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male narrator: The Hells
Angels motorcycle club
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00:00:07,218 --> 00:00:09,820
is one of the most
notorious organizations
3
00:00:09,853 --> 00:00:10,821
in the world.
4
00:00:12,156 --> 00:00:14,125
They've been accused
of many things--
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00:00:14,158 --> 00:00:16,093
gun running, drug trafficking,
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00:00:16,127 --> 00:00:17,161
and prostitution.
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00:00:18,795 --> 00:00:22,799
But while the club admits
members may not be true angels,
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00:00:22,833 --> 00:00:25,269
they claim they are not
a criminal organization.
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00:00:26,937 --> 00:00:28,839
One of the main reasons
they cite for this
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00:00:28,872 --> 00:00:30,874
is a lack
of leadership structure.
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00:00:30,907 --> 00:00:33,510
The group says
its charters are independent,
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00:00:33,544 --> 00:00:36,280
with no organizational
direction.
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00:00:36,313 --> 00:00:38,349
But many believe
this to be a front,
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00:00:38,382 --> 00:00:41,185
and point to long-time member
Sonny Barger
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as the group's de facto leader.
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00:00:45,922 --> 00:00:47,858
One thing
that is not disputable is
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00:00:47,891 --> 00:00:49,293
that George Christie,
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00:00:49,326 --> 00:00:52,529
30-year president of the Hells
Angels Ventura chapter,
19
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is not a Barger fan.
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- I'm coming forward now
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because I want to set
the record straight.
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00:00:59,736 --> 00:01:01,838
I'm not bound
by any rules anymore.
23
00:01:01,872 --> 00:01:05,108
I am not bound
by any loyalties anymore.
24
00:01:05,142 --> 00:01:06,743
But I am bound by the truth.
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I guess I would describe
Sonny Barger's personality
26
00:01:17,221 --> 00:01:20,123
as, "If you don't get
out of my way,
27
00:01:20,157 --> 00:01:21,525
I'm gonna go over the top
of you."
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He was very domineering
in what he wanted.
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00:01:26,563 --> 00:01:28,499
He wasn't afraid to go for it.
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And he wasn't afraid to break
the rules in the process,
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00:01:31,435 --> 00:01:34,971
either, no matter
whose rules they were.
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narrator: In 1977,
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00:01:39,910 --> 00:01:42,746
George Christie is a new member
of the Hells Angels
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00:01:42,779 --> 00:01:44,615
Los Angeles charter.
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But he is quickly rising
to a position of power.
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00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,455
He's about to meet,
for the first time,
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one of the club's legendary
members, Sonny Barger.
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- One of the first times I ever
dealt with Sonny was on a run.
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00:02:02,899 --> 00:02:05,836
We're up at Lake Shasta,
up in the mountains.
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00:02:07,238 --> 00:02:12,175
The cops, as usual,
had heavy surveillance on us.
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00:02:13,544 --> 00:02:15,579
And what happened was,
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somebody ditched the cops
and rode into the camp.
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00:02:18,349 --> 00:02:20,217
The police thought
that they were gonna pursue
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him into the camp.
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No way was Sonny gonna
allow that.
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We wound up in a standoff.
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The cops were lined up across.
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Sonny looked at me
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00:02:34,398 --> 00:02:35,799
and said, "Come on."
50
00:02:35,832 --> 00:02:38,502
All Sonny would have had to
done was just raise his hand,
51
00:02:38,535 --> 00:02:42,373
and we just would've went
balls-out into the cops.
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00:02:42,406 --> 00:02:44,174
Here you've got
all these cops out there.
53
00:02:44,207 --> 00:02:45,175
They weren't in control.
54
00:02:45,208 --> 00:02:46,943
We were in control.
55
00:02:46,977 --> 00:02:48,645
Sonny Barger was telling
'em,
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00:02:48,679 --> 00:02:51,114
"This is the way
it was gonna be."
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00:02:51,147 --> 00:02:52,749
I was in awe, you know?
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00:02:52,783 --> 00:02:56,520
He was what I wanted, you know,
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00:02:56,553 --> 00:02:57,754
my life to be all about.
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00:03:02,125 --> 00:03:03,560
narrator: At just 19 years old,
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00:03:03,594 --> 00:03:06,863
Sonny helps create
the Oakland Hells Angels.
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What no one knows at the time
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00:03:08,565 --> 00:03:11,668
is how he's about to transform
the ragtag group
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00:03:11,702 --> 00:03:15,772
into a disciplined army always
ready for its next battle.
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- Sonny brought
to the Hells Angels something
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00:03:17,974 --> 00:03:19,310
that they never had had before,
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00:03:19,343 --> 00:03:21,945
and that was organization.
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Sonny has this ability,
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00:03:23,614 --> 00:03:25,048
this charisma.
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00:03:25,081 --> 00:03:26,850
And people want to follow him.
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00:03:26,883 --> 00:03:29,286
People wanted to make
him happy.
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00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,455
There was a lot of guys
in the club that, you know,
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00:03:31,488 --> 00:03:32,956
they didn't have
that family unit.
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00:03:32,989 --> 00:03:34,325
And I'll tell you,
75
00:03:34,358 --> 00:03:37,160
Sonny was a strong father
figure for these guys.
76
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,870
narrator: In 1965, Sonny
leads his chapter to Berkeley,
77
00:03:46,903 --> 00:03:50,541
California, to disrupt
an anti-Vietnam demonstration.
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00:03:50,574 --> 00:03:53,344
- Sonny and the Hells Angels
showed up,
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00:03:53,377 --> 00:03:56,347
and the protesters
initially thought,
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00:03:56,380 --> 00:03:57,514
"Here comes the Hells Angels;
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00:03:57,548 --> 00:03:58,715
we've got some support."
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00:03:58,749 --> 00:04:00,384
And it didn't take 'em long
83
00:04:00,417 --> 00:04:03,687
to find out that, no,
they weren't there for support.
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00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,190
Sonny led the charge
against these protesters.
85
00:04:07,223 --> 00:04:08,925
- Ironically,
the Berkeley police
86
00:04:08,959 --> 00:04:10,594
had to protect the marchers
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00:04:10,627 --> 00:04:14,297
from an attack
by a small gang of hooligans.
88
00:04:14,331 --> 00:04:16,066
- He hated those guys,
he told me.
89
00:04:16,099 --> 00:04:18,769
- Get out of here!
90
00:04:19,870 --> 00:04:21,237
narrator:
Despite being outlaws,
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00:04:21,271 --> 00:04:23,640
the Hells Angels
are fiercely patriotic,
92
00:04:23,674 --> 00:04:25,676
and their support
of the war in Vietnam
93
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made for good headlines.
94
00:04:27,678 --> 00:04:31,047
Sonny knew exactly
how to capitalize on the press.
95
00:04:31,081 --> 00:04:32,716
- Here's a letter
that we sent to--
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00:04:32,749 --> 00:04:34,250
a telegram
to President Johnson.
97
00:04:34,284 --> 00:04:35,919
And we'll have--
- Can you read that for us?
98
00:04:35,952 --> 00:04:36,987
- Read it.
- Read it.
99
00:04:37,020 --> 00:04:38,254
- "Dear Mr. President,
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00:04:38,288 --> 00:04:40,357
"on behalf of myself
and my associates,
101
00:04:40,391 --> 00:04:42,659
"I volunteer a group
of loyal Americans
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00:04:42,693 --> 00:04:44,961
"for behind-the-line duty
in Vietnam.
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00:04:44,995 --> 00:04:46,397
"Sincerely, Ralph Barger,
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00:04:46,430 --> 00:04:48,098
Hells Angels, Oakland."
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00:04:48,131 --> 00:04:51,868
- As far as the public's
concerned, they're thinking,
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00:04:51,902 --> 00:04:53,036
"Sonny Barger's talking,
107
00:04:53,069 --> 00:04:54,505
and the President's listening."
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00:04:54,538 --> 00:04:57,140
He knew how to manipulate
the media.
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00:04:57,173 --> 00:04:58,842
- Sonny Barger, in effect,
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00:04:58,875 --> 00:05:01,845
had become
not only the most public face
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00:05:01,878 --> 00:05:03,313
of the Hells Angels,
112
00:05:03,346 --> 00:05:06,550
but in many ways
their international patriot.
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00:05:10,754 --> 00:05:13,156
narrator: To the American
public, Sonny Barger
114
00:05:13,189 --> 00:05:14,591
is the Hells Angels.
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00:05:19,996 --> 00:05:23,667
So when Hollywood comes
calling, they come to Sonny.
116
00:05:24,835 --> 00:05:27,103
- Sonny was in a few movies.
117
00:05:27,137 --> 00:05:29,005
He was in "Hell's Angels '69,"
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00:05:29,039 --> 00:05:32,375
and he was in "Hells Angels
on Wheels" with Jack Nicholson.
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00:05:32,409 --> 00:05:35,412
He had become the face
of the Hells Angels.
120
00:05:35,446 --> 00:05:37,247
narrator: But not everyone
in the club is happy
121
00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:39,249
with Sonny's growing fame.
122
00:05:39,282 --> 00:05:42,018
Some members complain
the sacred Hells Angels name
123
00:05:42,052 --> 00:05:45,689
and logo are being disrespected
when worn by Hollywood actors.
124
00:05:45,722 --> 00:05:48,124
- Sonny's astute enough to know
that there were people
125
00:05:48,158 --> 00:05:49,660
in the club that were starting
126
00:05:49,693 --> 00:05:53,129
to take exception that
he was getting so much attention
127
00:05:53,163 --> 00:05:55,198
and so much notoriety.
128
00:05:55,231 --> 00:05:56,767
To placate everybody,
129
00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:58,301
he comes up with this idea:
130
00:05:58,334 --> 00:06:02,906
nobody will ever wear the Hells
Angel name or logo again
131
00:06:02,939 --> 00:06:05,642
unless they
are officially a member.
132
00:06:07,711 --> 00:06:09,179
- What are
some of the qualifications
133
00:06:09,212 --> 00:06:11,314
for joining the Hells Angels?
134
00:06:11,347 --> 00:06:15,886
- Uh, basically, the first one
is to ride a motorcycle.
