KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Members of a motorcycle gang were arraigned in court Thursday morning. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation held a press conference announcing the more than a dozen people put behind bars.
TBI Director David Rausch did not mince words when talking about the Pagan Motorcycle Gang.
“Let me be clear, they are nothing more than a criminal organization made up of cowardly thugs,” Rausch said.
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Fourteen people have been arrested and 15 face felony drug distribution charges related to methamphetamine sales in East Tennessee. Not all involved have a tie to the gang.
Several of those who were in custody appeared in court including the suspected leader of the gang, Richard Carroll Baker. He was joined in court by Deidre Hood, Courtney Lewis, David Maples, LeAndrea Osentoski, Alicia Murphy and Connie High. Rausch said our area is now safer with them off the streets.
“They prey on the vulnerable in our communities,” he said. “Because of the outstanding work of the women and men in policing, the local and state officers involved, our surrounding communities in Knoxville are now safer.”
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The investigation started in December of last year as a spin-off of the 313 Initiative, a multi-agency effort to disrupt the supply of drugs from Detroit coming to the region. However, Rausch said investigators believe the narcotics in this case came from Atlanta.
“During the course of the investigation, agents learned that members of the Pagan Motorcycle club were involved in this distribution ring,” Knox County Attorney General Charme Allen said. “In this particular incident, gang members were wearing their cuts and vests while distributing drugs and collecting drug debts here in the East Tennessee area.”
Rausch said more charges could be coming as this investigation continues.
“These operations always lead to more interest and more information,” he said. “There’s always potential for more arrests to be made as a result of what we have learned in this case.”
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Rausch also told 6 News there were other drugs involved in this investigation. However, Methamphetamine was their drug of choice. Twelve of those arrested have been arraigned in Knox County court. At this time the groups next court date has not been announced.
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