayed tuned to FedsGoneBad for Part III in this series.
"If it furthers the goals of the MCIO to let you die, you're going to die." —FedsGoneBad
