Members of Outcast motorcycle gang, which is tied to Augusta mass shooting, indicted
More than a dozen alleged members of the Outcast Motorcycle Club, which the Richmond County Sheriff's Office alleges was involved in the May 13 Augusta mass shooting, on Monday were indicted in Bryan County.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr this week announced the arrest and indictment of 16 alleged members of the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Outcast Motorcycle Club.
The action is considered the largest motorcycle gang indictment in state history, according to a news release from the Attorney General's Office. The indictment follows the culmination of Operation Patronus, a multi-agency investigation involving gangs and guns in southeast Georgia.
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Operation Patronus, a 13-month investigation, resulted in the recovery of approximately $180,000 in cash and the seizure of 71 guns, two motorcycles and two cars, according to the release. Throughout the investigation, local, state and federal law enforcement executed more than 40 total search warrants.
The gang is known to engage in a range of criminal activity, including murder, assault, and drug and weapons trafficking, according to the release. Founded in 1967 in Detroit, Michigan, the second Outcast chapter was formed in Atlanta. Additional chapters are located in Augusta, Hawkinsville and Savannah.
The shooting that led to the indictment
The 16 defendants indicted are alleged to have engaged in an armed robbery attempt and shooting on June 17, 2022 in Richmond Hill, Georgia, according to the Attorney General's Office. The victims were six people associated with a rival motorcycle club.
During the investigation into the shooting incident, law enforcement found evidence indicating "the existence of a conspiracy to violently assault members of the rival motorcycle club and to forcibly rob them of their motorcycle vests," according to the release.
The Attorney General's Office said the conspiracy is believed to have lasted for more than a year, from Aug. 24, 2021, through July 16, 2022.
The Outcast Motorcycle Club is also connected to a 2020 murder cold case in Columbia County, according to previous reporting. The Columbia County cold case and recent Richmond Hill case both involved the theft of motorcycle vests.
On Sept. 2, 2020, Richmond County deputies responded to IKONZ Sportsbar & Grill on North Leg Road for shots fired, according to previous reporting.
When deputies arrived, they found Victor Banks, the local Outcast MC president and active duty soldier stationed at Fort Gordon, dead at the scene.
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The Outcast Motorcycle Gang is a highly organized structure with hierarchical leadership, according to the Attorney General's Office. Its national and local chapters are led by elected officers, such as president and vice president.
Banks was at IKONZ with other members of Outcast, along with other motorcycle clubs in the area, for a memorial for a club member who died in a crash, according to authorities. Investigators learned that at least one set of motorcycle vests were stolen days prior to the shooting.
The case remains cold and the stolen jacket was never located, according to authorities.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office previously declined to confirm whether the Outcast Motorcycle Club was considered a "gang" or violent organization.
However, the Attorney General's Office has now confirmed the club is considered an outlaw motorcycle gang.
Alleged gang members indicted
The Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit presented evidence to a Bryan County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment of 16 defendants on May 31.
The following individuals are alleged to occupy, or have previously occupied, positions within the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Outcast Motorcycle Gang:
Charges brought against each of the defendants:
Melaun Arturi Aiken, 46, (aka "Do Wurk"):
21 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
11 counts of aggravated assault
7 counts of attempted armed robbery
2 counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault
2 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation
2 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Lee Alan Mole (aka "Trench"), 58; Taurus Marquis Simmons (aka "Repeat"), 42; Terrance Donita Potter (aka "Chatter Box"), 44; Eddie Latson (aka "Stash"), 43; and Shron Gilbert (aka "Hard Left"), 51:
14 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
11 counts of aggravated assault
7 counts of attempted armed robbery
2 counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault
2 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation
2 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Joseph Leeks (aka "Axel"), 44; Marquis Jones (aka "Grudge"), 34; Michael Randolph (aka "Chop"), 43; and Donovan Scott (aka "Sockit"), 35:
8 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
2 counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault
2 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation
Demon Thompson (aka "9 Ball"), 45; Paul Gosden (aka "White Collar"), 52; Theron Singleton (aka "DMB" and "Do My Best"), 57; Labarron Pollock (aka "Bootleg"), 48; Jemar Mack (aka "Ghost" and "Ghost Ryder"), 34; and Whitney Lenore Hooks (aka "Secrets"), 36:
4 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
1 count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault
1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Motorcycle gang with local ties faces arrests in Bryan County
