WESTPORT — The FBI and other law enforcement agencies raided two Hell’s Angels properties in Westport Thursday morning and at least one residence in Fall River on Milton Street.
As of 2:30 p.m., at least eight FBI agents — armed with assault rifles and wearing body armor — and Westport police were still on the scene at the Hell’s Angels clubhouse at 560 American Legion Highway and in a nearby residence.
Just before 3 p.m., lines of vehicles carrying FBI agents left the property, which is also a working farm.
FBI spokeswoman Kristen Setera confirmed that the federal agency was “conducting court-authorized activity as part of an ongoing federal investigation.”
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Setera also confirmed that law enforcement attended the Milton Street residence earlier in the day, but declined to give the exact address.
The WCVB reported that the FBI said agents were carrying out a similar raid on Fayette Street in the town of Lynn as part of a federal investigation Thursday morning.
The motorcycle club makes no secret of its location in Westport. A large white, red, and gold sign with “Hell’s Angels MC Cape Cod” is displayed on the side of American Legion Highway at the end of a driveway that leads to the club.
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On May 14, seven bikers were stabbed in a massive brawl between Pleasant Street in the middle of the day. Members of the Hell’s Angels reportedly descended on the headquarters of the Pagans motorcycle gang at 375 Pleasant St. Police reported about 50 bikers were involved in the melee.
Less than a week later, the building that housed the Pagans’ clubhouse was shut down by the city building inspector, and the biker gang has since moved out.
Members of the Pagan Club were reportedly uncooperative with the Fall River police, and the FBI took over the investigation of this incident.
And in September 2019, another public clash of rival gangs erupted when a shootout broke out between local motorcycle groups, the Sidewinders and the Outlaws outside JC’s Café on Bedford Street. The shooting left one Oak Bluffs man dead and two others injured with non-life-threatening injuries.
More recently, a member of the Pagans was shot in the face outside the biker clubhouse in Pawtucket last Saturday night, as reported The Journal of Providence.
The victim was hospitalized and listed in critical condition.
Jo C. Goode can be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!