Rock Machine MC criminal allegations and incidents
Numerous police and international intelligence and enforcement agencies classify the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club as a motorcycle gang and contend that members carry out widespread violent crimes, including drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, gunrunning, extortion, and prostitution operations. Members of the organization have continuously asserted that they are only a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have joined to ride motorcycles together, to organize social events such as group road trips, fundraisers, parties, and motorcycle rallies, and that any crimes are the responsibility of the individuals who carried them out and not the  club as a whole. Members of the club have been accused of crimes and/or convicted in many host nations. Canada. Manitoba. In 2008, a series of raids carried out by Winnipeg Police and Manitoba RCMP left the Hells Angels in the province all but crippled, the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club was seeking to expand west during this period, an RCMP representative claimed the Rock Machine "graciously thanked law enforcement for handing them the province”, they quickly gained momentum in Manitoba becoming the dominant club in Winnipeg, in January 2009, the Vendettas Motorcycle Club was established as a support club by  the Rock Machine to give them more manpower in the province. In early 2009, what would come to be known as the Rock Machine-Hells Angels Conflict in Manitoba began with clashes between the Rock Machine supported by the Vendettas Motorcycle Club and the Hells Angels and their support Club, the Redline MC. Several attacks on Rock Machine properties occurred with no casualties or initial retaliation. In November 2010. Daniel Kachkan, a former high-ranking member of the Hells Angels, was shot "execution-style" inside his home, no one was ever connected with the incident, but authorities assumed the Rock  Machine was involved in killing. On August 9, 2011. Three Police officers were injured when a Dodge Avenger crashed into multiple police vehicles at a routine traffic stop. Three officers were transported to hospital one with serious injuries after, the Averager allegedly hit two marked police cruisers and an unmarked truck all of which according to the Winnipeg Police sustained serious damage, authorities took two members of the Rock Machine associated Vendettas Motorcycle Club and a woman into custody and seized a loaded pistol. During 2010 the Rock Machine had begun to retaliate and the conflict reached a height over  the summer months of 2011, with several brawls/assaults, shootings and fire-bombings linked to the groups, The conflict resulted in 4 dead and over 20 injured, including three police officers. The RM support club, the Vendettas Motorcycle Club emerged victorious over the Redline and established four chapters in Manitoba(Winnipeg, Winnipeg East, Brandon, Thompson), by the fall fighting decreased with the Rock Machine gaining the upper hand. These events resulted in the Rock Machine sending reinforcements to consolidate the advantage they had gained, this included members of another RMMC created support club, the SS Elite Motorcycle Club(which has chapters in  Ontario and Quebec). It is described by a Rock Machine spokesperson as a “strike force with rules and mentality modeled after the Waffen SS created to protect the Third Reich.” As a support club it is tasked with providing security and manpower, support, enforcement and logistics to any Rock Machine MC chapter. The SS Elite MC reports to the Mother chapter in Quebec but is also required to support local chapters across the country. For those that complete this task for the duration of the probationary period, they will receive request to become members of the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club . During this period the Rock Machine Manitoba signed an alliance with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club Manitoba chapters. In March 2012, high-ranking Rock Machine members from Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario are reported to have traveled to Montreal to meet with Quebec-based members. The Rock Machine prospered for a four-year period setting up several more chapters and support clubs such as the Hell Hounds MC and New Blood MC, a club spokesperson mentioned that they had three chapters and around 72 RMMC members in the province "not involved in crime". During this time the Rock Machine formed a  legitimate company “Rock Machine Media Incorporated.” Its purpose was to weaken any police claim the RM was involved in criminal activity, a member of the RM stated “This business ... would allow RM members to claim that they are shareholders in a legitimate business and that they derive income from it ... the goal is the long term viability and sustainability of the RM for the benefit of all.” In 2013, raids conducted in 13 different locations across the province by RCMP and local police as a part of Operation Dilemma(RCMP project targeting the Rock Machine in Manitoba), resulted in the arrest  of 11 Full-Patch members of the Rock Machine and a prospect from the club's Winnipeg chapter, with several associates and members of their support clubs also being arrested, this included the Rock Machine National President Joseph "Critical J" Strachan. This event also saw the confiscation of large