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Facts The News Won't Tell Us About The Hells Angels
It's been a quiet period in the gang's history, but who knows how long that will last?
The Hells Angels are considered one of the world's biggest outlaw motorcycle gangs and certainly the one with most notoriety. It's almost 70 years of history make it the longest-running motorcycle organization. The club first emerged in 1948; disgruntled World War II vets and members of former motorcycle clubs came together in various parts of California, and the HAMC was established.
Despite officially denying that the club is involved in criminal activities, history has proven otherwise. The club has famously been tied to drug trafficking, running prostitution rings, extortion, and carrying out violent crimes. The Hells Angels, alongside The Bandidos, The Pagans, and The Outlaws, make up the "big four" of motorcycle gangs.
The Hells Angels became a household name in the '90s when a huge expansion into Canada (mainly in the province of Quebec) sparked a deadly biker war. Street gangs, the Montreal mafia families, and the Angels fought for years over the monopolization of street drug sales. The result was a bloody one. Over 150 lives were claimed, and it led to the arrest of close to 100 criminals.
The club is now operating worldwide with 2,500 members spread out over six continents. The largest clubs remain in Quebec and California, and the club boasts at least 230 chapters internationally.
These days, the Hells Angels aren't front page news like they once were. It's been a quiet period in the gang's history, but who knows how long that will last? The club has some very interesting and dark secrets. Let's take a look at 18 Facts You Didn't Know About The Hell's Angels
The Hells Angels Control Street Prostitution
In Canada, the Hells Angels have a near-total control of all street prostitution. Though street gangs might be in place to facilitate the flow of the business, the Hells really hold a tight grasp on this illegal branch of crime. Because the criminal code of Canada has complicated laws regarding the buying and selling of services, the Hells have to be very careful with their exposure. In Canada, it's illegal to sell services but legal to buy them, creating a very complex law that puts the workers and facilitators at risk. Girls and women entering into this lifestyle become more at risk since they're not working independently. They might have protection, yes, but they're also more likely to have a hard time escaping the life if they choose to.
Sons Of Anarchy Is Loosely Based On The Hells Angels
Although Sons of Anarchy is a fictitious TV series created by Kurt Sutter, it's loosely based on the Hells Angels club. The parallels between SAMCRO and The Red and White do not end at their eerily similar gang logo. Many events that happened in the show were based on real-life events, and Sutter even cast some original Hells Angels members in the show. Among the real-life members are David Labrava, Chuck Zito, Rusty Coones, and of course, Sonny Barger. Sutter even hired Labrava as his Technical Advisor. His insider's knowledge allowed him to provide direction and advice on many different scales. He was part of the show from the very beginning to the end, enjoying 6 years and 7 seasons on SOA fun.
The Lennoxville Massacre Showcased The Brutality Of The Club
In 1985, five members of the North Laval, Quebec chapter were murdered by fellow members of the Montreal, Quebec and Nova Scotia chapters. The victims, who were seen as risky members due to their hard-partying lifestyles, were invited to meet at the Lennoxville clubhouse on March 24, 1985. They were greeted by 41 members, who beat and shot them to death and then disposed of their bodies in the nearby St.Lawrence River. Police informants allowed the investigation to unfold successfully. Over a dozen people are initially charged with some connection to the murders. Ultimately, 5 people were convicted and given life sentences. As of 2013, all of the offenders were out of prison. Only one perpetrator, Jacques Pelletier, returned to prison for associating with known criminals.
George Harrison Helped The Hells Branch Into The U.K
In a really unexpected and cool bit of cultural history, George Harrison of The Beatles had a small role in getting the Hells Angels into the U.K. In 1968, George Harrison invited several members of the San Francisco charter to London. On an earlier trip to California, Harrison had met several of the Angels and made a formal invite to a dozen of them to visit the Apple Records studio, where the label was hosting a lavish Christmas party. Unfortunately, most of the members weren't able to travel overseas due to their criminal backgrounds. Ultimately, only 2 members made it over to Heathrow. Perhaps, the members made some connections on the other side of the pond; a London charter of the biker gang emerged two years later in 1971.
Maurice "Mom" Boucher Is One Of The Most Famous Ex-Leaders
Maurice "Mom" Boucher is one of the most notorious ex-leaders of the Hells Angels. He was the president of the Montreal charter during the years of the Quebec Biker War, which lasted for 8 years, from 1994 to 2002. He's a convicted murderer and drug trafficker and is currently serving three life sentences with no possibility of parole for 25 years. At 64 years old, he still has another 10 years to serve before even being eligible, but it's highly unlikely that he'll ever be freed. In the early '80s, he was a member of a white supremacist biker gang called the SS. Eventually, he became a candidate for the Hells Angels and soon rose to president status. He was in charge when the Lennoxville Massacre transpired in 1985.
and as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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