KC Reporter

Eighteen members and associates of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club have been indicted by a federal grand jury for a series of armed assaults against members of rival motorcycle clubs.

A law enforcement operation conducted today resulted in 15 arrests along with the execution of seven search warrants; two of the defendants were already in custody. More than a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation that also resulted in the seizure of more than 40 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor, and a marijuana grow operation. According to the indictment, Pagan’s is a violent criminal organization that engaged in racketeering, an enterprise that involved illegal drug trafficking. Pagan’s maintains chapters in numerous states, including multiple active chapters in Missouri and Kansas.

Christopher W. McGowen, also known as “Mac,” 40, of Platte City, Mo.; Arthur L. Reynolds III, also known as “Straight Edge,” 48; Jarrid A. Hammer, also known as “Hammer,” 45; Jeremiah Z. Hahn, also known as “Pass Out,” 41; John J. Hahn, also known as “Krazy Legs,” 46; Charles E. Smith Jr., also known as “Crash,” 38; James W. Prettyman, also known as “Rugby,” 42; Mark A. Cottman, also known as “One Shot,” 49; Bryan S. Fletcher, also known as “Fletch,” 48; Mark A. Crump, also known as “Navajo,” 54; Jeffrey S. Hannah, also known as “Got-It,” 42; Eric M. Forsyth Jr., also known as “EZ,” 34; Robert W. Miller, also known as “Flipper,” 46; Brandon S. Hodge, also known as “Youngblood,” 25; Monty L. Mitchell, also known as “Smoke,” 58; Alan M. Thornton, also known as “Bones,” 40; John Travis Fisher, also known as "T-Bone," 51; and Graham S Gattis,"Dro," were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Aug.

The federal indictment was unsealed and made public today following the arrests of the defendants.

The indictment alleges that Pagan’s is territorial and protects its territory from rival motorcycle clubs through violence and intimidation. The primary rivals to Pagan’s in Missouri include the Hells Angels Outlaws El Forastero Galloping Goose Sons Of Silence And Bandidos When Members Of Rival Motorcycle Clubs Were In Areas Pagans Believed To Be Under Its Control Says The Indictment Pagans Threatened And Intimidated Them With Violence Pagans Tried To Eliminate Other Motorcycle Gangs Completely From Their Territory By Assaulting Robbing Extorting And Sometimes Attempting To Murder Them According To The Indictment

The indictment alleges a series of assaults were committed part racketeering enterprise

McGowen Jeremiah Hahn Are Charged Together One Count Assault Dangerous Weapon Aid Racketeering The Indictment Alleges They Assaulted Rival Motorcycle Gang Member May

McGowen Reynolds Smith Miller Prettyman Mitchell Cottman John Hahn Gattis Forsyth Fletcher Hannah Hodge Are Charged Together One Count Assault Dangerous Weapon Aid Racketeering The Indictment Alleges They Assaulted Rival Motorcycle Gang Member Sept

McGowen Jeremiah Hahn Smith Fisher Miller Prettyman Mitchell Thornton Are Charged Together One Count Attempting Commit Assault Dangerous Weapon Aid Racketeering The Indictment Alleges They Attempted Assault Rival Motorcycle Gang Member Sept

McGowen Reynolds Smith Miller Prettyman Mitchell Cottman John Hahn Gattis Forsyth Fletcher Hannah Hodge Are Charged Together One Count Discharging Firearm During Relation Crime Violence The Indictment Alleges They Discharged Firearm During Assault Sept

Cottman Hammer Crump Are Charged Together One Count Assault Resulting Serious Bodily Injury Aid Racketeering The Indictment Alleges They Seriously Injured Rival Motorcycle Gang Member During Assault July

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Bradley K Kavanaugh Robert Smith It Was Investigated FBI Independence Police Department Blue Springs Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Police Department Today Law Enforcement Operation Included FBI Independence Police Department Kansas City Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives Drug Enforcement Administration U Marshals Service Jackson County Drug Task Force Oak Grove Lee Summit Greene County Sheriff Department National Assets Field Offices St Louis Las Vegas Knoxville Tenn