George Christie

The indictment Friday of George Gus Christie Jr. on 23 criminal counts represents the first time since 1987 that the Hells Angels leader has been charged with a serious crime. And Christie said he expects to again place his defense in the hands of Barry Tarlow, a prominent Los Angeles attorney and former federal prosecutor who gained Christie's acquittal in a murder-for-hire trial 14 years ago. "My lawyer and I will handle everything in the courtroom," Christie said last week.

The indictment Friday of George Gus Christie Jr. on 23 criminal counts represents the first time since 1987 that the Hells Angels leader has been charged with a serious crime. And Christie said he expects to again place his defense in the hands of Barry Tarlow, a prominent Los Angeles attorney and former federal prosecutor who gained Christie's acquittal in a murder-for-hire trial 14 years ago. "My lawyer and I will handle everything in the courtroom," Christie said last week.

A national Hells Angels leader, who for two decades cultivated the image of an upstanding citizen, has been charged with heading a criminal gang whose activities include the sale of drugs to high school students. The arrest of George Gus Christie Jr., his two adult children and 21 others Friday night tarnishes his long campaign to portray the notorious motorcycle gang as free-spirited but law-abiding citizens harassed by law enforcement.

The arrest of nine Hells Angels and 15 associates on drug charges over the weekend has some local officials and merchants hoping that the case against them may help the city shed its image as a magnet for the notorious motorcycle gang. "I can't say we've been particularly enamored with the fact that Ventura has been considered a haven for Hells Angels," said Mayor Sandy Smith, who said City Hall frequently fields complaints about the motorcycle club. Hells Angels leader George Gus Christie Jr.

The arrests of nine Hells Angels and 15 associates on drug charges over the weekend has some local officials and merchants hoping that the case helps the city shed its image as a magnet for the notorious motorcycle gang. "I can't say we've been particularly enamored with the fact that Ventura has been considered a haven for Hells Angels," said Mayor Sandy Smith, adding that City Hall often fields complaints about the bikers. Hells Angels leader George Gus Christie Jr.

A Superior Court judge refused Monday to lower the $1-million bail of Hells Angels leader George Christie Jr., who faces drug and racketeering charges. Christie, 53, his estranged wife and their two adult children are among 25 suspects arrested since a grand jury indicted them Friday for allegedly participating in a criminal gang whose activities included selling drugs to high school students in Ventura and Ojai. Christie's estranged wife, Cheryl, 53, surrendered to authorities Monday.

A narcotics ring led by local Hells Angels funneled large quantities of so-called designer drugs from the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo to high school students in Ventura and Ojai, according to a grand jury indictment released Wednesday. According to the indictment, Hells Angels allegedly recruited a group of juveniles dubbed "The Outfit" to sell hundreds of thousands of doses of Valium and Vicodin supplied by an Air Force clinic worker.

Newly released Ventura County Grand Jury indictments reveal that investigators used electronic eavesdropping to penetrate the Hells Angels' tight code of silence, even taping conversations inside the gang's fortified clubhouse in west Ventura.

Veteran criminal defense lawyer Anthony Brooklier will represent national Hells Angels leader George Christie Jr. against charges of running a criminal gang that stole drugs from an Air Force clinic and peddled them to high school students. In the same case, Hells Angel William "Gunner" Wolf, 30, was freed Wednesday on $1-million bail after his Ventura parents emptied a savings account and agreed to pay $1,000 a month for more than four years to cover a $100,000 bond fee.

Re "City Sees Hells Angels Arrests as a Godsend," Feb. 26. Let's quit glorifying the Hells Angels. I hope that George Christie's latest escapade with the law will forever place the Hells Angels where they belong: in prison. As one of the 99% of motorcyclists who are law-abiding, tax-paying citizens, I cringe every time I hear their name. The "one percenters," as they enjoy being called, contribute nothing to motorcycling and give every one of us a bad name. We renounce them 100%!