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Entire Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels arrested in multi-agency investigation

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Entire Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels arrested in multi-agency investigation

The entire Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was arrested Tuesday on various charges, authorities said. Six members were taken into custody following a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. A seventh member was already in custody. The following suspects – all from Bakersfield – were arrested Tuesday morning: Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, John Seeger, 57, Joshua Vaughn, 37, was already in custody on other charges. The ATF said Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr. and Zavala are all “active, patched members” of the Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels. Vaughn and Seeger are members of the Sons Of Hell Motorcycle Club, which investigators say is the subclub that receives orders and instructions from the Hells Angels. Authorities said about 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines and gang paraphernalia were seized. Investigators said eight search warrants were also executed at various locations in Bakersfield. All suspects were charged with kidnapping, first-degree robbery, criminal threatening, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidation of a witness or victim and elder abuse. They were all booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Facility. For more coverage of the most important news from the Central Coast, click here | Download our app | Download Very Local

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. —

The entire Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was arrested Tuesday on various charges, authorities said.

Six members were taken into custody following a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. A seventh member was already in custody.

The following suspects – all from Bakersfield – were arrested Tuesday morning:

  • Ricardo Alvarez, 42,
  • Armando Villasenor, 55
  • Joseph Soto Sr., 57
  • Joseph Soto Jr., 33
  • Joshua Zavala, 31
  • John Seeger, 57
  • Joshua Vaughn, 37, was already in custody on other charges.

According to the ATF, Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr. and Zavala are all “active, patched members” of the Bakersfield Chapter of the Hells Angels. Vaughn and Seeger are members of the Sons Of Hell Motorcycle Club, which investigators say is the sub-group that receives orders and instructions from the Hells Angels.

Authorities said about 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines and gang paraphernalia were seized. Investigators said eight search warrants were also executed at various locations in Bakersfield.

All suspects were charged with kidnapping, aggravated robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, membership in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidation of a witness or victim, and elder abuse.

They were all taken to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo facility.

For more coverage of the most important events on the Central Coast, click here | Download our app | Download Very Local

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