View source for Breed Motorcycle Club

{{Short description|Outlaw Motorcycle Club}}
{{distinguish|MC Breed}}
{{Infobox criminal organization
| name              = Breed MC
| image             = Breed MC logo.png
| image_size        = 
| caption           = Breed [[Colors (motorcycling)|colors]]
| founded           = 1965<ref name="The Breed MC">[https://onepercenterbikers.com/the-breed-mc-motorcycle-club/ The Breed MC] OnePercenterBikers.com</ref>
| founder           = 
| named_after       = 
| founding_location = [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]], New Jersey, United States<ref name="''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''">[http://www.mafianj.com/mc/breed.shtml ''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''] State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation (1989)</ref>
| years_active      = 1965–2006<ref name="Breed Leader Gets 36 Years">[http://www1.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-04172008-1520586.html Breed Leader Gets 36 Years] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803102504/http://www1.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-04172008-1520586.html |date=2009-08-03 }}</ref>
| territory         = 3 chapters in [[New Jersey]] and [[Pennsylvania]]<ref name="''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''"/>
| ethnicity         = 
| membership est    =300–400 (1970s)<ref name="''LCN Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Asbury Park''">[https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/197/141/2431070/ ''LCN Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Asbury Park''] [[Justia]] (April 5, 2002)</ref> <br> 100 (1990)<ref name="''LCN Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Asbury Park''"/> <br> 40 (2000)<ref name="Motorcycle Gang Members Held In Sex Assaults on Nude Dancers">[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/28/nyregion/motorcycle-gang-members-held-in-sex-assaults-on-nude-dancers.html Motorcycle Gang Members Held In Sex Assaults on Nude Dancers] Maria Newman, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (January 28, 2000)</ref>
| leaders           = 
| activities        = [[Drug trafficking]], [[extortion]], [[theft]], [[witness intimidation]], [[murder]], [[assault]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3492|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718105427/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3492|url-status=dead|title=Attorney General Corbett announces additional charges against associate of Breed Motorcycle Gang|archivedate=July 18, 2011}}</ref>
| allies            = 
| rivals            = [[Hells Angels]]<ref name="Five die in clash of cycle gangs">[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/08/archives/five-die-in-clash-of-cycle-gangs-20-are-injured-in-cleveland-battle.html Five die in clash of cycle gangs] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (March 8, 1971)</ref> <br> [[Pagan's Motorcycle Club|Pagans]]<ref name="''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''"/> <br> [[Warlocks Motorcycle Club (Pennsylvania)|Warlocks]]<ref name="Badder Breed">[https://mycitypaper.com/articles/2006-08-03/underworld.shtml Badder Breed] Brendan McGarvey, ''My City Paper'' (August 9, 2006)</ref>
| notable_members   = 
}}
The '''Breed Motorcycle Club''' was a [[Outlaw motorcycle club#One percenter|one-percenter]] [[motorcycle club]] that was formed in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]], [[New Jersey]] in the United States in 1965. The club disbanded in 2006 after numerous prominent members were indicted on racketeering and drug trafficking charges.

==History==
The Breed Motorcycle Club was founded by Salvatore DeIulio in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey]], in 1965.<ref name="''Gangland'' season 5, episode 10 transcript">[http://www.allreadable.com/c9c1Ha0D ''Gangland'' season 5, episode 10 transcript] allreadable.com</ref> The club was originally known as the New Breed, but the full title didn't fit properly on the [[Colors (motorcycling)|colors]].<ref name="The Breed wears its colors with pride">[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/144724016/ The Breed wears its colors with pride] Myrna Gray, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (September 8, 1968)</ref> The Breed patched over the [[Riverside Township, New Jersey|Riverside]], New Jersey–based Aces and Eights Motorcycle Club and the [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]], New Jersey–based Branded Motorcycle Club in 1983 Due in parts of the efforts of Jim "Irish" Power who was known as "Irish Prez". He was known for his efforts to expand the club with minimal violence and his desire to make the club more profitable and larger in members. Power's efforts took The Breed to a level of profit and members that made the MC become a large force not to be underestimated or taken lightly by its rival clubs.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O1yv4qS1Sb0C&dq=breed+motorcycle+gang+plainfield&pg=PA53 ''Profile of Organized Crime: Mid-Atlantic Region : Report''] [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]] (1984)</ref> At its peak in the 1970s, the Breed was the most prominent outlaw motorcycle club in the state and also had chapters in [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania]] and [[West Virginia]], with a membership of between three- and four-thousand. 