135
00:06:15,919 --> 00:06:19,723
- He had become
a very big figure,
136
00:06:19,756 --> 00:06:22,192
not only in the pop culture,
137
00:06:22,225 --> 00:06:25,061
but within the ranks
of law enforcement.
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00:06:28,932 --> 00:06:31,101
- In the last few years,
the Hells Angels have become
139
00:06:31,134 --> 00:06:33,436
interested in a lot more
than just motorcycles.
140
00:06:35,271 --> 00:06:38,108
narrator: The drug business
is booming in the 1970s,
141
00:06:38,141 --> 00:06:41,011
and some Hells Angels members
controlling a major part
142
00:06:41,044 --> 00:06:42,445
in the sale
and distribution of meth
143
00:06:42,479 --> 00:06:44,014
throughout the U.S.
144
00:06:44,047 --> 00:06:47,417
Sonny Barger is arrested on
charges of weapons possession.
145
00:06:47,450 --> 00:06:48,919
The next six years,
146
00:06:48,952 --> 00:06:51,187
he is in and out of prison
for various indictments.
147
00:06:51,221 --> 00:06:53,990
- Some Hells Angels
have become big-time criminals
148
00:06:54,024 --> 00:06:55,526
and very rich.
149
00:06:55,559 --> 00:06:57,661
narrator: While Sonny
is in prison, George Christie
150
00:06:57,694 --> 00:07:01,532
is becoming a powerful voice in
the Hells Angels' L.A. charter.
151
00:07:02,799 --> 00:07:04,334
At this time,
152
00:07:04,367 --> 00:07:06,937
the Hells Angels are a major
focus of law enforcement,
153
00:07:06,970 --> 00:07:09,773
due to ongoing wars
with rival motorcycle clubs
154
00:07:09,806 --> 00:07:11,207
like the Mongols.
155
00:07:11,241 --> 00:07:13,810
- After the conflict
started with the Mongols,
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00:07:13,844 --> 00:07:15,245
we had a lot of heat.
157
00:07:15,278 --> 00:07:18,515
The cops were stopping
us constantly on our bikes.
158
00:07:18,549 --> 00:07:21,084
There had been an explosion
in downtown Los Angeles,
159
00:07:21,117 --> 00:07:25,021
and someone was gonna answer
for it.
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00:07:25,055 --> 00:07:27,257
I certainly wasn't gonna
back down to anybody,
161
00:07:27,290 --> 00:07:30,426
but I would be willing to take
the path of least resistance
162
00:07:30,460 --> 00:07:33,196
to accomplish something.
163
00:07:33,229 --> 00:07:34,430
That vision
164
00:07:34,464 --> 00:07:36,199
that I was expressing to people
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00:07:36,232 --> 00:07:40,136
put me in the position
of becoming a leader.
166
00:07:40,170 --> 00:07:42,105
narrator: After years
a full-patch member,
167
00:07:42,138 --> 00:07:45,075
George Christie becomes
president of the L.A. chapter,
168
00:07:45,108 --> 00:07:47,611
and six months later,
moves the club to Ventura
169
00:07:47,644 --> 00:07:49,680
to escape
law enforcement's attention.
170
00:07:49,713 --> 00:07:53,216
As president, he strives
to stop the use of explosives
171
00:07:53,249 --> 00:07:55,719
and avoid violence
with rival motorcycle clubs.
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00:07:55,752 --> 00:07:58,321
- I always thought our common
enemy was law enforcement.
173
00:07:58,354 --> 00:08:02,492
But, you know, Sonny would take
a dislike to a particular club.
174
00:08:02,525 --> 00:08:05,228
In my opinion, you just
could not change his mind.
175
00:08:05,261 --> 00:08:08,932
I was willing to try to make
a play to resolve differences.
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00:08:08,965 --> 00:08:10,867
You know, Sonny
didn't really give a damn.
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00:08:10,901 --> 00:08:12,936
He would dig in and,
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00:08:12,969 --> 00:08:15,171
no matter
what you said or what you did,
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00:08:15,205 --> 00:08:16,506
he didn't want to hear it.
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00:08:16,539 --> 00:08:18,541
And that's the difference
between me and Sonny.
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00:08:18,575 --> 00:08:24,347
- George was the smarter,
politically more savvy player.
182
00:08:24,380 --> 00:08:29,653
But he was always number two
to Sonny Barger.
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00:08:29,686 --> 00:08:32,422
They're both brilliant,
shrewd tacticians,
184
00:08:32,455 --> 00:08:34,224
but also rivals for power.
185
00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:38,862
- There's a member
in Los Angeles
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00:08:38,895 --> 00:08:42,465
that gave me a warning
when I first got in the club.
187
00:08:43,967 --> 00:08:46,637
He said, "You know,
don't get too popular, George.
188
00:08:46,670 --> 00:08:48,471
"That's gonna be a problem
for you,
189
00:08:48,504 --> 00:08:50,273
because Sonny
doesn't like competition."
190
00:08:51,642 --> 00:08:52,609
- In my perspective,
191
00:08:52,643 --> 00:08:53,877
Sonny--you know,
192
00:08:53,910 --> 00:08:57,881
he had inherited
a small band of misfits
193
00:08:57,914 --> 00:09:02,485
and turned 'em into a worldwide
organized crime syndicate.
194
00:09:02,518 --> 00:09:04,821
I don't think Sonny's
interested in letting anybody
195
00:09:04,855 --> 00:09:05,922
have a part of that.
196
00:09:05,956 --> 00:09:07,658
It's his.
He owned it.
197
00:09:07,691 --> 00:09:09,693
He built it.
198
00:09:09,726 --> 00:09:13,163
narrator: In 1977,
Sonny is released from prison,
199
00:09:13,196 --> 00:09:16,032
and he's ready to reclaim
his former glory.
200
00:09:21,471 --> 00:09:23,239
- Now that Sonny
is out of prison,
201
00:09:23,273 --> 00:09:25,275
are there gonna be more changes
in the Hells Angels?
202
00:09:25,308 --> 00:09:26,977
- That's hard to say.
203
00:09:27,010 --> 00:09:28,378
I couldn't answer that--
204
00:09:28,411 --> 00:09:30,346
- Do you have any thoughts
in mind?
205
00:09:30,380 --> 00:09:32,115
- Not right at the minute.
206
00:09:32,148 --> 00:09:33,416
- In my opinion,
207
00:09:33,449 --> 00:09:35,385
there were doubts
in Sonny's mind
208
00:09:35,418 --> 00:09:39,122
if he still retained and held
the power that he once had.
209
00:09:39,155 --> 00:09:41,157
- From the short time
that I've been out,
210
00:09:41,191 --> 00:09:42,693
when I see people
on the streets,
211
00:09:42,726 --> 00:09:44,795
they, you know,
212
00:09:44,828 --> 00:09:46,629
don't seem shocked to see me
anymore.
213
00:09:46,663 --> 00:09:49,365
A lot of them, you know,
214
00:09:49,399 --> 00:09:50,566
they find out who I am,
215
00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:51,835
they're happy to see I'm out.
216
00:09:51,868 --> 00:09:53,837
Some of them are not quite
so happy.
217
00:09:57,007 --> 00:10:00,543
- And now, he wants to assure
himself and other people
218
00:10:00,576 --> 00:10:02,779
that he's in charge.
219
00:10:02,813 --> 00:10:05,048
What's the best way to do that?
220
00:10:05,081 --> 00:10:06,049
Have a run.
221
00:10:07,283 --> 00:10:08,618
We make a plan,
222
00:10:08,651 --> 00:10:11,922
and we pick Frisco,
Colorado, as our destination.
223
00:10:17,127 --> 00:10:18,394
The way I remember it,
224
00:10:18,428 --> 00:10:20,363
the time comes to leave,
225
00:10:20,396 --> 00:10:24,701
Sonny gets wind that the
Outlaws were going to Sturgis.
226
00:10:29,039 --> 00:10:31,241
You know, we'd been at war
with the Outlaws
227
00:10:31,274 --> 00:10:32,575
for almost a decade now.
228
00:10:34,677 --> 00:10:38,749
Sonny decides that
we need to go to Sturgis
229
00:10:38,782 --> 00:10:41,651
and meet the Outlaws head-on.
230
00:10:43,119 --> 00:10:44,988
narrator:
But there was one problem;
231
00:10:45,021 --> 00:10:48,358
most of the Angels were already
on their way to Frisco.
232
00:10:48,391 --> 00:10:50,660
- Now, how in the hell are you
gonna get the word to everybody
233
00:10:50,693 --> 00:10:52,996
that the destination's
been changed?
234
00:10:53,029 --> 00:10:54,898
There's no cell phones.
235
00:10:54,931 --> 00:10:57,300
There's no answering machines.
236
00:10:57,333 --> 00:11:00,904
It's a different era
that we're living in back then.
237
00:11:02,605 --> 00:11:04,474
Half of the club
made it to Sturgis.
238
00:11:04,507 --> 00:11:05,942
The other half didn't.
239
00:11:05,976 --> 00:11:09,045
And I'm part of the people
that don't make it.
240
00:11:09,079 --> 00:11:12,015
And this creates a problem
between me and Sonny.
241
00:11:12,048 --> 00:11:13,649
In my opinion,
242
00:11:13,683 --> 00:11:19,655
Sonny was so upset that people
didn't show up in Sturgis,
243
00:11:19,689 --> 00:11:23,193
he divided the line right
down the center of the club.
244
00:11:25,195 --> 00:11:28,564
And now I found myself
with Sonny on one side
245
00:11:28,598 --> 00:11:32,635
and me on the other.
246
00:11:34,537 --> 00:11:36,172
narrator: Hells Angel member
Sonny Barger
247
00:11:36,206 --> 00:11:37,908
has just returned to the club
248
00:11:37,941 --> 00:11:39,575
after his release from prison.
249
00:11:41,044 --> 00:11:42,745
Determined
to reestablish his position
250
00:11:42,779 --> 00:11:43,947
as the face of the club,
251
00:11:43,980 --> 00:11:46,850
he orders a massive run
to Colorado.
