FEDS INDICT HELLS ANGELS

Bikers Are Accused Of Conspiring To Sell Drugs And Commit Murder

PEORIA - Four leaders of the Hells Angels motorcycle club conspired to
commit murder, arson, intimidate witnesses and sells hundreds of thousands
of dollars worth of drugs throughout Illinois, federal prosecutors in
Peoria allege.

A 29-page indictment handed up by a federal grand jury in December but
sealed until Wednesday claims the bikers worked together and with others
over the past decade to sell more than 40 pounds each of cocaine and
methamphetamine worth an estimated $624,000.

Furthermore, Melvin "Road" Chancey, 35, of Alsip; James "J.W." L. White,
50, of Belvidere; David G. "Pulley" Ohlendorf, 39, of New Lenox; and
Richard A. Abrams, 40, of Rockford all participated in planning various
murders around the state, according to the indictment.

All stand charged with narcotics distribution conspiracy, racketeering
conspiracy and violating the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization
(RICO) Act. If convicted, each faces up to life in prison.

Federal prosecutors are expected to announce more details of the
investigation during a news conference this morning.

The indictment reaches back to 1994 with accusations that

Chancey and Ohlendorf conspired to shoot a member of a rival motorcycle
club. Then it moves up in time, sometimes going year by year and citing
incidents allegedly linked to the men.

The Peoria Plan

In spring 2002, Ohlendorf came to Peoria to plan and ultimately attempt to
murder someone, the indictment alleges.

"The defendant directed the others to arm themselves, travel to Peoria,
Illinois, and kill members of another motorcycle club there, and the others
in fact possessed and carried firearms and firearm ammunition to Peoria to
carry out that plan," according to the indictment.

Later that year, the indictment alleges White, Ohlendorf and Abrams planned
another homicide. It's unclear from the indictment if any murders occurred.

The indictment alleges each man was a leader in the motorcycle club at some
point. Chancey, a large muscular man with tattoos adorning his forearms and
closely cropped Mohawk haircut was president of the Chicago chapter of the
Hells Angels. Ohlendorf, also a large man with a black ponytail, is head of
the Spring Valley chapter.

The four men are all being held in custody of the U.S. Marshals pending a
bond hearing next week. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tate Chambers, in U.S.
District Court in Peoria on Wednesday, asked they be held pending trial
because they are a "risk of flight and a danger to the community."

A Variety Of Deeds

The unusually detailed indictment is a laundry list of vice and crime
throughout Illinois. From Cook County to Winnebago County to Peoria, the
four men allegedly had their hand in a variety of deeds.

"Members of the enterprise and their associates possessed, transported and
used firearms and other deadly weapons and destructive devices including
pipe bombs for various purposes, including protection and intimidation, and
to otherwise further the goals of the enterprise," the indictment alleges.

Federal prosecutors also seek to confiscate all items, property and money
obtained through the conspiracy. According to the indictment, the
racketeering allegations netted the men approximately $816,000 over the
course of a decade.

This is the third round of arrests involving motorcycle clubs. Last spring,
a six-year investigation into the Outlaws and Grim Reapers motorcycle
clubs, dubbed "Operation Iron Horse," wrapped up with nearly two dozen
convictions including the Reapers' national president.