Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club

Gypsy Joker MC

Gypsy Joker colors (left) with members of other outlaw clubs at the Gypsy Jokers Protest Run, 14 March 2009[1]
Founded April 1, 1956[2]
In San Francisco, California[2]
Years active 1956-present
Territory Australia, Germany, South Africa, Norway and the United States[3]
Criminal activities Armed robbery, arson, assault, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, fraud, gun trafficking, homicide, identity theft, motorcycle theft, prostitution[2][4]
Rivals Mongols[5]

The Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club (GJMC), or the Gypsy Jokers as they are called in Australia, are an outlaw motorcycle club that was originally formed in San Francisco, California on April Fool's Day, 1956. They are one of the most notorious and violent motorcycle gangs in both the US and in Australia.[6][7][8]

Prominently featured in Hunter Thompson's book Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, they were the second most powerful outlaw motorcycle club in California until they were forced out of the San Francisco Bay Area by the Hells Angels. They relocated to Oregon and Washington in 1967, taking up temporary residence in Lincoln City, Oregon.[2] The club has since spread to Australia, Germany, Norway and South Africa. There are approximately 35 chapters worldwide. In response to proposed anti-"bikie" laws in Australia, a protest rally was held in 2009, including a show of support by many other outlaw bikers, even among rival gangs.[1][9]

Contents

Australia

The group has a high profile in Australia, especially in the southern and western regions. They are notorious in Australia for the 2001 car bomb murder of ex-police officer Don Hancock.[3]

Gypsy Joker club members claimed that on January 12, 2001, a member was severely beaten by police in Adelaide, South Australia for refusing to remove his motorcycle helmet and sunglasses.[10]

In February 2008, police forced the Gypsy Jokers to dismantle its clubhouse fortifications, which include a concrete front wall, surveillance cameras and modified doors, in Perth, Western Australia. The club said the security was needed in the area where the burglary rate is high.[11]

Two Gypsy Joker members were jailed on March 5, 2009 on charges of assault. On May 12, 2007, Dean Alan Adams and Peter Floyd Robinson attacked Petera Heta Haimona outside the Cactus Club in Gosnells, Western Australia and beat him with metal pipes.[12]

A Gypsy Joker was charged with unlawful possession a large sum of cash, weapons and ammunition on August 17, 2007. Police pulled his car over and discovered a gun, an expandable baton, capsicum spray and ammunition when they searched his vehicle.[13]

A Gypsy Joker member was charged with attempted murder on March 17, 2009. He shot and wounded a member of the Newboys gang and former Hells Angel outside their clubhouse in Adelaide, South Australia.[14]

On May 19, 2009, five Gypsy Jokers were involved in a drug-related shoot-out with another gang in Perth, Western Australia. Two were wounded and taken to hospital, one of which was Club President Leonard Mark Kirby.[15]

United States

In 2004, the police raided the Gypsy Joker clubhouse in Portland, Oregon looking for two men wanted for armed robbery. The men were not there, however, and the club sued the Portland Police Bureau for $50,000 because of the damage caused in the raid.[16]

On April 10, 2008, police raided the Gypsy Joker clubhouse in Kennewick, Washington and arrested four men for possession of methamphetamine. Stolen property and weapons were also seized from the premises.[17]

On August 13, 2009, police in Nampa, Idaho, with assistance of the FBI, pulled over and detained approximately 60 to 70 members of the Gypsy Joker MC just off exit 38 on interstate 84. They were searched, interrogated, and photographed for future reference by law enforcement concerning gang affiliated activity.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b AAP (23 March 2009)
  2. ^ a b c d Isaacs 2004
  3. ^ a b Veno 2003 p. 76 ff
  4. ^ Harrison (2009)
  5. ^ Gangs in Idaho: Gypsy Jokers
  6. ^ Veno (2003) p. 76, "The Gypsy Jokers have the highest profile in South Australia and Western Australia, and a number of violent incidents have occurred in both states, including shootings and clashes with police, putting them under the spotlight.
  7. ^ Denson (2008) "Now, police identify about 80 Jokers in the [Oregon] region, half of them felons. They have been sent to prison for their roles in drug dealing, robbery, kidnapping, rape, murder and other crimes -- most of them years ago."
  8. ^ Harrison (2009) "The most dangerous gangs include The Rebels with 2000 members. There are also the Gypsy Jokers, Coffin Cheaters, Bandidos, The Black Uhlans and the Finks described as the most disorganised but most violent, according to Professor Arthur Veno, author of The Brotherhoods."
  9. ^ Larkin, Steve (March 14, 2009), "Bikie gangs unite and bury rivalries", AdelaideNow (News Limited), http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25186434-5006301,00.html 
  10. ^ "Biker gang member beaten by police, say Gypsy Jokers". Highbeam.com. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-39369430.html. Retrieved 2011-10-05. 
  11. ^ "Gypsy Jokers forced to destroy clubhouse fort". Royalespot.blogspot.com. 2008-02-08. http://royalespot.blogspot.com/2008/02/gypsy-jokers-motorcycle-club-club.html. Retrieved 2011-10-05. 
  12. ^ Gypsy Joker bikies jailed over Gosnells attack
  13. ^ "Gypsy Joker gang member charged over weapons haul". Abc.net.au. 2007-08-17. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/17/2007591.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-05. 
  14. ^ Gypsy Joker allegedly shot the Newboys gang member about 8pm (CDT) yesterday
  15. ^ Gypsy Joker seriously injured in Perth shootings
  16. ^ Portland settles suit from raid on Gypsy Joker clubhouse
  17. ^ "Authorities Raid Gypsy Joker Clubhouse In Kennewick". Kndu.com. 2008-04-10. http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8145432&nav=menu484_6_4. Retrieved 2011-10-05. 

References

External links

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