The Department of Justice said that Jonathan Nelson, aka "Jon Jon," 46, of Santa Rosa, Russell Taylor Ott, aka "Rusty," 69, also of Santa Rosa, and Brian Wayne Wendt, 45, of Tulare, killed one of their own members and planned to kill someone else.
The Sonoma County Hells Angels club was started in 1972. Some of the money the club makes comes from selling shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and other items with the club's logo on them. They have also helped raise money for toy drives for kids.
The DOJ, the Santa Rosa Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol all looked into the Sonoma club over the course of eight years.
In 2017, eleven Hells Angels members were charged with conspiracy. The DOJ said that the conspiracy included murder, drug dealing, assault, robbery, extortion, illegal gun possession, and blocking justice. Nelson, Ott, and Wendt were all a part of that sweep. The DOJ says that they were found guilty of killing Joel Silva, a member of the motorcycle club who they thought was "causing problems."
Federal prosecutors say that Nelson and Ott worked together to plan Silva's murder. On July 15, 2014, Ott drove Silva to Fresno under the guise that he needed to "fight" with Wendt, the president of the Fresno chapter, to solve his problems with the club. When Wendt got there, he shot Silva in the head. Silva's body was burned at a nearby crematorium the next day.
During the trial, more information about the Sonoma Hells Angels club came out. Witnesses said that anyone who talked to the police about the activities of the motorcycle gang was often threatened. People who might testify or be witnesses were told in no uncertain terms that bad things would happen to them and their families.
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