amounts of narcotics and firearms, this would include 116lbs of cocaine, over 8lbs of marijuana, almost 2,000 tablets of Benzylpiperazine (a synthetic drug similar to ecstasy), six firearms, ammunition, ten explosive devices including pipe bombs and C-4, and "significant" amounts of cash. Despite the media reporting that the authorities had "crushed  the entire chapter, only 11 of the chapters 17 Full-Patch" members had been arrested. Six members remained active in the province and were involved in reestablishing the chapter in the following years. These events were all possible due to a member of the Rock Machine Winnipeg chapter who accepted a $500,000 payout from the RCMP to become an informant, evidence he provided was critical in the operation. Len Isnor a member of the biker enforcement unit in Ontario stated. “While they may temporarily disrupt the activity of the organization themselves, and certainly this was a blow to the  Rock Machine, I think this is probably temporary.” This statement proved to be correct as The Rock Machine still have a chapter and active members in the province as of 2022. Quebec. In April 1992, Giovanni Cazzetta Co-founder of the Rock Machine, was arrested by police and charged with trafficking narcotics, police found him to be in position of 3 kilograms of cocaine. He was forced to plead guilty to four charges the following spring and would be sentenced to four years in prison, Giovanni was be released in 1997 and briefly participated in the Quebec Biker War. The  arrest of Rock Machine National President, Salvatore Cazzetta led to the conflict known as the Quebec Biker War, which was fought between the Rock Machine and the Hells Angels for control of territory in Quebec. It would last from 1994 until 2002 it would come to be known as the deadliest biker conflict in history. On July 13, 1994, three Rock Machine associates walked into a motorcycle shop on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E. in Rivière-des-Prairies and killed Pierre Daoust. Daoust, a 34-year-old member of a Hells Angels puppet club called the Death Riders, was working in  his custom motorcycle shop when the three men, whose faces were hidden by masks and a motorcycle helmet, called out to him twice to make sure they had the right target. They proceeded to shoot Daoust in the head and torso at least 16 times. He was taken to a hospital and declared dead an less than an hour later. On July 14, 1994, one day after Daoust was killed, the Rock Machine attempted to kill Normand Robitaille, a member of a Hells Angels support club, the Montreal Rockers. He survived the shooting and would go on to become one  of the Hells Angels’ most powerful members in Quebec. On the same day, the Sûreté du Québec announced they had arrested five members of the Rock Machine MC, one of the dominant groups in the Alliance, after uncovering a plot to blow up the South Shore clubhouse of a Hells Angels support club called the Evil Ones. On 4 November 1994, Rock Machine member Daniel Bertrand, was shot dead while drinking in a Montreal bar. On 4 December 1994, another Rock Machine member, Bruno Bandiera, was killed when his bomb he was transporting in his car exploded prematurely. On 1  January 1995, Normand Baker, a Rock Machine member was murdered while drinking in a Hard Rock Cafe in Acapulco, Mexico by the Hells Angel Francoise Hinse. Baker had been one of the killers of Daoust. On 30 January 1995, Jacques Ferland, a chemist who worked for the Rock Machine was murdered in his Quebec City home, by the Hells Angels hitman Serge Qusnel. On 27 February 1995, Claude Cossette, a Rock Machine member was shot dead as he was sitting in his van. On 15 September 1995, Richard "Crow" Émond was gunned down in a parking lot while helping his  girlfriend get out of a car, becoming the first fully patched Hells Angel to be killed by the Rock Machine. Nine bombs exploded around the province during his funeral targeting several Hells Angels businesses and allies, including one explosion that accidentally killed three Rock Machine members who were attempting to plant a bomb outside of the clubhouse of the Angels' support club, the Jokers but we're accidentally killed when the bomb exploded prematurely, the rest of the bombs detonated successfully. This series of violence related to Operation Wolverine, a police crackdown on both groups in which 130 were arrested . On 7 December 1995, police arrested Yves "Flag" Gagné, a prominent member of the Hells Angels' Trois-Rivieres chapter, and Guy Majeau, a member of the Rowdy Crew in Lanaudiere, a Hells Angels support club. Authorities also arrested Normand Lortie, an associate of the Angels and owner of a Laval strip club. All three were charged with conspiring to murder prominent members of the Rock Machine and the affiliated Dark Circle; the targets of the plot were founding members of the Rock Machine, this included Porter and Richard "Bam Bam" Lagace, also Dark Circle member Louis-Jacques Deschenes. Porter would  later survive another assassination attempt, when he was shot in the shoulder by a contract killer hired by the Hells Angels. These events caused him and some other members to go into hiding in Ontario in 1999. While in Ontario the Hells Angels and their support clubs took over his personal territory in downtown Montreal. In January 1996, a Hells Angels associate, Glenn Cormier, was murdered by the Rock Machine in Quebec City. Steinert who was a