===Conflict with the Angels and Pagans===
In March 1971, the club engaged in a confrontation with the [[Hells Angels]] in [[Cleveland]], Ohio which resulted in the deaths of five people. During the following two decades, the Breed were continuously attacked by the Hells Angels, including a hand grenade attack on the house of the Breed national president in [[Plainfield, New Jersey|Plainfield]], New Jersey. The conflict with the Hells Angels, as well as infighting, law enforcement efforts and a rivalry with the [[Pagan's Motorcycle Club|Pagans]], led to the Breed decreasing in numbers to approximately nine-hundred members by 1990, and in a reduced territory comprising [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks County]], Pennsylvania, and [[Central Jersey|Central]] and [[South Jersey]].<ref name="''LCN Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Asbury Park''"/> In 1989, the Breed had two chapters in New Jersey – the mother chapter operating out of [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]] and the South Jersey chapter operating out of Riverside run by Jim "Irish" Power with most operations of the club being run out of The White Eagle Bar in Delran, NJ  and a Pennsylvania chapter in Bucks County.<ref name="''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''"/> Membership was estimated at approximately forty in 2000. This number however was greatly underestimated as it was based on arrests that were made rather than the actual number of members estimated to legitimately be closer to five hundred. <ref name="Motorcycle Gang Members Held In Sex Assaults on Nude Dancers"/>

The Breed, along with their rival Pagans, became the most prominent distributors of methamphetamine in New Jersey,<ref name="''New Jersey Drug Threat Assessment''">[https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs0/669/meth.htm ''New Jersey Drug Threat Assessment''] [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] (May 2001)</ref> and were reportedly infamous among outlaw motorcycle clubs due to their propensity for recruiting expelled members of rival clubs as well as for cooperating with law enforcement.<ref name="Badder Breed"/> The Breed was said to have gone defunct after being dismantled by a law enforcement operation against the club in 2006 which led to the imprisonment of nineteen members for drug trafficking and racketeering.<ref name="Breed Leader Gets 36 Years"/> The club was the subject of the 2009 ''[[Gangland (TV series)|Gangland]]'' episode "Evil Breed".<ref name="''Gangland'' season 5, episode 10 transcript"/>

==Organizational structure==
The Breed Motorcycle Club was led by an executive board, consisting of chapter presidents, which determined club policy. The executive board was ultimately headed by a national president. Each club chapter consisted of a president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary and sergeant-at-arms. Membership of the club was restricted to white males who would first serve a prospecting period before being voted in and awarded their [[Colors (motorcycling)|colors]]. Prospective members were required to carry out illegal activities, such as car theft and armed robbery, and turn over the proceeds of these crimes to the club.<ref name="''Profile of Organized Crime, Mid-Atlantic Region''">[https://books.google.com/books?id=SFBzj16S7LkC&dq=wheels+of+soul+methamphetamine&pg=PA56 ''Profile of Organized Crime, Mid-Atlantic Region''] [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]] (1983)</ref> In addition to regional chapters, the Breed also operated a [[Nomad (motorcycle club membership)|nomad]] chapter, made up of members not bound by geographical location, which served as an elite element within the club.<ref name="''Organized Crime: 25 Years After Valachi''">[https://books.google.com/books?id=d8o1AAAAIAAJ&dq=salvatore+de+iulio+nj&pg=PA729 ''Organized Crime: 25 Years After Valachi''] [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]] (1989)</ref>

The club's insignia consisted of a [[Betsy Ross flag]] with a Breed banner above. This insignia would be sewn onto the back of a sleeveless denim cutoff jacket, which was forbidden from being washed. Various other patches, including a "[[Outlaw motorcycle club#One percente|1%]]" patch, would also be worn.<ref name="''Profile of Organized Crime, Mid-Atlantic Region''"/>

