California police arrest entire Hells Angels chapter in kidnapping and assault investigation
The arrest of the entire chapter of the Bakersfield, California, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in connection with a kidnapping, robbery, and assault investigation was announced by authorities on Tuesday. Among those arrested were five active members of the club’s Bakersfield chapter and two individuals who belong to the Sons of Hell, a motorcycle club affiliated with the Bakersfield Hells Angels chapter, as stated by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
A significant seizure of 25 firearms, an unspecified quantity of ammunition, and gang-related attire was conducted by law enforcement officers, according to a statement released jointly with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The arrests, carried out on Tuesday morning, were the outcome of a collaborative inquiry by the ATF, the sheriff’s office, and the California Highway Patrol. The investigative efforts are ongoing, according to the agencies.
John Vaughn, 37, one of the seven suspects, was already in custody due to “other charges,” the statement revealed. All the apprehended individuals are reportedly from Bakersfield.
The remaining detainees, identified as Ricardo Alvarez, 42; Armando Villasenor, 55; Joseph Soto Sr., 57; Joseph Soto Jr., 33; Joshua Zavala, 31; and John Seeger, 57, have not yet been formally charged. Vaughn and Seeger are affiliated with the Sons of Hell, while the others are associated with the Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels.
Accusations leading to the apprehensions encompass kidnapping, robbery, making criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidating a witness or victim, and elder abuse, according to law enforcement statements. The precise origins of the investigation remain undisclosed, with Kern County sheriff’s spokesperson Lori Meza emphasizing the ongoing nature of the probe.
The legal representation status of the suspects remains uncertain, with no immediate response from the public defender’s office for Kern County. The U.S. Justice Department classifies Hells Angels, established in Fontana, California, after World War II, as an outlaw motorcycle gang and criminal syndicate, alleging longstanding involvement in drug and firearm trafficking.