252
00:11:46,883 --> 00:11:49,519
But at the last minute,
he changes the destination
253
00:11:49,552 --> 00:11:52,055
to Sturgis, South Dakota.
254
00:11:52,088 --> 00:11:54,757
Half the club
never gets word of the change,
255
00:11:54,791 --> 00:11:56,759
including George Christie.
256
00:11:56,793 --> 00:12:01,297
Sonny is furious at those who
didn't follow him to Sturgis,
257
00:12:01,331 --> 00:12:02,632
and Christie
wants to make peace.
258
00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,236
- You know, I've been in
the club about five years now.
259
00:12:06,269 --> 00:12:08,504
I have my own charter
in Ventura
260
00:12:08,538 --> 00:12:10,140
that I helped establish.
261
00:12:10,173 --> 00:12:11,908
I was a leader.
262
00:12:11,942 --> 00:12:14,244
I've got guys coming to me
263
00:12:14,277 --> 00:12:17,047
wanting to get this problem
resolved.
264
00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,250
So I decide the best way
to do this is to go to Sonny
265
00:12:20,283 --> 00:12:21,918
on his own turf,
up in Oakland.
266
00:12:25,588 --> 00:12:27,824
narrator: Christie rides
out to Sonny's home in Oakland
267
00:12:27,858 --> 00:12:30,693
to meet with the most
powerful Hells Angel
268
00:12:30,726 --> 00:12:34,164
and also the most
unpredictable.
269
00:12:34,197 --> 00:12:35,331
- I get on the spot,
270
00:12:35,365 --> 00:12:36,599
and he--he looked at me--said,
271
00:12:36,632 --> 00:12:38,034
"It must be pretty important
for you
272
00:12:38,068 --> 00:12:40,436
to come all the way up here."
273
00:12:40,470 --> 00:12:43,173
I said, "Well, I think the club
274
00:12:43,206 --> 00:12:45,675
all heading in the same
direction is pretty important."
275
00:12:45,708 --> 00:12:46,843
I said, "You know, everyone
276
00:12:46,877 --> 00:12:48,644
looks to you for leadership,
277
00:12:48,678 --> 00:12:52,048
and you, in essence,
are dividing the club."
278
00:12:52,082 --> 00:12:54,450
I said, "it's not
the smart thing to do."
279
00:12:54,484 --> 00:12:56,586
narrator:
Barger is unpredictable,
280
00:12:56,619 --> 00:12:58,188
but he isn't shy or subtle.
281
00:12:58,221 --> 00:13:00,056
- The way I remember it,
282
00:13:00,090 --> 00:13:02,225
we start talking
about leadership styles,
283
00:13:02,258 --> 00:13:03,359
and he said some things
284
00:13:03,393 --> 00:13:06,362
that were very telling
to me that day.
285
00:13:06,396 --> 00:13:07,663
He said, "You know, George,
286
00:13:07,697 --> 00:13:10,433
I burn every bridge
I ever cross."
287
00:13:10,466 --> 00:13:12,002
I thought to myself,
288
00:13:12,035 --> 00:13:14,004
"Where's the brotherhood?"
289
00:13:14,037 --> 00:13:15,505
I said,
"Look, I'm a team player.
290
00:13:15,538 --> 00:13:17,507
Let's put the team
back together."
291
00:13:17,540 --> 00:13:18,909
narrator: As the meeting ends,
292
00:13:18,942 --> 00:13:21,511
it appears that progress
has been made.
293
00:13:21,544 --> 00:13:22,946
- At the end
of the meeting,
294
00:13:22,979 --> 00:13:24,847
I think Sonny understood
what I was trying to do.
295
00:13:24,881 --> 00:13:26,049
I think he appreciated it.
296
00:13:26,082 --> 00:13:29,819
And ultimately,
he resolved the problem
297
00:13:29,852 --> 00:13:31,554
by just saying,
"Hey, you know what,
298
00:13:31,587 --> 00:13:35,525
"it was bad communications
and misunderstandings.
299
00:13:35,558 --> 00:13:38,128
Let's move forward."
And that's what we did.
300
00:13:38,161 --> 00:13:39,295
Sonny waved his hand,
301
00:13:39,329 --> 00:13:40,496
and it--it all ended.
302
00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,302
Sonny is a heavy smoker.
303
00:13:46,336 --> 00:13:49,872
I think he
was a non-filtered smoker
304
00:13:49,906 --> 00:13:50,907
when he was in prison.
305
00:13:50,941 --> 00:13:53,109
He comes home,
306
00:13:53,143 --> 00:13:56,146
and he gets the news
that he's got throat cancer.
307
00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,316
- I got to tell you, I was one
of the ones that was worried,
308
00:14:00,350 --> 00:14:04,087
because I didn't know
what the hell was gonna happen.
309
00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:06,489
narrator: Sonny
undergoes radiation treatment
310
00:14:06,522 --> 00:14:07,690
and a laryngectomy.
311
00:14:09,692 --> 00:14:10,927
- Sonny, how you feeling?
- Very good, thanks.
312
00:14:10,961 --> 00:14:12,395
- That's good.
313
00:14:12,428 --> 00:14:15,065
- He had a vibrator
he could hold up to his neck
314
00:14:15,098 --> 00:14:19,369
and, you know--sounded
something like Darth Vader.
315
00:14:19,402 --> 00:14:21,171
- What about motorcycle riding?
316
00:14:21,204 --> 00:14:23,439
I know you're eager
to get back on a bike?
317
00:14:23,473 --> 00:14:25,808
- Yeah, I have a DMV
appointment in an hour.
318
00:14:25,841 --> 00:14:26,809
- Oh, no!
319
00:14:28,411 --> 00:14:30,746
narrator: With Sonny undergoing
treatment for his cancer,
320
00:14:30,780 --> 00:14:33,349
George's role grows,
earning him respect
321
00:14:33,383 --> 00:14:36,386
and recognition
as a levelheaded leader.
322
00:14:36,419 --> 00:14:38,021
But George's increased exposure
323
00:14:38,054 --> 00:14:41,791
also means unwanted attention
from the FBI.
324
00:14:41,824 --> 00:14:44,060
- To a lot of people, I was the
new face of the Hells Angels--
325
00:14:44,094 --> 00:14:46,396
especially to law enforcement.
326
00:14:46,429 --> 00:14:48,965
And the feds
continued to target both Sonny,
327
00:14:48,999 --> 00:14:50,433
and me as well.
328
00:14:50,466 --> 00:14:54,837
They knew that, if they
brought down Sonny and myself,
329
00:14:54,870 --> 00:14:59,409
it would make a major statement
not only to the outlaw world,
330
00:14:59,442 --> 00:15:01,344
but to society at large.
331
00:15:01,377 --> 00:15:02,712
narrator: In 1986,
332
00:15:02,745 --> 00:15:05,081
the feds launch
a full-scale investigation
333
00:15:05,115 --> 00:15:07,283
to gather intelligence
on both Sonny Barger
334
00:15:07,317 --> 00:15:08,718
and George Christie.
335
00:15:08,751 --> 00:15:11,187
It would become one
of the largest operations
336
00:15:11,221 --> 00:15:13,223
ever launched
against the Hells Angels.
337
00:15:15,992 --> 00:15:17,293
- Operation CACUS
338
00:15:17,327 --> 00:15:22,332
was an FBI investigation
that stemmed from an informant
339
00:15:22,365 --> 00:15:25,101
that the Alaska FBI
had developed.
340
00:15:25,135 --> 00:15:27,537
His name was Tony Tait.
341
00:15:27,570 --> 00:15:30,340
- Tony Tait was
not a law-enforcement officer.
342
00:15:30,373 --> 00:15:32,542
He had friends
in law enforcement,
343
00:15:32,575 --> 00:15:34,044
and he took a dare.
344
00:15:34,077 --> 00:15:36,512
Somebody said, "I bet you can't
infiltrate the Hells Angels."
345
00:15:36,546 --> 00:15:38,648
And Tony said,
"I bet you I can."
346
00:15:38,681 --> 00:15:43,186
And that's how that whole thing
started, over a bet.
347
00:15:43,219 --> 00:15:46,189
narrator: Tony Tait quickly
rises to the rank of sergeant
348
00:15:46,222 --> 00:15:48,558
at arms within the club,
349
00:15:48,591 --> 00:15:53,263
all while serving as informant
for the ATF and the FBI.
350
00:15:53,296 --> 00:15:54,297
- Anthony Tait,
351
00:15:54,330 --> 00:15:57,300
as an informant,
was a dream come true.
352
00:15:57,333 --> 00:16:00,203
Here you have an individual
who is already part of--
353
00:16:00,236 --> 00:16:01,904
not only of the club,
354
00:16:01,937 --> 00:16:04,607
but in the hierarchy
of the officer level.
355
00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,077
And that's extremely
difficult,
356
00:16:07,110 --> 00:16:11,714
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
given to law enforcement.
357
00:16:11,747 --> 00:16:15,485
- In each case, what I said
was exactly the truth.
358
00:16:15,518 --> 00:16:17,953
That's why the club
calls me Tony Truth.
359
00:16:17,987 --> 00:16:23,526
I've murdered them
with the truth.
360
00:16:23,559 --> 00:16:25,928
narrator: Coming up...
361
00:16:25,961 --> 00:16:27,630
narrator: The Hells Angel
motorcycle club
362
00:16:27,663 --> 00:16:29,465
is under assault.
363
00:16:29,499 --> 00:16:31,734
Their most prominent leader,
Sonny Barger,
364
00:16:31,767 --> 00:16:33,903
is battling throat cancer.
365
00:16:33,936 --> 00:16:36,372
George Christie, president
of the Ventura charter,
366
00:16:36,406 --> 00:16:38,040
has stepped up
in Sonny's absence
367
00:16:38,074 --> 00:16:40,676
as a powerful voice
within the club.
368
00:16:40,710 --> 00:16:42,445
But the FBI is more determined
369
00:16:42,478 --> 00:16:45,315
than ever
to take the Angels down,
370
00:16:45,348 --> 00:16:46,582
starting with George Christie
371
00:16:46,616 --> 00:16:47,883
and Sonny Barger.