==Criminal allegations and incidents==
The Breed are designated an outlaw motorcycle gang by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]].<ref name="''New Jersey Drug Threat Assessment''"/> The club engaged in organized criminal activities including the production and distribution of methamphetamine, larceny, robbery, extortion, auto crime, weapons violations, intimidation, assault, rape and murder,<ref name="''Profile of Organized Crime, Mid-Atlantic Region''"/> and also operated legitimate businesses such as tattoo parlors and transport companies, which could serve as [[Front organization|front]]s for illegal activity.<ref name="''Organized Crime: 25 Years After Valachi''"/> The Breed was involved in conflicts with rival motorcycle gangs, such as the [[Hells Angels]],<ref name="''LCN Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Asbury Park''"/> [[Pagan's Motorcycle Club|Pagans]]<ref name="''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''"/> and [[Warlocks Motorcycle Club (Pennsylvania)|Warlocks]].<ref name="Badder Breed"/>

===New Jersey===
Fred "Sheik" Nichlos, the Breed's [[South Jersey]] chapter president, was shot dead after being dragged from his home in [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]] by two men on August 30, 1968.<ref name="The Breed wears its colors with pride"/> Thomas G. Russomanno, Jr pleaded no defense to Nichlos' murder on February 5, 1969 and testified that he and Patsy Truglia had gone to Nichlos' home to retrieve a motorcycle in Nichlos' possession that they believed had been stolen from Truglia, and that a gun that he was holding to threaten Nichlos had fired accidentally.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=14639589&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0NDY3NzU0MywiaWF0IjoxNTg4NTM3MDIzLCJleHAiOjE1ODg2MjM0MjN9.AepEm-UI_ret1oDBkyjYyD8dsqBMGvE7WM5Ntrq4VgA Widow of murder victim angry at no defense plea] ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (February 8, 1969)</ref>

On August 13, 1976, during a robbery by two gunmen of a check-cashing business in [[Kearny, New Jersey|Kearny]], one of the gunman killed [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] police officer John Snow.<ref>Matthew J. Salzman, ''Exemption 7(d) of the Freedom of Information Act - the Evidentiary Showing the Government Must Make to Establish a Source is Confidential, United States Department of Justice v. Landano, 113 S. Ct. 2014'' 84 {{smallcaps|J. Crim. L. & Criminology}} 1041, 1050 (1993).</ref> A [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson County]] grand jury indicted Allen Roller, Bruce Reen, Victor Forni and [[Department of Justice v. Landano|Vincent James Landano]] for [[Felony murder rule|felony murder]] and armed robbery, along with other offenses.<ref>State v. Landano, 637 A.2d 1270, 1271 (N.J. Super. Ct. L. Div. 1994).</ref> Roller was president of the Breed's [[Staten Island, New York]] chapter, Reen was also a Breed member and Forni was a club associate, while Landano was of friend of Forni.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/10/nyregion/prisoner-fights-murder-conviction.html Prisoner fights murder convixtion] Philip B. Taft Jr., ''[[The New York Times]]'' (February 10, 1985)</ref> The state believed that Roller and Forni planned the robbery, but that only Landano and Roller actually participated in the crime.<ref name="Landano, 637 A.2d at 1272">Landano, 637 A.2d at 1272.</ref> Two accomplices and three eyewitnesses identified Landano as Snow's murderer, and he was sentenced to fifteen-years-to-life in prison for the crime in April 1977. Landano was acquitted of murder in a retrial in 1998 and died at the age of sixty-three on November 11, 2002.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/13/nyregion/vincent-j-landano-63-cleared-in-1976-murder-of-newark-officer.html Vincent J. Landano, 63; Cleared in 1976 Murder of Newark Officer] Ronald Smothers, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (November 13, 2002)</ref>

Breed members Kalani Lopa and Thomas Heilman were arraigned on two counts each of kidnaping after abducting club member John McGurk and Patricia McDevitt from McGurk's [[Bordentown, New Jersey|Bordentown]] home in an attempt to collect a [[United States dollar|$]]1,200 debt on August 17, 1977.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173255406/ Two are arraigned on kidnaping charges] ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' (August 20, 1977)</ref>

John Belowsky and James R. "Axl" Fleming – both identified as Breed members by authorities – and a third man, Pasquel Varona, were arrested during a raid on an apartment in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]] which led to the seizure of handguns and almost $5,000 worth of cocaine on January 25, 1995. The three men were charged with drug and weapons offences.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4429995&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0NTU1NzM0MywiaWF0IjoxNTg4Njk5NDc1LCJleHAiOjE1ODg3ODU4NzV9.hvN-hnlo-AZfBNGOEv585qKwdL1xvyoOXyyul--5zz0 Cocaine, guns found in raid of apartment] Nancy Shields, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (January 28, 1995)</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4430007&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0NTE2MzIxMywiaWF0IjoxNTg4NDQxODU0LCJleHAiOjE1ODg1MjgyNTR9.sC6eH9HlZ8jaIx3fEFlGcxxmEGspF0WmcTRrIKPGpyY Breed motorcycle gang not on law's A list] Neil A. Sheehan, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (August 2, 1995)</ref>