Full-Patch Hells Angel was the largest pimp in Montreal, owning the Sensations escort service, whose office in Montreal was destroyed in a  case of arson in August 1996 by the Rock Machine. Also in August 1996, Salvatore Cazzetta, who was being held in the Parthenais Detention Center prior to his extradition to the United States, was attacked and wounded by six other prisoners in a "jailhouse contract". In October 1996, two Rock Machine members, Christian Deschesnes and Renaud Jomphe, were shot dead while eating at a Chinese restaurant in Verdun. In November 1996, the Rock Machine planted a bomb in the old Hells Angels bunker in St. Nicholas and the residential neighborhood where it was located was shaken by the immense force  of the blast. The bunker received significant damage. In December 1996, Bruno Van Lerberghe, a member of the Quebec City chapter of the Hells Angles, was killed when while he eating at a restaurant, being shot six times, no one was ever charged with killing but authorities assume it was the Rock Machine. In late 1996, the Carcajou squad as part of Operation Carcajou, decided the best way to end the conflict was to put the Rock Machine out of business, arguing that the Rock Machine was the smaller of the two clubs, and the war would end once the  Rock Machine was removed from the scene. On 29 January 1997, seven Rock Machine members were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the failed murder plot against Boucher in 1994. In May 1997, the Rock Machine clubhouses in Montreal and Quebec City were raided while the police arrested 18 Rock Machine members and seized 325 kilos(716.5 lbs) of explosives. The police confiscated the Montreal clubhouse after drugs were found within the premises. On 28 March 1997, Rocker member Aimé Simard, stating he was acting under the orders of the Rocker president, a man known as  Gregory "Pissaro" Wooley, murdered Rock Machine member Jean-Marc Caissy as he entered a Montreal arena to play hockey with his friends. In early 1997, Giovanni Cazzetta was released from prison, he would return to the Rock Machine and was giving the position of National President in his brother's absence. He would lead the club through the conflict until May 1997. In May Giovanni was subject to a police sting in which a man from Alberta attempted to purchase 15 kilos of cocaine, This individual turned out to be an informant for the crown. The mules Frank Bonneville and  Donald Waite, that delivered the cocaine to the informant were arrested and the narcotics seized by police, Matticks, Bonneville, and Waite pled guilty on June 17, 1997, and were sentenced to three, four, and two years respectively. Giovanni now the leader of the Rock Machine attempted to fight the charges brought against him, however he would lose these appeals and was sentenced to 9 years prison time in April 1998. At the same, the Great Nordic Biker War was taking place, and the Rock Machine was impressed with the way that the Scandinavian branches of the Bandidos held their own  against the Scandinavian branches of the Hells Angels. In June 1997, the three leaders of the Rock Machine, Fred Faucher, Johnny Plescio, and Robert "Tout Tout" Léger, went to Stockholm to seek support from the Swedish branch of the Bandidos, but were expelled by the Swedish police, who declared that they did not want Canadian bikers in their country. Faucher had gained wide attention in underworld circles by blowing up the Hells Angels clubhouse in Quebec City in February 1997 and after the Rock Machine's leader Claude "Ti-Loup" Vézina was arrested for drug smuggling, he became the Rock  Machine's new National President on 11 September 1997. In mid 1997, an imprisoned Hells Angel, Denis Houle, was the victim of an unsuccessful assassination attempt when a Rock Machine member opened fire on him from beyond the prison fence. On 23 August 1998, a team of Rock Machine killers consisting of Frédéric Faucher, Gerald Gallant, and Marcel Demers rode by on their motorcycles and gunned down Paolo Cotroni in his driveway. Cotroni was a member of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta Cotroni crime family who were the rivals of the Sicilian Mafia Rizzuto crime family. Cotroni was killed partly to gain  the favor of the Rizzutos and partly because he was a friend of Boucher. On 8 September 1998, Johnny Plescio—a founding member of the Rock Machine—was at his Laval home watching television when his cable was severed. As he rose to see what was wrong with his television, 27 bullets went through Plescios's living room window, 16 of which struck him. At Plescio's funeral, a flower arrangement appeared bearing the word Bandidos, which was the first sign that the Bandidos Motorcycle Club of Texas was taking an interest in the Rock Machine. In May 1999, the  Rock Machine became hang around Club of the Bandidos(were promoted to a probationary club in December 2000). Shortly after the National president, Fred Faucher was arrested on charges of importing cocaine into Canada and Rock Machine new president became Alain "Red Tomato" Brunette. Despite a promise from the police that the violence would stop, on 1 October 1999, one of the leaders of Rock Machine, Tony Plescio, brother of Johnny Plescio, was gunned down in the parking lot of a Montreal McDonald's where he was taking his family to dinner. On 17 April 2000, Normand Hamel, one of the  Nomads, was killed when attempting to flee from Rock Machine assassins