372
00:16:47,917 --> 00:16:50,153
- We were a target
of law enforcement,
373
00:16:50,186 --> 00:16:53,156
and you had to watch every step
of the way.
374
00:16:53,189 --> 00:16:55,625
It was like a--
it was like a minefield.
375
00:16:55,658 --> 00:16:57,127
narrator: Unknown
to either man,
376
00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,995
the feds now have an informant
deep inside the club:
377
00:17:00,029 --> 00:17:01,597
Anthony Tait, who,
378
00:17:01,631 --> 00:17:05,535
by 1986, rises to the position
of West Coast sergeant at arms.
379
00:17:06,736 --> 00:17:09,105
- Anthony Tait,
seen here in disguise,
380
00:17:09,139 --> 00:17:11,073
was a national officer
in the Hells Angels,
381
00:17:11,107 --> 00:17:13,075
and for nearly three years,
382
00:17:13,109 --> 00:17:16,045
the FBI's principal informant
inside the club.
383
00:17:19,315 --> 00:17:23,219
narrator: On August 12, 1986,
384
00:17:23,253 --> 00:17:26,689
a Hells Angel named John Webb
has a run-in with two members
385
00:17:26,722 --> 00:17:28,258
of a rival motorcycle club,
386
00:17:28,291 --> 00:17:29,725
the Outlaws.
387
00:17:29,759 --> 00:17:33,896
- John Webb runs into
these two Outlaws that he knows.
388
00:17:33,929 --> 00:17:37,267
And there's a dispute
over some money.
389
00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:38,934
They wind up
getting in a gunfight.
390
00:17:41,137 --> 00:17:43,173
John gets shot and murdered.
391
00:17:44,740 --> 00:17:46,742
narrator: A meeting
of the Hells Angels leadership
392
00:17:46,776 --> 00:17:49,078
is called
to discuss the killing.
393
00:17:49,111 --> 00:17:50,913
- I'm the chairman.
394
00:17:50,946 --> 00:17:53,115
The secretary's
sitting to my left,
395
00:17:53,149 --> 00:17:56,386
and the West Coast sergeant
at arms is sitting to my right.
396
00:17:56,419 --> 00:17:57,587
And now that's Tony Tait.
397
00:17:59,222 --> 00:18:02,558
narrator: Tait arrives to the
meeting with a cast on his arm.
398
00:18:02,592 --> 00:18:04,994
- Tony Tait
walks into this meeting.
399
00:18:05,027 --> 00:18:07,630
He says he's been
in a bike wreck.
400
00:18:07,663 --> 00:18:09,765
He's got this cast on.
401
00:18:09,799 --> 00:18:13,636
It's bright white, looks
like they just put it on him,
402
00:18:13,669 --> 00:18:15,671
no road rash whatsoever.
403
00:18:16,906 --> 00:18:18,208
I go, "You're a lucky guy,
Tony."
404
00:18:18,241 --> 00:18:19,275
And he gets kind of nervous.
405
00:18:19,309 --> 00:18:21,277
He goes,
"Why would you say that?"
406
00:18:21,311 --> 00:18:22,645
I said,
"You got in a bike wreck,
407
00:18:22,678 --> 00:18:24,714
and you don't have
any road rash?"
408
00:18:24,747 --> 00:18:26,382
He's shifting in his seat,
409
00:18:26,416 --> 00:18:28,784
and he's making excuses why he
doesn't have any road rashing.
410
00:18:28,818 --> 00:18:32,488
Come to find out
there's a bug in the cast.
411
00:18:33,923 --> 00:18:35,825
narrator: Court documents
would later reveal
412
00:18:35,858 --> 00:18:38,794
Tait was concealing
a recording device.
413
00:18:38,828 --> 00:18:40,296
As the meeting gets underway,
414
00:18:40,330 --> 00:18:42,632
Tait does everything
he can to encourage
415
00:18:42,665 --> 00:18:45,100
a murder plot to avenge
the death of John Webb.
416
00:18:46,702 --> 00:18:49,372
If Tait can record Christie
and the other leaders planning
417
00:18:49,405 --> 00:18:53,609
to commit murder, the FBI
will have evidence for arrests.
418
00:18:53,643 --> 00:18:56,879
- Tony wanted to move forward
with a war.
419
00:18:56,912 --> 00:18:59,048
And he's
in this officers' meeting,
420
00:18:59,081 --> 00:19:00,082
and he's talking about,
421
00:19:00,115 --> 00:19:02,418
he wants to blow these guys up.
422
00:19:02,452 --> 00:19:03,419
I'm very suspect of this.
423
00:19:03,453 --> 00:19:04,854
First of all,
424
00:19:04,887 --> 00:19:06,722
you don't bring stuff up
like this in meetings.
425
00:19:06,756 --> 00:19:08,123
Then, you know what,
426
00:19:08,157 --> 00:19:09,792
we're already at war
with the Outlaws.
427
00:19:09,825 --> 00:19:11,494
What the hell
does he need permission
428
00:19:11,527 --> 00:19:12,595
to go to war with the Outlaws?
429
00:19:13,996 --> 00:19:15,431
narrator: Christie makes sure
the group sticks
430
00:19:15,465 --> 00:19:18,334
to the Hells Angels rules
stating illegal acts
431
00:19:18,368 --> 00:19:21,103
are never discussed
at meetings.
432
00:19:21,136 --> 00:19:24,139
Tait fails to record
any useful evidence.
433
00:19:24,173 --> 00:19:26,409
- Because I confronted Tony
about the cast,
434
00:19:26,442 --> 00:19:28,344
they decide to try
something new.
435
00:19:28,378 --> 00:19:30,079
Now they put the bug
in a beeper
436
00:19:30,112 --> 00:19:31,547
and send him to Sonny's house.
437
00:19:35,418 --> 00:19:38,454
And what they're doing is,
in the course of the afternoon,
438
00:19:38,488 --> 00:19:40,089
they're paging Tony.
439
00:19:40,122 --> 00:19:41,357
Tony looks at the number,
440
00:19:41,391 --> 00:19:42,792
and then says to Sonny,
441
00:19:42,825 --> 00:19:44,660
"Can I borrow your phone,
Sonny?"
442
00:19:44,694 --> 00:19:46,562
And Sonny says,
"Sure, why not?"
443
00:19:46,596 --> 00:19:49,999
Tony's now using
Sonny's phone to call the feds,
444
00:19:50,032 --> 00:19:52,868
and the feds are directing Tony
and telling him
445
00:19:52,902 --> 00:19:55,671
what he needs to get Sonny
to say to get the indictment.
446
00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,476
narrator: Tony Tait wants
Sonny Barger to order him
447
00:20:00,510 --> 00:20:03,413
to bomb the Outlaws
who killed John Webb.
448
00:20:03,446 --> 00:20:06,949
- He's doing everything
imaginable to get us,
449
00:20:06,982 --> 00:20:09,652
as a club,
to go to war with the Outlaws.
450
00:20:09,685 --> 00:20:12,322
He wants to blow them up
in their Kentucky clubhouse.
451
00:20:12,355 --> 00:20:14,957
Tony said, "There's gonna
be collateral damage."
452
00:20:14,990 --> 00:20:16,058
And Sonny said,
453
00:20:16,091 --> 00:20:18,193
"I know, but it's worth it."
454
00:20:18,227 --> 00:20:20,162
And the feds
now have it on tape.
455
00:20:20,195 --> 00:20:22,632
narrator: Sonny Barger has just
incriminated himself
456
00:20:22,665 --> 00:20:25,000
in a murder plot.
457
00:20:25,034 --> 00:20:26,836
But the FBI wants more.
458
00:20:26,869 --> 00:20:28,804
They want George Christie.
459
00:20:28,838 --> 00:20:31,507
So before arresting Barger
and blowing Tait's cover,
460
00:20:31,541 --> 00:20:34,276
they send Tait after Christie
one more time.
461
00:20:34,310 --> 00:20:36,646
- About a week later,
he shows up in Ventura.
462
00:20:36,679 --> 00:20:38,381
And he goes,
"I got a real problem, George.
463
00:20:38,414 --> 00:20:41,183
I--I need some help."
464
00:20:41,216 --> 00:20:42,685
I said, "What kind of problem?"
465
00:20:42,718 --> 00:20:44,654
He goes, "I need a good drug
connection."
466
00:20:44,687 --> 00:20:46,221
He goes, "I got myself in a jam
467
00:20:46,255 --> 00:20:48,257
"with a Oakland heavyweight,
468
00:20:48,290 --> 00:20:51,293
"and I'm $30,000 down, man.
469
00:20:51,327 --> 00:20:53,929
"And I need to score
some pure crank
470
00:20:53,963 --> 00:20:56,031
so I can get out of debt."
471
00:20:56,065 --> 00:20:58,033
And, you know,
I said, "You know, Tony."
472
00:20:58,067 --> 00:20:59,268
I said, "I want to tell
you something, man."
473
00:20:59,301 --> 00:21:00,803
I said, "I'm not
in the drug business."
474
00:21:00,836 --> 00:21:02,304
And I said, "I don't plan
475
00:21:02,338 --> 00:21:05,508
"on starting any involvement
in the drug business
476
00:21:05,541 --> 00:21:07,643
to get you out of a jam."
477
00:21:07,677 --> 00:21:08,978
narrator: Tait's persistence
478
00:21:09,011 --> 00:21:12,782
has Christie more suspicious
than ever.
479
00:21:12,815 --> 00:21:15,985
- I'm in the clubhouse
talking to Animal.
480
00:21:16,018 --> 00:21:17,753
Now, Animal and I
go back a long ways.
481
00:21:17,787 --> 00:21:19,121
I went to high school with him.
482
00:21:19,154 --> 00:21:20,956
Now we're Hells Angel brothers
together.
483
00:21:20,990 --> 00:21:22,392
And I said, "Look,
484
00:21:22,425 --> 00:21:24,927
I know everybody's embracing
this guy, Tony Tait."
485
00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,929
I said, "I got a bad feeling
about him."
