GRAND JURY STUDIES HELLS ANGELS

VENTURA -- Prosecutors have sent a drug and racketeering case involving the
Hells Angels motorcycle club to the Ventura County grand jury, officials said.

The grand jury will consider evidence gathered during a three-year
investigation against national Hells Angels spokesman George Christie Jr.
and the Ventura chapter of the motorcycle club.

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that grand jurors will consider
allegations of theft, fraud, tax evasion, drug sales to teen-agers and the
use of a street gang in a criminal conspiracy.

"The case is finally moving ahead," said Sheriff Bob Brooks on Monday. "It
went on for a considerable period of time, trying to get people caught in
the web.

Then it was delayed until they got a new grand jury impaneled (this month).
Now the D.A. is taking the case forward."

Law enforcement officials said Christie, members of his family and the
Ventura chapter of the motorcycle club had been the target of parallel
investigations by county prosecutors and the sheriff's department for
nearly three years.

The case, which involves more than 24 Hells Angels and their associates, is
expected to take several months for the grand jury to examine.

The sheriff's department focused on a drug network that relied on young
Hells Angels -- called "HA Cub Scouts" -- who targeted students leaving
middle and high school campuses.

"Our case deals with both methamphetamine and pharmaceuticals that were
stolen and distributed all the way down to local schools," Brooks said.
"The Hells Angels try to put a positive spin on their charitable
activities, but the fact is we are dealing with criminals who distribute
drugs and, for the most part, are people with long rap sheets and violent
backgrounds."

Christie, 53, called the grand jury investigation "business as usual" and
the latest in a series of federal and state investigations over the past 20
years that have not led to any felony convictions. Christie was acquitted
in 1987 in a federal murder-for-hire case.

"It's all ridiculous," Christie said. "I've done nothing criminal."

Prosecutors will attempt to show the grand jury that Christie oversees a
criminal gang that sells drugs to children, evades taxes and hides large
amounts of money in secret bank accounts.