Eugene "Gene" Bernardo, president of the Breed's [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]] chapter, was charged with conspiracy to distribute almost five-hundred grams of methamphetamine in a one-count federal indictment on January 6, 1998. He was convicted of the charge on May 26, 1999.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4430152&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0Mzk1NTU1NSwiaWF0IjoxNTg4NDQxMjA1LCJleHAiOjE1ODg1Mjc2MDV9.YwXUd6OQfOVMenjwqQus-Qr5_c-HVtJraROn1ccJ0IQ Ex-Breed leader guilty in drug case] ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (May 27, 1999)</ref> Bernardo had acted as a middleman in a drug sale made by Carl Chianase to [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) informant Kalani Lopa in January 1997.<ref>[https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=3284&context=thirdcircuit_2003 ''United States of America v. Anthony Valletto''] (February 12, 2003)</ref>

On September 9, 1998, two Breed members, Edward "Cheeks" Papendick and Michael Schwab, stabbed two Pagans, Michael "Tattoo Mike" Hare and Stephen "Snake" Smith, at Bacio Tattoo and Piercing Parlor in [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]].<ref name="''LCN Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Asbury Park''"/><ref name="''New Jersey Drug Threat Assessment''"/> After a period of negotiations between the national president of the Breed and a [[New Jersey State Police]] detective, Papendick and Schwab surrendered to police on September 18, 1998. The bikers were each charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of weapons offenses.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news/105310433/ State police negotiate surrender of tattoo-parlor stabbing suspects] ''[[Home News Tribune]]'' (September 20, 1998)</ref>

Ten members of the Breed, including national president Salvatore "Old Man" DeIulio, were indicted on charges of extortion and sexual assault on January 28, 2000.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4430201&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0NTg4MTg1OCwiaWF0IjoxNTg4NDQzMzg1LCJleHAiOjE1ODg1Mjk3ODV9.U3DELplTvIFG3jl3dJJMWppYDsuXVhFk3RAws79ZfoU 8 Breed members face rape, extortion charges] Amy Zurzola, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (January 28, 2000)</ref> The club was allegedly running [[protection racket]]s on strip clubs, tattoo parlors and other businesses in [[Long Branch, New Jersey|Long Branch]]. The sexual assault charges were brought after four women, who danced at the clubs, complained to the Howell Township police. One woman claimed to have been chained to the floor for several days, forced to engage in oral sex with several men and beaten severely. David Snyder, a strip club owner and former Breed member, was allegedly assaulted after attempting to reduce the number of sexual assaults on the dancers.<ref name="Motorcycle Gang Members Held In Sex Assaults on Nude Dancers"/> On November 4, 2000, five Breed members were acquitted of extortion conspiracy.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/04/nyregion/jury-acquits-5-bikers-of-charges-they-schemed-to-take-over-bar.html Jury Acquits 5 Bikers of Charges They Schemed to Take Over Bar] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (November 4, 2000)</ref> In June 2001, a [[New Jersey Superior Court|Superior Court]] jury in Monmouth County acquitted Delulio of aggravated assault in a case in which he allegedly beat and sexually assaulted a nude dancer. However, a hung jury was declared on six other charges, including aggravated sexual assault and weapons possession.<ref>[https://archive.centraljersey.com/2003/07/04/indictments-handed-down-for-2002-assault/ Indictments handed down for 2002 assault] Sherry Conohan, [[Greater Media]] (July 4, 2003)</ref>