486
00:21:26,962 --> 00:21:29,264
I said, "He's talking
about doing dope deals,
487
00:21:29,298 --> 00:21:30,500
"and he's in a jam,
488
00:21:30,533 --> 00:21:31,801
and he needs help."
489
00:21:31,834 --> 00:21:34,269
But I said, "Man,
I'm not feeling this guy."
490
00:21:34,303 --> 00:21:35,738
narrator: Tait is,
once again,
491
00:21:35,771 --> 00:21:38,173
unsuccessful getting
Christie to conspire
492
00:21:38,207 --> 00:21:40,142
to break the law on tape,
493
00:21:40,175 --> 00:21:43,913
and the FBI believes Christie
is now suspicious of him.
494
00:21:43,946 --> 00:21:47,817
- The feds pull Tony Tait
off the street.
495
00:21:47,850 --> 00:21:50,252
In my opinion,
the clubhouse was bugged,
496
00:21:50,285 --> 00:21:53,756
and the FBI had reached
a decision that Tony Tait
497
00:21:53,789 --> 00:21:57,493
had been compromised
by my conversation with Animal.
498
00:21:57,527 --> 00:22:00,029
narrator: Giving up
on Christie, the FBI acts
499
00:22:00,062 --> 00:22:02,432
on the evidence Tait
has already obtained.
500
00:22:02,465 --> 00:22:06,268
On November 10, 1987,
they make their move.
501
00:22:07,369 --> 00:22:08,704
- Go, go!
502
00:22:08,738 --> 00:22:11,340
- The FBI says tonight
it has rounded up top members
503
00:22:11,373 --> 00:22:14,143
of the Hells Angels
motorcycle club in California,
504
00:22:14,176 --> 00:22:15,277
Alaska, Kentucky,
505
00:22:15,310 --> 00:22:16,779
and the Carolinas.
506
00:22:16,812 --> 00:22:18,981
In San Francisco,
Ralph "Sonny" Barger
507
00:22:19,014 --> 00:22:21,684
was one of the leaders
of the Angels arrested.
508
00:22:21,717 --> 00:22:23,352
Officials say
some of those charges
509
00:22:23,385 --> 00:22:26,321
deal with an alleged attempt
by the Hells Angels to kill
510
00:22:26,355 --> 00:22:32,261
members of a rival motorcycle
gang, the Outlaws.
511
00:22:35,130 --> 00:22:36,165
narrator: In 1987,
512
00:22:36,198 --> 00:22:37,600
an undercover operation
513
00:22:37,633 --> 00:22:40,369
by the FBI results
in the arrest of Hells Angels
514
00:22:40,402 --> 00:22:43,205
leader Sonny Barger for a plot
to blow up the clubhouse
515
00:22:43,238 --> 00:22:45,941
of their rivals, the Outlaws.
516
00:22:45,975 --> 00:22:49,512
Ventura President George
Christie escapes Tait's trap,
517
00:22:49,545 --> 00:22:51,947
but many in the club
aren't so lucky.
518
00:22:51,981 --> 00:22:54,750
- Anthony Tait was critical
to the investigation,
519
00:22:54,784 --> 00:22:57,820
because he was the vehicle
through which law enforcement
520
00:22:57,853 --> 00:22:59,989
was able to get
inside the inner workings
521
00:23:00,022 --> 00:23:01,557
of the Hells Angels.
522
00:23:01,591 --> 00:23:05,828
- After Sonny got arrested,
I made a commitment to myself.
523
00:23:05,861 --> 00:23:07,763
And that commitment was,
524
00:23:07,797 --> 00:23:08,864
"I'm never gonna
525
00:23:08,898 --> 00:23:11,467
"have a conversation
with anybody
526
00:23:11,501 --> 00:23:15,337
that I wouldn't want
my attorney to play in court."
527
00:23:15,370 --> 00:23:17,006
Tony Tait shows up in Ventura.
528
00:23:17,039 --> 00:23:19,475
He asks me to set him up
in the drug business.
529
00:23:19,509 --> 00:23:21,644
Not being in the drug--
drug business, I informed him,
530
00:23:21,677 --> 00:23:22,978
"No, I cannot help you.
Sorry."
531
00:23:23,012 --> 00:23:24,980
- What do you think he
was trying to do--entrap you?
532
00:23:25,014 --> 00:23:26,081
- Absolutely.
533
00:23:26,115 --> 00:23:28,684
I saw that these guys
played dirty.
534
00:23:28,718 --> 00:23:31,687
And if I was gonna stay
on the street and beat 'em,
535
00:23:31,721 --> 00:23:33,388
I had to be one step
ahead of 'em.
536
00:23:33,422 --> 00:23:35,290
And that's what kept me
out of jail.
537
00:23:35,324 --> 00:23:37,092
narrator:
Operation CACUS results
538
00:23:37,126 --> 00:23:39,862
in 32 Hells Angels
being sentenced to prison,
539
00:23:39,895 --> 00:23:41,731
including Sonny Barger.
540
00:23:41,764 --> 00:23:43,566
Sonny is sentenced
to four years
541
00:23:43,599 --> 00:23:45,100
and nine months in prison.
542
00:23:46,702 --> 00:23:49,672
George Christie is now viewed
by many as the spokesman
543
00:23:49,705 --> 00:23:51,106
of the Hells Angels.
544
00:23:52,474 --> 00:23:53,743
And Sonny Barger's rein,
545
00:23:53,776 --> 00:23:56,145
many believe, has ended.
546
00:23:56,178 --> 00:23:58,180
- Sonny gets busted,
547
00:23:58,213 --> 00:24:00,883
and there are people
in the club talking about,
548
00:24:00,916 --> 00:24:03,418
"Maybe he's losing it
a little bit."
549
00:24:03,452 --> 00:24:05,487
Getting caught up
550
00:24:05,521 --> 00:24:08,591
in this scheme
to blow up the Outlaws
551
00:24:08,624 --> 00:24:11,360
was just kind
of the last straw.
552
00:24:13,362 --> 00:24:16,265
- What convicted Sonny Barger
were his own words.
553
00:24:16,298 --> 00:24:17,933
It wasn't
just what Anthony Tait
554
00:24:17,967 --> 00:24:19,201
said Sonny Barger was saying.
555
00:24:19,234 --> 00:24:20,502
There were recordings.
556
00:24:20,536 --> 00:24:22,538
- You do become damaged goods.
557
00:24:22,572 --> 00:24:24,774
You are no longer invincible.
558
00:24:24,807 --> 00:24:27,509
You are no longer
this mythic individual
559
00:24:27,543 --> 00:24:30,245
that is smarter
than the other side.
560
00:24:30,279 --> 00:24:31,380
No, you're vulnerable,
561
00:24:31,413 --> 00:24:33,282
and now you're compromised.
562
00:24:33,315 --> 00:24:36,218
To some members, that was
the final blow against Sonny
563
00:24:36,251 --> 00:24:38,721
as a leader in the club.
564
00:24:38,754 --> 00:24:41,691
But Sonny was never gonna stop
fighting.
565
00:24:41,724 --> 00:24:42,692
And he didn't.
566
00:24:46,528 --> 00:24:48,631
narrator: It's the fall
of 1992.
567
00:24:48,664 --> 00:24:51,567
After spending almost five
years behind bars,
568
00:24:51,601 --> 00:24:53,636
Sonny Barger comes home.
569
00:24:53,669 --> 00:24:54,770
- Welcome home.
570
00:24:54,804 --> 00:24:56,071
- Missed you.
571
00:24:56,105 --> 00:24:58,173
- Hi, Sharon.
- How you doing?
572
00:24:58,207 --> 00:25:00,743
- What're you gonna do next?
- Uh, try to stay out of jail.
573
00:25:03,045 --> 00:25:06,916
You got to remember--I thought
I was doing the right thing.
574
00:25:06,949 --> 00:25:09,218
The FBI come to me and said,
575
00:25:09,251 --> 00:25:11,453
"We got to kill these guys."
576
00:25:11,486 --> 00:25:12,955
And that--after a while,
577
00:25:12,988 --> 00:25:14,757
I said, "Okay, I'll help you."
578
00:25:14,790 --> 00:25:16,191
And they arrested me.
- Okay.
579
00:25:16,225 --> 00:25:17,492
- What are you gonna do,
you know?
580
00:25:17,526 --> 00:25:19,161
- Yeah.
- You look awful happy today.
581
00:25:19,194 --> 00:25:20,195
- I'm very happy.
582
00:25:21,831 --> 00:25:24,499
narrator: But Sonny returns
to Oakland to find the club
583
00:25:24,533 --> 00:25:26,001
has moved on without him.
584
00:25:26,035 --> 00:25:27,703
In Sonny's absence,
585
00:25:27,737 --> 00:25:29,939
George Christie's
influence has grown,
586
00:25:29,972 --> 00:25:32,642
and he's taking the club
in a new direction.
587
00:25:32,675 --> 00:25:34,309
- You know, I wanted the club
to be at peace
588
00:25:34,343 --> 00:25:35,678
with their rivals.
589
00:25:35,711 --> 00:25:37,346
I wanted to keep a low profile,
590
00:25:37,379 --> 00:25:40,616
keep law-enforcement interest
down to a minimum,
591
00:25:40,650 --> 00:25:44,586
and make things as profitable
as possible for us.
592
00:25:44,620 --> 00:25:47,222
Sonny, on the other hand,
does things his way.
593
00:25:47,256 --> 00:25:50,893
We had two completely different
leadership styles.
594
00:25:50,926 --> 00:25:52,928
You know, we reached a point
595
00:25:52,962 --> 00:25:56,231
in time when there was
a fork in the road.
596
00:25:56,265 --> 00:25:57,299
And he went one way,
597
00:25:57,332 --> 00:25:59,034
and I went the other.
598
00:25:59,068 --> 00:26:01,336
narrator: With the changing
landscape in California,
599
00:26:01,370 --> 00:26:03,673
Sonny Barger
decides to start over
600
00:26:03,706 --> 00:26:05,908
and build a new chapter
in Arizona.