in a Laval parking lot while he and his wife were taking his son to the doctor. Hamel was the most senior Hells Angel to be killed in the biker war. On 12 May 2000, the Angels tried to kill the two Rock Machine members, Tony Duguay and Denis Boucher, suspected of killing Hamel, leading to a wild car crash, during which Duguay took bullet wounds to his arms, right hand, and thigh. Tony Duguay, the Rock Machine member who was convicted of killing Hamel in 2006, was acquitted  in 2016 when it was established that the eyewitness who gave the testimony that had convicted him had been fed information incriminating him by Detective Benoît Roberge, the senior anti-biker detective with the Montreal police who was secretly working for the Hells Angels, and that the witness had not actually seen Duguay killing Hamel as he had testified during his trial. In July 2000, Boucher's plans to set up an internet company were derailed when Robert "Bob" Savard, the loan shark who charged a 52% interest on the loans he made to the desperate and needy, was gunned  down at the Déjeuners Eggstra! restaurant in the north end of Montreal, Savard had been a Hells Angels associate for several years and was considered a right hand man for Boucher. Savard's dinner companion, Normand Descoteaux, a hockey player turned loan shark, was also a target, but he survived by grabbing a waitress, Hélène Brunet, and using her as an involuntary human shield, ensuring that she took four bullets meant for him. Despite the way Brunet took bullets in her arms, legs and shin, Descoteaux was not charged. The shooter's were infamous Canadian hitman, Gerald Gallant and an  unidentified associate of his. Gallant was employed by a member of the Dark Circle and also frequently carried out contracts for the Rock Machine during the conflict with the Hells Angels, between the years of 1980-2003, he was responsible for 28 murders and 13 attempted murders. His most active years were during the Quebec Biker War, were he killed two members of Hells Angels support clubs in 1997 and a third survived an assassination attempt. In 1998 when he eliminated five men, including Paul Cotroni Jr., son of deposed mob boss Frank Cotroni, making 1998 his most prominent year  as a hitman, also at periods worked for the Irish-Canadian West End Gang. On December 6, 2000. 255 Police officers tracked and arrested 16 Rock Machine members and associated on narcotics trafficking charges. The "ring", operated by Marcel Demers Leader of the Beauport chapter and National president Fred Faucher of the Quebec City chapter, were accused of distributed more then two kilograms of cocaine a month and generated almost $5 million in profits annually. The Rock Machine Motorcycle Club would officially join the Bandidos January 6, 2001. The club would eventually reemerge in 2007, after the events of  the Shedden Massacre. The Rock Machine became active in Quebec again in 2008, 20 members of the club were sighted in an exotic dance club in downtown Montreal. In July 2011, Ten members of the Rock Machine from several provinces Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia were arrested at Chez Pare, a famous downtown strip club. In spring of 2013, raids by the Sûreté du Québec led to the arrests of fifteen members of the Rock Machine from two separate chapters and several members of the SS Elite Motorcycle Club(a Rock Machine support club) were also arrested on narcotics charges in  an operation against a large network of narcotics traffickers who operated in Montérégie. In 2014, Quebec Police arrested two members of the Rock Machine during a raid in Montreal, they seized three "cuts" displaying Rock Machine colours and patches and "significant" amounts of narcotics. In 2015, Three members of the Rock Machine were arrested in Quebec for intimidation and fraud, they had made a deal with someone to invest $60,000 in one of their businesses, after receiving it they notified the individual that his contribution had been rejected by his bank. They then showed up at the man's  residence and demanded he hand over a $30,000 vehicle as well as $30,000 in cash plus a demand in interest, which he agreed to several days later the victim learned that his shares had actually been cashed by the bank and he called the police. On June 9, 2016. Quebec Police arrested three members of the Rock Machine in raids, the 3 members including a former president faced charges related to narcotics trafficking, conspiracy and possession of prohibited weapons. The emergency response team, including armored vehicles, took part in the operation leading to the arrests. four firearms were  seized, this included a "9 mm pistol, 357 revolver, 25 caliber pistol and a prohibited automatic impulse weapon" were seized during the raids. The police also found various narcotics including over 10,000 methamphetamine pills, pounds of cocaine, GHB, cannabis and "Large amounts of cash" In December 2016, two members of the Rock Machine Joseph Fluet and Steven Lamarsh we're shot and killed in Vaudreuil-Dorion, they had been led into a trap by a girlfriend of a associate of theirs. She had told the bikers that her boyfriend, Richard Hunt who owed them money wanted to meet them at  a certain location to dig up cash that he had buried there from the robbery of a Garda armored truck in 2011. Once at the location Hunt was waiting with a loaded rifle and opened fire on the two men killing them both. Hunt was charged with