Breed members Sanford Gorzelsky, Scott Lear and Frederick M. "Guido" DeCapua were indicted in July 2003 and charged with robbery, aggravated assault, hindering apprehension, weapons possession and retaliation against a witness.<ref>[http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/News/2003/0704/Front_page/009.html Long Branch man was allegedly beaten by members of Breed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922011005/http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/News/2003/0704/Front_page/009.html |date=2008-09-22 }}</ref> The trio allegedly attacked former Breed member Arne "Ole" Olsen at a bar in [[West Long Branch, New Jersey|West Long Branch]] on October 5, 2002, in retaliation for his testimony in a court case involving other club members.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4461484&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0NDQzNDQxMiwiaWF0IjoxNTg3OTI1NTYxLCJleHAiOjE1ODgwMTE5NjF9.xjfMz3Wm91YMpXUDK9H0o1lW4qFkbutj7O4X4TRbYcw Accused biker claims self-defense] Karen Sudol, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (May 6, 2005)</ref> On May 11, 2005, Gorzelsky was convicted of aggravated assault, and Lear was found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and retaliation, while DeCapua was acquitted of all charges.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4461511&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE0NDQ3MTgwMCwiaWF0IjoxNTg3OTI1NTk5LCJleHAiOjE1ODgwMTE5OTl9.jWM1rfu_wseNWrkhpzE4Vda8ufCBpB8K6OJWIEKRD48 Biker club members guilty of assault] Karen Sudol, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' (May 12, 2005)</ref>

===New York===
On April 10, 1971, thirteen Breed members and associates, including Albert Doerbecker, the president of the [[Long Island]] chapter of the Breed, were arrested on weapons and narcotics charges after the [[Nassau County Police Department]] raided a party at the Long Island chapter clubhouse in [[Roosevelt, New York|Roosevelt]], seizing guns, dynamite and drugs. 44 men and 16 women were also released without charge.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition/105310283/?locale=en-GB Police Wrecked Club, Cyclists Say] Laura Blackwell and Bob Wyrick, ''[[Newsday]]'' (April 12, 1971)</ref>

One Breed member, Alfred Brechesi, was fatally shot and another, Joseph Pascarella, was beaten and slashed during a confrontation with a group of around ten Hells Angels members on [[Staten Island]], New York City, on July 25, 1971. Three Hells Angels – Anthony Morabito, John Scott and Howard Weisbrod – were charged with assault.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/26/archives/cyclist-shot-dead-a-second-wounded-in-si-gang-fight.html Cyclist Shot Dead, A Second Wounded In S.I. Gang Fight] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (July 26, 1971)</ref>

Seven members of the Breed allegedly committed an assault at gunpoint on two young women in a house on Staten Island in December 1971. Two members, Edward Verri and Joseph Pascarella, were arrested and charged with rape and sodomy on January 6, 1972.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/07/archives/2-in-motorcycle-gang-held-in-rape-on-staten-island.html 2 in Motorcycle Gang Held In Rape on Staten Island] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (January 7, 1972)</ref>

===Ohio===
On March 6, 1971, the Breed participated in a large-scale brawl with the Hells Angels at a motorcycle trade show in [[Cleveland]], involving over a hundred bikers from each side.<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904902,00.html The Nation: Hell's Angels 4, Breed 1] ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (March 22, 1971)</ref> Four members of the Breed – Bruce Emerick, Andrew Demeter, Amelio Gardull and Thomas A. Terry – and one Hells Angel – Jeffrey "Groover" Coffey – were stabbed to death, and twenty-three people were injured, including three police officers. Dozens of vans and cars full of police officers were called in to break up the fight. Although most of the bikers were able to flee, eighty-four were arrested at the scene. On March 9, 1971, forty-seven Breed members and ten Hells Angels were each charged with five counts of first-degree murder.<ref>[http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/439416-jury-will-consider-indictments-for-57-in-fight.html Jury Will Consider Indictments for 57 in Fight Fatal to 5] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (March 14, 1971)</ref>

===Pennsylvania===
After being chased for over a mile by twelve Breed members on motorcycles, Michael Trunk – a Pagan and former Breed member – was shot in the head and killed by Breed member Ralph "Marlboro" Waldman in [[Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Abington Township]] in [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] on July 22, 1973. Trunk's [[Colors (motorcycling)|colors]] were then stolen. After Waldman and other Breed members were arrested, a brawl involving Breed and Pagans took place at Abington police station. Waldman was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery, theft of movable property, criminal conspiracy, terroristic threats and two counts of simple assault on October 30, 1975, and was sentenced to life in prison.<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1979/484-pa-217-0.html ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Waldman''] [[Justia]] (November 17, 1978)</ref> Two Breed members – George Schell and Joseph Zebrowski – and three Pagans involved in the brawl were cleared of aggravated assault in September 1973 after they refused to press charges against each other.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=2702866&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjY2MTM0OTg5LCJpYXQiOjE1ODgxODQ2NDIsImV4cCI6MTU4ODI3MTA0Mn0.kTW97Rp6tSYeEADO9UhVhLtNL6g-sldqlqX8MSQ190E Cycle gangs won't prosecute, drop charges] ''[[Morning Times]]'' (September 24, 1973)</ref>