601
00:26:09,645 --> 00:26:12,481
- Sonny Barger gets
out of prison in Arizona,
602
00:26:12,514 --> 00:26:13,949
likes the dry air,
603
00:26:13,983 --> 00:26:17,820
but realizes maybe Arizona
is a riper place
604
00:26:17,853 --> 00:26:20,355
for him to try
to expand the Hells Angels.
605
00:26:21,390 --> 00:26:22,491
He had a problem, though.
606
00:26:22,524 --> 00:26:26,061
In the sixth largest state
of the union,
607
00:26:26,095 --> 00:26:29,164
there was not a single member
of the Hells Angels.
608
00:26:29,198 --> 00:26:32,902
Who does he choose to build up
the Hells Angels in Arizona?
609
00:26:32,935 --> 00:26:34,403
A gang called the Dirty Dozen.
610
00:26:37,606 --> 00:26:40,142
- I had met the Dirty Dozen
back in the '70s.
611
00:26:40,175 --> 00:26:42,011
And the whole state
was wide-open,
612
00:26:42,044 --> 00:26:43,713
and the Dirty Dozen
ran that state.
613
00:26:43,746 --> 00:26:45,247
They controlled the state.
614
00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:48,650
- When Sonny wanted to bring
the Hells Angels into Arizona,
615
00:26:48,684 --> 00:26:51,921
they were the one and only
choice of the club to absorb,
616
00:26:51,954 --> 00:26:54,256
because they were rough boys.
617
00:26:55,290 --> 00:26:56,491
The courtship started.
618
00:26:56,525 --> 00:26:59,528
The prospecting phase started.
619
00:26:59,561 --> 00:27:01,630
And depending
on how you look at it,
620
00:27:01,663 --> 00:27:02,631
the best of the best--
621
00:27:02,664 --> 00:27:03,833
or the worst of the worst--
622
00:27:03,866 --> 00:27:07,169
Dirty Dozen
became Hells Angels.
623
00:27:07,202 --> 00:27:09,371
narrator: Sonny Barger
makes the Dirty Dozen
624
00:27:09,404 --> 00:27:11,774
into full-patch
Hells Angels members
625
00:27:11,807 --> 00:27:14,576
and forms a new chapter
in Cave Creek, Arizona,
626
00:27:14,609 --> 00:27:15,845
with himself as president.
627
00:27:17,346 --> 00:27:20,415
Some believe Barger
intends to use this new chapter
628
00:27:20,449 --> 00:27:22,484
to reemerge as the face
of the club.
629
00:27:24,887 --> 00:27:26,756
- There's a lot of problems
between me and Sonny.
630
00:27:26,789 --> 00:27:28,090
There's a lot of dynamics.
631
00:27:28,123 --> 00:27:30,059
There's a lot of problems
just going on, period.
632
00:27:31,961 --> 00:27:35,397
Ventura gets in a fight
with some Arizona guys,
633
00:27:35,430 --> 00:27:39,969
and they do something
that they shouldn't have done.
634
00:27:41,536 --> 00:27:44,239
They pull the patch
of an Arizona member.
635
00:27:44,273 --> 00:27:45,307
They beat this guy up.
636
00:27:45,340 --> 00:27:46,308
They took his patch.
637
00:27:46,341 --> 00:27:47,409
This is one of Sonny's guys.
638
00:27:47,442 --> 00:27:48,643
So this creates a problem.
639
00:27:48,677 --> 00:27:50,679
And there's a meeting
coming up.
640
00:27:50,712 --> 00:27:54,316
The meeting's gonna take place
641
00:27:54,349 --> 00:27:56,085
in Cave Creek, Arizona.
642
00:27:56,118 --> 00:27:57,686
That's Sonny Barger's charter.
643
00:27:59,521 --> 00:28:01,556
I've got about five of my guys
heading out that way,
644
00:28:01,590 --> 00:28:03,325
and I'm not feeling good
about it.
645
00:28:03,358 --> 00:28:05,194
And I get one of my feelings
that I get,
646
00:28:05,227 --> 00:28:07,096
that something bad
is about to happen.
647
00:28:08,297 --> 00:28:09,899
I said,
"Don't get caught in the desert
648
00:28:09,932 --> 00:28:10,966
in the middle of the night."
649
00:28:12,434 --> 00:28:13,402
They don't listen.
650
00:28:18,473 --> 00:28:20,609
narrator: After serving
a five-year prison sentence,
651
00:28:20,642 --> 00:28:21,877
Sonny Barger's role
652
00:28:21,911 --> 00:28:25,214
as leader and spokesman
of the club lessens.
653
00:28:25,247 --> 00:28:27,282
A rivalry
between Sonny and Ventura,
654
00:28:27,316 --> 00:28:30,452
California, President George
Christie emerges.
655
00:28:30,485 --> 00:28:31,921
By the 2000s,
656
00:28:31,954 --> 00:28:35,590
Barger has set up a new chapter
in Cave Creek, Arizona.
657
00:28:35,624 --> 00:28:38,760
But squabbles between his group
and Christie's Ventura chapter
658
00:28:38,794 --> 00:28:41,263
are causing even more tension
between the two leaders.
659
00:28:45,367 --> 00:28:48,670
crowd: Four, three, two, one!
660
00:28:48,703 --> 00:28:50,172
- By 2002,
661
00:28:50,205 --> 00:28:52,541
there's a lot of problems
between me and Sonny.
662
00:28:52,574 --> 00:28:54,243
Some of my guys
from Ventura wind
663
00:28:54,276 --> 00:28:56,846
up getting in a fight
with Sonny's guys
664
00:28:56,879 --> 00:28:58,580
New Year's Day morning.
665
00:28:58,613 --> 00:29:02,852
I wasn't there, but I was told
that the Ventura guys wind up
666
00:29:02,885 --> 00:29:06,588
taking one of the patches off
of a Arizona member.
667
00:29:06,621 --> 00:29:07,656
They beat this guy up.
668
00:29:07,689 --> 00:29:09,124
They took his patch.
669
00:29:10,359 --> 00:29:11,927
That's something
you just don't do.
670
00:29:11,961 --> 00:29:14,663
This is one of Sonny's guys,
so this creates some problem.
671
00:29:14,696 --> 00:29:17,466
narrator: The Hells Angels are
at war with rival motorcycle
672
00:29:17,499 --> 00:29:21,703
club the Mongols, who have been
targeting and killing Angels.
673
00:29:21,736 --> 00:29:24,473
A meeting to discuss
the Mongol war is to be held
674
00:29:24,506 --> 00:29:26,375
at Barger's Cave Creek,
Arizona chapter.
675
00:29:27,943 --> 00:29:31,180
- I had every intention to go
to the meeting in Cave Creek,
676
00:29:31,213 --> 00:29:33,715
but I was on felony probation.
677
00:29:34,749 --> 00:29:37,219
I go to my probation officer,
678
00:29:37,252 --> 00:29:39,221
and I request a travel pass.
679
00:29:39,254 --> 00:29:41,456
I'm told in no uncertain terms
680
00:29:41,490 --> 00:29:42,724
that I'm not gonna
681
00:29:42,757 --> 00:29:45,827
be allowed to go anywheres
out of California.
682
00:29:45,861 --> 00:29:48,463
I've got about five of my guys
headed out that way,
683
00:29:48,497 --> 00:29:50,599
and I'm not feeling good
about it.
684
00:29:50,632 --> 00:29:52,234
You know,
I tell my guys--I said, "Look,
685
00:29:52,267 --> 00:29:54,669
"there's a lot of stuff
going on between Sonny and I.
686
00:29:54,703 --> 00:29:58,207
When the meeting adjourns,
come immediately back."
687
00:29:58,240 --> 00:29:59,841
I said,
"Don't get caught in the desert
688
00:29:59,875 --> 00:30:01,810
in the middle of the night."
689
00:30:01,843 --> 00:30:02,811
They don't listen.
690
00:30:06,481 --> 00:30:08,951
narrator: On the night
of June 8, 2002,
691
00:30:08,984 --> 00:30:10,719
Ventura Hells Angel Josh Harber
692
00:30:10,752 --> 00:30:13,255
and his crew are partying
at the Coyote Wild bar
693
00:30:13,288 --> 00:30:15,157
in Cave Creek, Arizona.
694
00:30:15,190 --> 00:30:16,258
- From what I was told,
695
00:30:16,291 --> 00:30:18,627
one of the members
is playing video games.
696
00:30:18,660 --> 00:30:23,132
He sees Josh Harber is now
engaged in a conversation
697
00:30:23,165 --> 00:30:26,268
with somebody standing out
in front of the bar.
698
00:30:26,301 --> 00:30:28,904
What happens is,
this individual pulls a gun
699
00:30:28,938 --> 00:30:30,072
out of his waistband.
700
00:30:34,176 --> 00:30:35,945
Several hours later,
Josh Harber dies.
701
00:30:37,446 --> 00:30:39,848
narrator: Some speculate
that the murder of Josh Harber
702
00:30:39,881 --> 00:30:42,217
is done out of revenge
for the beating of one
703
00:30:42,251 --> 00:30:45,020
of Barger's Cave Creek Angels
by the Ventura club.
704
00:30:45,054 --> 00:30:46,288
- There was all types
of rumors.
705
00:30:46,321 --> 00:30:48,057
There was all types
of speculation going on.
706
00:30:48,090 --> 00:30:49,458
It was a--it was a mess.
707
00:30:50,892 --> 00:30:52,761
Was that a message from Sonny?
708
00:30:53,895 --> 00:30:55,130
I'd rather not say.
709
00:30:56,598 --> 00:31:00,169
narrator: A member
of the Ventura chapter is dead,
710
00:31:00,202 --> 00:31:03,705
but things
are about to get even worse.
711
00:31:03,738 --> 00:31:06,275
Daniel Leroy Seybert,
better known as "Hoover,"
712
00:31:06,308 --> 00:31:08,277
was Sonny Barger's closest ally
in Arizona.
713
00:31:09,711 --> 00:31:12,081
On top of belonging
to the Cave Creek charter,
714
00:31:12,114 --> 00:31:15,784
Hoover and Barger owned and ran
Sonny Barger Cave Creek Cycles
715
00:31:15,817 --> 00:31:18,387
in Northern Phoenix.