two counts of first degree murder and his girlfriend Mélanie Binette, who had lured the men to their deaths received 17 years in prison for her part in the killings. In 2017, a former member of the Rock Machine who had received a status of "Out in Bad" was murdered in Montreal, Quebec . A month before his death he told his parole board "he knew his life was in danger if he continued living in Quebec". His body was found in the suburbs of Montreal. On June 23, 2018. Dozens of Rock Machine members and prospects attended a "Patch-over" ceremony in Saint-Dominique for several new members in the province. The meeting was held on a fenced-in property with The Rock Machine Motorcycle Clubs flag being flown proudly. In August 2018, an inmate who had past ties to the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club was murdered by fellow inmates with assumed association  to the Rock Machine, it was rumored that he was a police informant. It is estimated by Police that these recent death's of past Rock Machine members could have been an internal issue or a "clean up". In March 2019, the Sûreté du Québec conducted a raid on a Rock Machine clubhouse in the town of Farnham, Quebec. The interior of the clubhouse was painted in the Black and Platinum the colors of the Rock Machine MC, the main room had a stage and a vertical pole dance bar, an alcohol service counter and pool tables. "Le Journal" noted  The logo is prominently featured on the back with the inscriptions NO MERCY" and "ALVALM" (À la vie, à la mort, the group's motto). At the entrance of the build, a list of rules and regulations to be observed is displayed. Two members of the Rock Machine were arrested and large amounts of alcohol and narcotics were seized, along with nine Rock Machine vests and illegal firearms. In mid-August 2021, The Rock Machine Black & White chapter was formed in Montreal by former faction leader Mario Dube, the 13th legion faction of which he used to be a part  of dissolved in 2016, due to raids by Quebec police. This new faction attempted to slightly change the look of the Rock Machine by reversing the color scheme, wearing white leather jackets with white patches, inscribed with black writing. The legitimate Rock Machine Canada to denounced these actions. Authorities feared a flare up in tentions as both faction now possessed a chapter in Montreal. This conflict would be resolved in early 2022, when the RMMC Black & White faction "Patched-Over" to the Brazil-based Profanum Mundial Motorcycle Club Ontario. In 2000, the original Rock Machine Motorcycle Club setup three chapters(Kingston , Toronto and Niagara Falls) in Ontario, beating the Hells Angels into the province. During this period the Rock Machine was accused by authorities of planting a bomb in front of a Georgetown, Ontario motorcycle shop, it was successfully defused by authorities after it had been inadvertently transported to Guelph, Ontario. On April 28, 2016. An altercation occurred between a prospect of the Hells Angels and two members of the Rock Machine at an Esso gas station in Casselman, Ontario. The Hells Angels Ontario Nomads sought to find a solution to the tensions and on April 29, a group of HAMC  Nomads and Red Devils, as well as associates without status, travelled to Casselman in the early evening for a meeting at the Karina's Pub, the Ontario Provincial Police observed the meeting as a part of their Project Rawson. A lead investigator for the OPP stated "a member of the Hells Angels arrived at the bar and takes off his jacket to place it on a ramp at the edge of the terrace" of the establishment. Investigator Thibodeau then said: “A“ full patch ”member who removes his colors, this is the first time I've seen that." A few minutes  later three or so members of the Rock Machine arrived at Karina's Pub, moments later multiple shots are heard. Video footage filed in evidence by the Crown shows the Hells Angels Nomads running out of the dance bar. A few hours apart, Jean-François Émard and Pascal Carrier were arrested by the OPP. In June 2016, news agencies reported that ongoing tensions between the Rock Machine and their long-time rival the Hells Angels had recommenced in Ontario. During this period the Rock Machine was dealing with a division in National leadership the Mother chapter in Quebec was not  involved, an Ontario chapter based out of Casselman, Ontario led by Jean-François Émard, who the official leadership has never deemed legitimate. This faction would cause friction with the Angels in the province, well the National leadership maintained a moderate relationship. In October 2014, Émard had been charged with possession with intent to traffic methamphetamine and possession of a weapon. In 2016 as a result of the incident at Karina's Pub, he and another member of his faction were charged with "possession of loaded prohibited or restricted handgun; carrying a concealed weapon; obstruction of a peace officer; failure to  comply with a probation order; discharging of a firearm; causing public endangerment and knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm." In March 2018, former Rock Machine-faction leader, Emard received a 33-month sentence after he was convicted of having possessed a firearm and narcotics while wearing Rock Machine "cut". The sentence included a 30-month sentence he received later, on May 2, 2018, he was found guilty of having committed an act of indecent exposure by having intercourse on the