Mark Allen "Pockets" Chancellor, a prospective member of the Breed, was shot dead during a club meeting attended by seven other members at the farmhouse of [[Masury, Ohio]], chapter president John Gilkey in [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania|Mercer County]] on October 13, 1973. Chancellor was allegedly killed for unwittingly violating a club rule during his membership initiation. His body was found on October 26, 1973 in a shallow grave approximately four-hundred feet from the Gilkey home by officers of the [[Pennsylvania State Police]] acting on an anonymous tip-off.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=2778549&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjUyMTE2OTU1LCJpYXQiOjE1ODg1MjE0NzksImV4cCI6MTU4ODYwNzg3OX0.cAMqEJfhUc-ySj-JqzWpbfl25DOUynBX1IhBug08N0M Motorcycle gang slaying case verdict] ''Kane Republican'' (February 22, 1974)</ref> New York chapter member William M. Zillgitt<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1980/489-pa-189-0.html ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. William M. Zillgitt''] [[Justia]] (March 3, 1980)</ref> and New Jersey mother chapter sergeant-at-arms Gary Roman were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to ten-to-twenty years in prison,<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1976/465-pa-515-0.html ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Gary Roman''] [[Justia]] (September 23, 1975)</ref> and Ohio chapter president Donald David "Kraut" Treftz was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1976/465-pa-614-0.html ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Donald David Treftz''] [[Justia]] (May 8, 1975)</ref> Treftz escaped from [[State Correctional Institution – Huntingdon|SCI Huntingdon]] on July 22, 1993,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/33530131/ Crime Stoppers offering reward for prison escapee] ''[[Indiana Gazette]]'' (August 7, 1993)</ref> and was apprehended by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) agents and local police in [[Deadwood, South Dakota]] on April 6, 1995.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13343374/ A tatoo<nowiki>[sic?]</nowiki> artist is fighting extradition back to Pennsylvania for a murder authorities say he committed more than 20 years ago] ''[[Tyrone Daily Herald]]'' (April 12, 1995)</ref>

Breed member Ernest C. Custor stabbed motorist Dennis Carson in the throat with a hunting knife and attempted to stab his passenger Albert Falls following a road rage incident on [[U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania|Route 1]] in [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks County]] on April 24, 1976. Custor claimed temporary insanity, but was found guilty of attempted murder, simple assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a prohibited offensive weapon.<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/superior-court/1982/296-pa-super-235-2.html ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Ernest C. Custor''] [[Justia]] (March 4, 1981)</ref>

In 1987 and 1989, Breed and Pagans members were involved in incidents of assault and kidnapping to settle disputes or to retaliate for acts of violence against fellow members. In one incident, a Breed member wearing his colors in the [[Philadelphia]] area – considered Pagan territory – was assaulted and robbed of his colors by Pagans members. Arrangements were made to negotiate a settlement to this dispute. However, two Breed members were arrested and charged with weapons offenses during the prearranged meeting. Reportedly, the two were present and armed to protect the chapter president, who was handling negotiations.<ref name="''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Report – The Breed''"/>

In December 1988, members of the Warlocks kidnapped the Breed's Bucks County chapter president Craig "Coyote" Gudkneckt in retaliation for several Warlocks being assaulted by Breed members at a bar in [[Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania|Bensalem Township]]. Gudkneckt was taken to the home of a Warlock where he was tied up, beaten and [[Pistol-whipping|pistol-whipped]].<ref>[http://www.mafianj.com/mc/index.shtml ''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs''] State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation (1989)</ref> Gudkneckt escaped and subsequently reported the incident to police.<ref name="Badder Breed"/>