716
00:31:18,420 --> 00:31:21,090
On the night of March 21, 2003,
717
00:31:21,123 --> 00:31:24,126
Hoover and a group of guys
from Cave Creek finish partying
718
00:31:24,159 --> 00:31:25,194
at their local hangout,
719
00:31:25,227 --> 00:31:26,528
Brigett's Last Laugh.
720
00:31:28,197 --> 00:31:29,864
As they get on their bikes,
721
00:31:29,898 --> 00:31:33,268
one man notices that Hoover's
slumped over his handlebars.
722
00:31:33,302 --> 00:31:36,071
The men think
he's passed out drunk.
723
00:31:36,105 --> 00:31:37,339
They go to wake him up
724
00:31:37,372 --> 00:31:39,808
and make a grisly discovery--
725
00:31:39,841 --> 00:31:42,077
a bullet hole
in Hoover's forehead.
726
00:31:42,111 --> 00:31:44,313
Hoover's been shot dead
by a sniper.
727
00:31:47,649 --> 00:31:49,051
- Things are really
in a turmoil now.
728
00:31:49,084 --> 00:31:51,486
There's a lot
of rumors flying around.
729
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,056
I go back in to my probation
officer again.
730
00:31:54,089 --> 00:31:56,391
He goes, "Well, I'm gonna
tell you, law enforcement
731
00:31:56,425 --> 00:31:58,760
"says Sonny killed Josh,
732
00:31:58,793 --> 00:32:00,262
and you killed Hoover."
733
00:32:00,295 --> 00:32:02,331
And I said, "I don't know
what you're talking about."
734
00:32:02,364 --> 00:32:03,932
I said, "I've not been
out of state.
735
00:32:03,965 --> 00:32:07,269
"You're the first
I've talked to about this.
736
00:32:07,302 --> 00:32:08,637
So I don't want
to talk about it."
737
00:32:10,772 --> 00:32:12,207
narrator: Christie is becoming
738
00:32:12,241 --> 00:32:14,776
more and more concerned
about the growing animosity
739
00:32:14,809 --> 00:32:16,778
between him and Sonny Barger.
740
00:32:16,811 --> 00:32:18,313
But he must be cautious
741
00:32:18,347 --> 00:32:21,850
to avoid causing an all-out
civil war within the club.
742
00:32:23,852 --> 00:32:26,188
Then a few months
after the Hoover murder,
743
00:32:26,221 --> 00:32:29,224
Barger does something
that forces Christie to act.
744
00:32:32,694 --> 00:32:35,197
- It's now 2003,
745
00:32:35,230 --> 00:32:37,432
and I get a phone call.
746
00:32:37,466 --> 00:32:40,369
I'm asked, "Have you seen
the "Phoenix Magazine"?"
747
00:32:41,970 --> 00:32:44,173
And I say, "I--I don't know
what you're talking about."
748
00:32:44,206 --> 00:32:46,375
And they say, "Hang on.
We're gonna fax it to you."
749
00:32:47,976 --> 00:32:50,045
It said, "Sonny and Noel"--
750
00:32:50,079 --> 00:32:51,346
Sonny's wife--
751
00:32:51,380 --> 00:32:54,649
"Get in a confrontation
on the freeway."
752
00:32:57,286 --> 00:32:58,787
Sonny's riding his bike,
753
00:32:58,820 --> 00:33:00,922
and he's got some girl that
he's picked up from the bar
754
00:33:00,955 --> 00:33:02,491
on the back.
755
00:33:02,524 --> 00:33:05,727
And Noel is chasing him
down the highway,
756
00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:07,729
and she's trying
to run him over
757
00:33:07,762 --> 00:33:10,532
and run him off the road,
according to this article.
758
00:33:10,565 --> 00:33:14,436
Sonny and her wind up back
at their home together...
759
00:33:15,570 --> 00:33:16,738
And they get into it.
760
00:33:20,309 --> 00:33:22,777
Sonny, according
to this report, beats her up.
761
00:33:24,346 --> 00:33:27,382
And she says she can't move,
and she needs an ambulance.
762
00:33:27,416 --> 00:33:30,385
So Sonny calls 911,
763
00:33:30,419 --> 00:33:35,257
and this is where the problem
comes up for the club members.
764
00:33:35,290 --> 00:33:37,092
narrator: According
to the Hells Angels code,
765
00:33:37,126 --> 00:33:39,728
members are forbidden
to contact law enforcement
766
00:33:39,761 --> 00:33:42,197
or dial 911 for any reason.
767
00:33:42,231 --> 00:33:44,966
The punishment is expulsion
from the club.
768
00:33:44,999 --> 00:33:47,769
- The average person
at home is thinking,
769
00:33:47,802 --> 00:33:49,871
"Well, big deal--
he called 911."
770
00:33:49,904 --> 00:33:51,306
Well, if you're a Hells Angels,
771
00:33:51,340 --> 00:33:52,607
it is a big deal.
772
00:33:52,641 --> 00:33:54,042
narrator:
Based on the information
773
00:33:54,075 --> 00:33:56,345
disclosed in
the "Phoenix Magazine" article,
774
00:33:56,378 --> 00:33:59,314
the club
wants answers from Sonny.
775
00:33:59,348 --> 00:34:00,915
- The club wanted an answer,
776
00:34:00,949 --> 00:34:03,518
but the people in the club
were afraid to confront him.
777
00:34:03,552 --> 00:34:06,621
And I was asked
to lead the charge,
778
00:34:06,655 --> 00:34:07,622
and I did.
779
00:34:09,023 --> 00:34:11,426
narrator: At the next West
Coast officers meeting,
780
00:34:11,460 --> 00:34:14,429
George Christie
addresses Barger's 911 call.
781
00:34:15,530 --> 00:34:18,099
- I confronted him.
782
00:34:18,133 --> 00:34:20,269
He said, "Ah,
that article's bull."
783
00:34:20,302 --> 00:34:21,803
He said I was lying--
784
00:34:21,836 --> 00:34:25,574
that that's not what transpired
on that phone call.
785
00:34:25,607 --> 00:34:28,210
That's when I dropped
the bombshell on him.
786
00:34:28,243 --> 00:34:30,545
I said, "I have the 911 tape
to prove it,"
787
00:34:30,579 --> 00:34:32,747
and he was just livid.
788
00:35:01,743 --> 00:35:03,044
- You don't give information
789
00:35:03,077 --> 00:35:05,079
to the police that can be used
against somebody.
790
00:35:05,113 --> 00:35:08,950
What he should've done is, he
should've called the ambulance.
791
00:35:08,983 --> 00:35:12,954
He should've said to the 911
operator, "There's a problem.
792
00:35:12,987 --> 00:35:14,489
"My wife says she's in pain.
793
00:35:14,523 --> 00:35:15,924
She can't move."
794
00:35:15,957 --> 00:35:17,659
And that
should've been the end of it.
795
00:35:24,233 --> 00:35:26,701
- The way I remember it,
he told me, "You know,
796
00:35:26,735 --> 00:35:28,337
we may fight over this."
797
00:35:28,370 --> 00:35:29,704
And the only thing
798
00:35:29,738 --> 00:35:30,705
I could think to do was,
799
00:35:30,739 --> 00:35:31,706
I took off my glasses
800
00:35:31,740 --> 00:35:33,575
and handed them
to a Ventura member.
801
00:35:33,608 --> 00:35:35,109
We kind of stood there
for a moment,
802
00:35:35,143 --> 00:35:37,178
and then one of the guys said,
803
00:35:37,212 --> 00:35:38,647
"Why don't we go
in the back room?"
804
00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:40,549
So we retired to the back room
805
00:35:40,582 --> 00:35:43,552
and for the next two hours,
we argued.
806
00:35:43,585 --> 00:35:44,886
I go, "This is a mistake.
807
00:35:44,919 --> 00:35:46,421
"What you did was wrong,
808
00:35:46,455 --> 00:35:47,856
"and you need to admit
it was wrong.
809
00:35:47,889 --> 00:35:49,624
"And you need to tell
the general membership
810
00:35:49,658 --> 00:35:51,926
"of the Hells Angels
that, 'You know what,
811
00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:53,595
"'it was a bad decision
that day.
812
00:35:53,628 --> 00:35:54,596
"'I'm sorry I did it,
813
00:35:54,629 --> 00:35:56,798
and let's move on.'"
814
00:35:56,831 --> 00:35:58,433
He goes, "I don't answer
to anybody."
815
00:36:01,202 --> 00:36:02,704
I think that said it all.
816
00:36:04,639 --> 00:36:06,508
You know, I didn't take delight
in doing this,
817
00:36:06,541 --> 00:36:10,545
and I was really mad
that the angry mob
818
00:36:10,579 --> 00:36:14,416
that initiated this whole thing
was nowhere to be found.
819
00:36:14,449 --> 00:36:16,851
Everyone backed down.
820
00:36:16,885 --> 00:36:18,287
In the end, they backed Sonny.
821
00:36:22,424 --> 00:36:25,226
I was hoping that was gonna
be the end of our conflict,
822
00:36:25,260 --> 00:36:26,695
but it wasn't.
823
00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:33,935
narrator: Sonny Barger,
the man most closely identified
824
00:36:33,968 --> 00:36:35,203
with the Hells Angels--
825
00:36:35,236 --> 00:36:37,872
and at one time,
its undisputed leader--
826
00:36:37,906 --> 00:36:40,008
is living in Cave Creek,
Arizona.
827
00:36:43,412 --> 00:36:44,813
narrator: But some
of his actions--
828
00:36:44,846 --> 00:36:46,881
including calling the police
during a dispute
829
00:36:46,915 --> 00:36:49,651
with his wife--
violate Hells Angels rules,
830
00:36:49,684 --> 00:36:52,321
and cause a rift between
himself and George Christie.
831
00:36:53,988 --> 00:36:56,891
Now, to make matters worse,
he's about to commit an act
832
00:36:56,925 --> 00:36:59,828
that Christie considers
an unforgivable betrayal.
833
00:37:00,862 --> 00:37:04,065
- Sonny wrote his life story,
834
00:37:04,098 --> 00:37:06,034
"My Life and Times
with the Hells Angels,"
835
00:37:06,067 --> 00:37:07,168
by Sonny Barger.