hood of a vehicle parked on the side of a public roadway. In May 2019, he received eligibility for  parole however the Penitentiary Correctional Service Canada was advised by police that they "believed his life was in danger. No halfway house was willing to take the risk of having Emard as a resident" as a result parole was suspended, before parole board members, Jean-François Émard declared that the Rock Machine, his former club, had become "a shame" to him, that he was not on friendly terms with them. At the next hearing in July 2019, the ex-biker said he knew where the threats were coming from but dismissed them. Emard was eventually released in February 2020, with  a court order that he wear a GPS tracking bracelet. In May 2020, his bracelet revealed he had travelled 50 kilometres outside of the area he was limited to be within, so he was returned to custody, upon his return to prison he was assaulted by other inmates with assumed association to the Rock Machine. The injuries he received were severe enough that it required him to be transferred to an off-site hospital. Australia. The Rock Machine established a Nomads chapter in Australia during 2008, with a second Rock Machine chapter was established in the Perth suburb of Myaree  in 2009, by then Rock Machine MC Canada International President, Critical J. The defection of Rebels MC members to the Rock Machine MC sparked an ongoing violent feud between the groups, when the Rock Machine settled in Perth in 2009 there was allegations by media that a turf war broke out between the two rival motorcycle clubs, with exchanges between the two groups including firebombings, assaults and the assassination attempt in 2011 of Rebels WA president Nick Martin, who survived being shot(to see the full series of incidents regarding this conflict please see Rock Machine–Rebels conflict). In 2012, the  Rock Machine opened their second chapter in Perth, City Crew Perth or South Perth chapter after several members of the Finks Motorcycle Club defected to the Rock Machine MC. The Finks also had an ongoing rivalry with the Rebels Motorcycle Club. Also in 2012, Members of a Rock Machine chapter in New South Wales had reported links to Serbian organised crime group and used that influence to patch over members of the Comanchero in 2012, causing tension with existing Sydney Comanchero.s One of those Rock Machine members to patch over, Faalau Pisu, was shot dead at a wedding in south -west Sydney on November 5. The club received negative publicity when an associate Stefan Pahia Schmidt was charged with murder after throwing a pub patron through a window with a seven-metre fall(two stories). It is alleged that Schmidt was present with other Rock Machine members when the victim spoke with two women from the Rock Machine group. A second chapter was also formed in South-East Australia and another in North-East Australia giving the Rock Machine its ninth and tenth chapters in the country. The RMMC Adelaide chapter President was arrested in Adelaide at the 2019 Royal Adelaide  Show. In March 2021, two members of the Rock Machine's Perth South chapter were charged in the drive-by shooting at a Port Kennedy house belonging to a member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club. Tensions between the clubs at this point escalated into conflict, in May the Mongols would put out a contract on one of the members of the Rock Machine involved in the drive-by shooting of the Mongol residents. Over the next couple months authorities would arrest several more members of the Rock Machine's South Perth chapter, in total arresting 11 of the chapters 23  members, accusing them of planning a second attack. In February 2022. A member of the Rock Machine was arrested and charged with possession of narcotics and trafficking, Australian authorities seized $64,000 in methamphetamine. Germany. The Rock Machine arrived in Germany in 2009 with its Nomads, multiple local German motorcycle clubs agreed to become probationary chapters of the RMMC. By late 2010, 60-plus members had been patched in to create four new chapters in the country. As of 2020, membership in Germany is estimated to be over 300 total between the two factions. In May 2011 Suat Erköse applied  to join the club, at the same time issues between the Rock Machine and the Bandidos Germany erupted in the city of Neu-Ulm where both clubs had chapters. Tensions were growing between the groups over the control of the lucrative Red light district in Ulm, the violence began when a brawl occurred in a strip club between the two Motorcycle Clubs. This led to an attack on a residence associated with the Rock Machine, two members of the Bandidos were arrested for these actions. The Rock Machine then retaliated by fire bombing a Bandidos-owned business in early 2012 , this, in turn, resulted in one of their establishments being set ablaze a week later. In December 2012, a shootout occurred in the industrial sector of Ulm. Three Full-Patch members of the Rock Machine met with three men from the red light district and private security industry for a "debate" – due to a bomb threat against a business. A physical altercation occurred, then a Rock Machine member drew his pistol and fired multiple shots. A 31-year-old security contractor was fatally shot and a 41-year-old man who worked in the brothel scene was seriously injured. Two  members of the Rock Machine MC were arrested. Division of Rock Machine MC Germany. At some