On July 21, 2006, fifteen members of the Breed were charged with running a large-scale methamphetamine ring after a year-long investigation by the [[Pennsylvania Attorney General|Attorney General]]'s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office and the [[Philadelphia Police Department]], known as Operation Breed on a Wire. Among the indicted were Pennsylvania chapter president John W. "Junior" Napoli, New Jersey mother chapter president John A. "Shameless" Kovacs and thirteen other club members. Police also seized more than twenty-two pounds of methamphetamine, nearly $500,000 in cash and bank deposits, forty-four firearms (including one submachine gun), ten improvised explosive devices, various vehicles and twenty-four motorcycles during a series of raids.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=1380|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215072442/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=1380|url-status=dead|title=15 Breed members arrested for running methamphetamine ring|archivedate=February 15, 2012}}</ref> Further charges relating to racketeering were added to the indictments of Napoli, William A. "Tattoo Billy" Johnson, Christopher "Slam" Quattrocchi, Thomas E. "Fuzzy" Heilman, Frederick F. "Pan Head" Freehoff and Eric "Kicker" Loebsack on July 26, 2007.<ref>[https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20070728_New_charges_filed_against_6_gang_members_The_Breed_motorcycle_club_members_now_face_a_charge_of_conspiracy_to_distribute_crystal_meth_.html New charges filed against 6 gang members The Breed motorcycle club members now face a charge of conspiracy to distribute crystal meth] Joseph A. Slobodzian, ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' (July 28, 2007)</ref> A grand jury found that Napoli was the ring leader of the drug organization which operated in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and distributed over 120 pounds of methamphetamine between May 2005 and June 2006, which has an estimated street value of more than $11.25 million. A total of nineteen Breed members were convicted in the case,<ref>[https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080412_Biker_asks_forgiveness__gets_35_years_for_dealing_drugs.html Biker asks forgiveness, gets 35 years for dealing drugs] Kitty Caparella and Michael Hinkelman, ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' (April 12, 2008)</ref> receiving sentences ranging from three to thirty-six years in prison.<ref name="Breed Leader Gets 36 Years"/> On October 4, 2007, Napoli and Johnson were convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering and weapons charges, while Heilman was also convicted of conspiracy to traffic over five hundred grams of methamphetamine.<ref>[https://www.courtlistener.com/pdf/2010/04/21/USA_v._Heilman.pdf ''United States of America v. Thomas Heilman, William A. Johnson, John Napoli''] [[Free Law Project]] (April 21, 2010)</ref> Napoli received the harshest sentence of all of his co-conspirators when he was sentenced to thirty-six years' imprisonment on April 17, 2008.<ref name="Breed Leader Gets 36 Years"/> Heilman was sentenced to twenty years' on January 6, 2008,<ref>[http://bikernews.org/wtn/news.php?extend.4180 Gang member gets 20 years for role in drug ring] ''[[Intelligencer Journal]]'' (January 7, 2008)</ref> and Johnson was sentenced to thirty-five years' on April 11, 2008.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/pae/News/2007/jul/breedindictment.pdf ''United States v. John Napoli, William Johnson, Christopher Quattrocchi, Thomas Heilman, Frederick Freehoff, Eric Loebsack''] [[United States Department of Justice]]</ref> Operation Breed on a Wire and the resulting convictions effectively dismantled the club.<ref name="Breed Leader Gets 36 Years"/> Remaining members who avoided the indictments subsequently dispersed or joined other clubs. Several Breed members patched over to the [[Outlaws Motorcycle Club|Outlaws]] and established a chapter in [[Kensington, Philadelphia|Kensington]], Philadelphia.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pg28hmWc_4wC&dq=alan+hogan+hells+angels&pg=PA77 ''Biker Gangs and Organized Crime''] Thomas Barker (2014)</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090801132452/http://www.northeasttimes.com/2006/0727/breed.html Motorcycle gang’s drug ring busted]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110604044835/http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=4389414 Motorcycle Gang Busted in Alleged Meth Ring]

{{OutlawMotorcycleGroups}}
{{Organized crime groups in the United States}}
{{Organized crime groups in New York City}}
{{Organized crime in Philadelphia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breed Motorcycle Club}}
[[Category:Organizations established in 1965]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Asbury Park, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Bucks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Outlaw motorcycle clubs]]
[[Category:Motorcycle clubs in the United States]]
[[Category:Organized crime groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Gangs in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Former gangs in New York City]]
[[Category:Gangs in Ohio]]
[[Category:Gangs in Pennsylvania]]