836
00:37:07,201 --> 00:37:08,403
And it was a very popular book.
837
00:37:08,437 --> 00:37:12,073
He was approached
by some different directors
838
00:37:12,106 --> 00:37:14,175
to buy the option on this book.
839
00:37:14,208 --> 00:37:16,210
And he did, at one point,
840
00:37:16,244 --> 00:37:18,246
make a decision
to sell the rights
841
00:37:18,279 --> 00:37:19,348
to Tony Scott,
842
00:37:19,381 --> 00:37:20,749
the movie director.
843
00:37:20,782 --> 00:37:23,151
Now, I have no problem with him
selling the rights to the book.
844
00:37:23,184 --> 00:37:24,152
It's his story.
845
00:37:24,185 --> 00:37:25,420
But, in addition,
846
00:37:25,454 --> 00:37:26,788
the Hells Angel name
847
00:37:26,821 --> 00:37:30,859
and logo was also
to be attached to the movie,
848
00:37:30,892 --> 00:37:34,396
and the Hells Angels
would receive no compensation
849
00:37:34,429 --> 00:37:35,397
for that.
850
00:37:36,831 --> 00:37:39,401
I've got members complaining
to me that,
851
00:37:39,434 --> 00:37:41,169
"Sonny
is breaking his own rule.
852
00:37:41,202 --> 00:37:42,671
What the hell is going on?"
853
00:37:42,704 --> 00:37:46,941
And I thought to myself,
"Aw, here we go again."
854
00:37:49,243 --> 00:37:50,311
This is one of the things
855
00:37:50,345 --> 00:37:51,646
that people don't understand.
856
00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:52,814
There are people, you know,
857
00:37:52,847 --> 00:37:54,483
in prison
for the rest of their lives,
858
00:37:54,516 --> 00:37:56,785
and there's people that died
for that name and that logo.
859
00:37:56,818 --> 00:37:58,286
It means everything to 'em.
860
00:37:58,319 --> 00:38:00,889
Why the hell would we want
an actor wearing something
861
00:38:00,922 --> 00:38:02,256
that we worked hard for
862
00:38:02,290 --> 00:38:03,825
and are willing
to give our lives up for?
863
00:38:05,259 --> 00:38:08,497
In my opinion, Sonny
lost sight along the way--
864
00:38:08,530 --> 00:38:12,601
and feeling that the--
the club belonged to him.
865
00:38:12,634 --> 00:38:15,036
narrator: Without the approval
of the club, Sonny Barger
866
00:38:15,069 --> 00:38:17,372
licenses the rights
to the Hells Angels name
867
00:38:17,406 --> 00:38:19,140
and logo to Tony Scott,
868
00:38:19,173 --> 00:38:21,275
director
of big-budget Hollywood movies
869
00:38:21,309 --> 00:38:23,978
like "True Romance"
and "Enemy of the State."
870
00:38:24,012 --> 00:38:25,747
- Sonny had a contract,
871
00:38:25,780 --> 00:38:28,316
and he was paid
a substantial amount of money.
872
00:38:28,349 --> 00:38:30,452
And the club got nothing.
873
00:38:30,485 --> 00:38:34,456
I felt that Sonny thought
he was the Hells Angels.
874
00:38:34,489 --> 00:38:36,257
narrator: Feeling
that the Hells Angels code
875
00:38:36,290 --> 00:38:37,692
is being violated,
876
00:38:37,726 --> 00:38:40,729
George once again addresses
the matter with Sonny.
877
00:38:40,762 --> 00:38:43,097
- I'd been petitioned
by member after member
878
00:38:43,131 --> 00:38:44,365
after member in the club.
879
00:38:44,399 --> 00:38:46,134
They wanted Sonny confronted.
880
00:38:47,936 --> 00:38:50,371
I took the problem
back to the club,
881
00:38:50,405 --> 00:38:54,375
and nobody was willing
to confront Sonny to his face.
882
00:38:54,409 --> 00:38:56,144
I stood alone.
883
00:38:56,177 --> 00:38:58,212
That made it look like--
not only to Sonny,
884
00:38:58,246 --> 00:38:59,881
but to a lot of the people
in the club--
885
00:38:59,914 --> 00:39:01,516
that I had my own agenda,
886
00:39:01,550 --> 00:39:02,984
which is just the opposite
887
00:39:03,017 --> 00:39:06,120
of what I believed
about brotherhood and the club.
888
00:39:07,556 --> 00:39:09,090
Sonny didn't have
to address the issue,
889
00:39:09,123 --> 00:39:12,494
and I think it goes
to show not only his tenacity
890
00:39:12,527 --> 00:39:13,628
to not give in, but,
891
00:39:13,662 --> 00:39:15,163
you know, the power he wields.
892
00:39:15,196 --> 00:39:17,699
narrator: For Christie,
it is a sign that the club
893
00:39:17,732 --> 00:39:19,701
he has devoted
his entire adult life
894
00:39:19,734 --> 00:39:21,703
to--almost 35 years--
895
00:39:21,736 --> 00:39:24,005
is no longer the band
of outlaw brothers
896
00:39:24,038 --> 00:39:27,809
who hold their code of fierce
loyalty above all else.
897
00:39:27,842 --> 00:39:29,143
- All these conflicts
898
00:39:29,177 --> 00:39:32,847
with Sonny were starting
to reflect on me as a leader.
899
00:39:32,881 --> 00:39:35,183
And I knew it.
900
00:39:35,216 --> 00:39:41,022
My whole agenda was trying
to uphold the code of the club.
901
00:39:41,055 --> 00:39:44,593
In my opinion, Sonny felt
that he was above the rules,
902
00:39:44,626 --> 00:39:47,028
and he was gonna
do what he wanted.
903
00:39:47,061 --> 00:39:49,931
If you're a leader
and you have a vision,
904
00:39:49,964 --> 00:39:52,701
and nobody
but you can see that vision,
905
00:39:52,734 --> 00:39:54,769
maybe you're not a leader
anymore.
906
00:39:54,803 --> 00:39:56,605
So, you know,
907
00:39:56,638 --> 00:39:59,040
I made a decision--
which, to me,
908
00:39:59,073 --> 00:40:00,775
was the hardest thing
I'd done in my life.
909
00:40:00,809 --> 00:40:01,843
I exited the club.
910
00:40:05,747 --> 00:40:09,017
The easy thing would've been
for me to stay in the club,
911
00:40:09,050 --> 00:40:10,552
to keep my mouth shut,
912
00:40:10,585 --> 00:40:15,924
just enjoy the sun setting
on my career as a Hells Angel.
913
00:40:15,957 --> 00:40:18,426
But I couldn't do that
because that's not me.
914
00:40:18,459 --> 00:40:20,495
narrator: On April 22, 2011,
915
00:40:20,529 --> 00:40:22,964
George Christie
resigns as president
916
00:40:22,997 --> 00:40:25,199
of the Ventura chapter
of the Hells Angels
917
00:40:25,233 --> 00:40:26,901
and leaves the club.
918
00:40:26,935 --> 00:40:30,572
It's been 35 years since he put
the sacred Hells Angels patch
919
00:40:30,605 --> 00:40:32,140
on for the first time.
920
00:40:32,173 --> 00:40:34,242
- I don't know if I changed,
921
00:40:34,275 --> 00:40:35,376
if the club changed,
922
00:40:35,409 --> 00:40:36,678
or if the world changed.
923
00:40:36,711 --> 00:40:38,913
But I quit the club.
924
00:40:40,749 --> 00:40:43,217
narrator: Abandoning the only
life he has ever known,
925
00:40:43,251 --> 00:40:46,588
Christie is entering
uncharted territory.
926
00:40:46,621 --> 00:40:48,056
He knows it will be difficult,
927
00:40:48,089 --> 00:40:50,725
but he's about to find out
that old enemies
928
00:40:50,759 --> 00:40:52,827
never let go easily.
929
00:40:52,861 --> 00:40:56,330
- Here I was now,
getting used to my new life,
930
00:40:56,364 --> 00:40:58,066
and I get a phone call.
931
00:40:58,099 --> 00:41:01,536
And it's the new president
of the Ventura charter.
932
00:41:01,570 --> 00:41:04,238
And he tells me,
"You know what,
933
00:41:04,272 --> 00:41:05,540
"we've changed your status.
934
00:41:05,574 --> 00:41:10,244
You're now out bad,
with no contact."
935
00:41:10,278 --> 00:41:13,181
That would mean I was not
936
00:41:13,214 --> 00:41:15,950
to come around anybody
or try to talk to anybody,
937
00:41:15,984 --> 00:41:18,019
because they weren't allowed
to talk to me either.
938
00:41:18,052 --> 00:41:19,187
And I know where
that all came from.
939
00:41:19,220 --> 00:41:20,655
That came from Sonny, you know?
940
00:41:20,689 --> 00:41:24,325
And anybody that says
it didn't is a damn liar.
941
00:41:25,526 --> 00:41:26,861
That's what I feel in my heart.
942
00:41:26,895 --> 00:41:28,496
And that's
what I'll always feel.
943
00:41:28,529 --> 00:41:29,798
narrator: Christie is forbidden
944
00:41:29,831 --> 00:41:32,366
to speak
to any of the brothers he rode,
945
00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:34,235
fought, partied with,
946
00:41:34,268 --> 00:41:37,138
and risked his life
for time and time again.
947
00:41:37,171 --> 00:41:39,641
- It's been a long journey.
948
00:41:39,674 --> 00:41:40,909
And you know what,
949
00:41:40,942 --> 00:41:42,476
I don't have any regrets.
950
00:41:42,510 --> 00:41:45,246
I'm not sorry
for any decisions I've made,
951
00:41:45,279 --> 00:41:46,815
and I wouldn't change anything.
952
00:41:46,848 --> 00:41:52,020
I'm gonna enjoy my last days
on Earth as a solo outlaw.
953
00:41:57,892 --> 00:42:00,061
The man makes the patch.
954
00:42:00,094 --> 00:42:01,596
The patch don't make
the man.
73374
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