point between the end of 2012-early 2013, there was a divide in the Rock Machine MC Germany. Assumingly when the WolfSSChanze Chapter was formed by Suat Erköse and he attempted to claim World Presidency without the permission of the Canadian Mother chapter, the Rock Machine MC Germany website “www.rockmachinemcgermany.de” released a statement saying that Erköse and Digge had been removed the group in bad standing because of "behavior that was harmful to the club", which Suat would make a response statement on an  interview with BN. During this period a faction formed by the B. brothers renounced Suat and founded the Blue Rock Machine MC which had 4 chapters in the split, it remained aligned with official International leadership. Following these events, the two groups began to insult each other in interviews and over the internet. Suat's faction released a statement denouncing the Blue RM as "fakes" and "traitor's", while the Blue Rockmachine insults its former boss Suat E. as a “police friend”, “coward” and “wannabe”. Suats faction spoke with BN news: "Of course the internet lies. The Digge was with  Michel in our South West Chapter. Both were members and had decided to open their own and another chapter in the southwest called Southend. We want to grow, and because the two of them had enough good people for a new chapter, I, as President of Europe, approved their plans. The chapter president from there, however, took a stand. I then had an intense conversation with him, but he was unapologetic and we kicked him out of the Rock Machine MC. There is simply a need for clarification, as the story with the homepage shows. Another reason is that someone  we threw out of the club wants to do his own thing under the name "Rock Machine" by falsifying our logo: He simply turned the red eye in the eagle into a blue one. Something like that doesn't work and is pure provocation. People call me and ask: Who is the right Rock Machine MC? Again I can say: I represent the club in Germany and our logo remains as it was in the original. That they "copy, imitate, falsify the club emblem – we do not tolerate any of this. The Blue Rock Machine retaliated with this statement to  journalists: "Suat Erköse is by no means the founder of the Rockmachine MC in Europe.! When we drove under RM Farben in southern Baden, this Erköse Suat didn't even know the Rockmachine MC! In 2011, Erköse applied for admission to the RM MC, but unfortunately, this application was approved. Now Erköse was a member of the RM MC. Erköse had kept quiet about the fact that he is an ex-police officer and is also in bad standing at the Bandidos MC. When the Rockmachine MC was attacked by another MC, Erköse searched the distance and fearfully hid in  his apartment. Erköse had this Seek and Destroy Patch (award for bravery) made by himself, without the club's knowledge. As a coward that he is, he would never have received this patch from the club. Erköse sees the MC as a source of income and has always used the club's treasury to improve his miserable Hartz 4 life. You also do not see this Internet "rocker" on the street, this is not surprising as he does not have a valid driver's license. His alleged chapters abroad are also a fake. These "tough 1% men" around this Suat  were asked to hand over an RM T shirt, whereupon this Suat Erköse group filed criminal charges with the police for theft of a T shirt." Rock Machine Germany civil conflict. Violence would erupt between these two factions in April 2015 a brawl occurred between the two groups and multiple people were injured. In May 2015, a brothel belonging to the Blue Rock Machine was shot at, in June of the same year a bomb was exploded outside of their marijuana paraphernalia shop, they retaliated by burning down a car dealership belonging to the opposition a few days later, a  business associated with the United Tribuns was also bombed. Mexico. On 1 January 1995, Normand Baker, a Rock Machine member was murdered while drinking in a Hard Rock Cafe in Acapulco, Mexico by the Hells Angel Francoise Hinse during the Quebec Biker War. Baker had been one of the killers of Pierre Daoust a member of a Hells Angels support club. Norway. In October 2017, raids conducted by Norwegian Police resulted in the arrest of several Full-Patch members of The Rock Machine MC Norway on charges of distribution of narcotics and firearms, illegal possession of firearms and murder, for  killing a prospective member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club Norway. He had made comments on the Rock Machine's Norwegian Facebook page that led to his death. The clubs had been in open conflict with each other since 2011, but have despised each other since the 2007 split in Canada. They seized over 30 kilos of hash. On August 5, 2018. The President of the No Surrender MC chapter in Jessheim, Norway was assaulted by several members of the Rock Machine at a local business. Later that day it was announced by Norwegian media that a massive brawl had occurred  between members of the Rock Machine and the No Surrender Motorcycle Club, some members of the Rock Machine had Patched-over to the No Surrender after the Police raid in 2017, causing tensions. The brawl resulted in several injuries on both sides Sweden. The Rock Machine Motorcycle Club arrived in Sweden in the early 2010s with its Nomads, the club quickly grew in influence with 4 chapters and began stepping on the toes of other clubs in the area. A