Pagans Motorcycle Club Members Sentenced for Firearms Violations

Topics:  Pagans

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida
29 January 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two additional members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club (PMC) were sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Donald L. Graham in Fort Pierce, after being convicted of firearms charges.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, A. Lee Bentley, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Paul Wysopal, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Tampa Field Office, Carlos A. Canino, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Tampa Field Division, J. Michelle Morris, Chief, Sebastian Police Department, Diane Hobley-Burney, Chief of Police, Fort Pierce Police Department, Ken J. Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, William D. Snyder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Ben Johnson, Sheriff, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and Ronald Wright, Chief, South Daytona Police Department, made the announcement.

Richard Todd Badali, 53, of Casselberry, Florida was previously found guilty by a jury of the unlawful sale of a firearm to a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d)(1), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Badali was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release.

Thomas Richard Laakmann, 60, of Orange City, Florida, was previously found guilty by a jury of sale of a firearm to a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d)(1), and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(9). Laakmann was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release.

According to statements made in court and documents filed in the case, Badali was a ranking member of the PMC and in charge of all PMC members in Florida. Laakmann was a rank-in-file member of the PMC. Pursuant to the sentencing order, Badali and Laakkmann are also prohibited from associating with members and associates of the PMC while on supervised release.

The sentencing of Badali and Laakkmann concludes a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement investigation into the illicit conduct of PMC members that spanned a number of years. During the course of the investigation, the FBI was able to infiltrate the PMC operating in Florida and documented the unlawful distribution of narcotics and firearms. According to court records, much of the criminal conduct, including the firearms offenses committed by Badali and Laakmann, took place at a former PMC club house in Sebastian, Florida. Other unlawful transactions occurred in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Stuart, and Daytona Beach. During the course of the undercover operation, law enforcement purchased 24 firearms from PMC members and their associates. Many of the illegal firearms sellers had prior criminal convictions. In addition, many of the recovered firearms were determined to be stolen or had obliterated serial numbers. In addition, controlled substances, including cocaine, prescription pills and marijuana were also purchased from the targets during the course of the undercover investigation.

In addition to Badali and Laakkmann, eight other individuals previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their participation in narcotics and firearms offenses related to this investigation, including: William Tendrich, 40, of Fort Pierce, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for firearms offenses; Anthony Posadas, 67, of Fort Pierce, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for firearms offenses; Michael Clancy, 58, of Vero Beach, was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment for narcotics (cocaine) offense; Jorge Duquen, 53, of Miami, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for a narcotics (cocaine) offense; Hector Garcia, 62, of Miami, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for a narcotics (cocaine) offense; Michael Carter, 62, of New Smyrna Beach, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment for firearms offenses; Robert Klimkowski, 61, of Melbourne, was sentenced to 1 year of probation for narcotics offenses; and Thomas Close, 60, of Sebastian, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for a firearm offense.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, ATF, Sebastian Police Department, Fort Pierce Police Department, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and South Daytona Police Department. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida Russell R. Killinger and Adam McMichael, Special Assistant United States Attorney Southern District of Florida Ryan L. Butler, and Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Bruce Ambrose.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.