feud began between the Rock Machine and the Bandidos Sweden after it was rumored that some of their members had  patched over to the Rock Machine. These events resulted in the Bandidos attempting to assassinate the Rock Machine Sweden President, he would survive the attempt and two members of the Bandidos would be arrested and charged for attempted murder. In Kristianstad in the spring of 2012, an associate of the Rock Machine was shot while walking home from a store, He was severely injured but survived. In 2014 Swedish Police gained a warrant to evict The Rock Machine Klippan chapter from their clubhouse. This was due to five individual members of the club being charged with narcotics crimes over prior  years. The eviction occurred peacefully and the chapter relocated to a new clubhouse in the area. United Kingdom. In 2013, the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom were put on alert by Europol that multiple outlaw motorcycle clubs had arrived in Europe, they reported that some had "transported assault rifles and hand grenades" with them, as well as several other motorcycle groups. The arrival of the Rock Machine from Canada. The Loners Motorcycle Club also has chapters there., other clubs include the Comancheros and Rebels from Australia, and the Mongols and Vagos from the United States, has a possibility  of causing tensions with established motorcycle gangs. Metropolitan Police and other authorities in the United Kingdom were urged by Europol to monitor the gangs and warned of potential conflict over control of organized crime rackets and territory. The outlaw biker clubs were reportedly recruiting far-right militants, football "hooligans" and former military personnel in an attempt to take control of drug, weapon and human trafficking routes. United States. On February 13, 2017. Kyle Wayne Seagraves, a member of the Rock Machine South Carolina chapter was tragically killed in an automotive incident in the town of Goose Creek where he lived . The crash was caused when the "at-fault" motorist failed to yield for his motorcycle. Seagraves was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, at the time of his death he was the youngest member of the Rock Machine in the United States aged only 22 years old. In November 2017, it was announced that Rock Machine patches were being fraudulently sold in the United States by self-proclaimed Rock Machine World President Suat Erköse. In exchange for the $300, the individuals would receive a patch and inclusion into the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club, this came  along with accusations in the motorcycle community of the Rock Machine becoming an "internet club". But once paid, the patches were never sent to recipients. Suat denies these accusations. The legitimate Rock Machine Motorcycle Club established itself in the United States during 2008, with permission and guidance from then Canadian Rock Machine leader Sean Brown. The US RMMC Nomads were formed and began recruiting veteran ex-members of Vagos MC, Mongols, Hells Angels and the Ching-a-Ling Motorcycle Clubs. They also had chapters from Avengers MC, Kingsmen MC, Sadistic Souls MC and Wrecking Crew becoming probationary chapters for the  beginning of the Rock Machine United States, which as of 2021 has 8 chapters. When asked about the situation a former longtime member of the Rock Machine USA said: "It wasn’t like that for us, We were doing background checks on potential members. At first, we were bringing in guys that wanted to leave their 1% nation to join us. We had ex Vagos, Mongols, Hells Angels, Chingalings, To name a few. We would let in members of 1% Support as Probationary. We had guys from the Avengers, Kingsmen, Sadistic Souls, Wrecking Crew, all over from Florida up to  Connecticut. We didn’t want fresh guys to start or weekenders. We needed guys who would fight because we realized we would have to. Everyone can say they will make a stand but to actually do so is something else. We soon after began prospecting people who wanted to come around in the states where chapters were started. It did cost $400, as with any club you join it costs money, and this was to pay for a background check and your patch set". The fraudulent scam did lead to friction between Suat's faction and the genuine Rock  Machine MC USA, after he attempted to form a chapter in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Yes. He attempted to open a Las Vegas chapter with Two guys in Nevada. We promptly handled that situation. Suat finally agreed to knock it off as long as we didn’t publicly talk shit about him. He was hoping we would embrace his bullshit world (Facebook) chapter." The Rock Machine chapter in Connecticut which now acts as the head chapter of the United States was formed in 2015 and a later interview with a current member, former President of the club in the US and  current Rock Machine USA spokesperson, cleared up the situation, and when asked about the selling of patches online he stated: "Suat was a thorn in our side for months here in the USA, when we first attempted to start the club here we were pulled in many directions. The different factions all pointed us in a different direction. We spoke with the club in Canada and we did speak with Suat, we also spoke with the members out of Australia who were sponsored by Canada. The Mother Chapter out of Canada agreed to allow us to open through Australia. We  started with 5 guys as a probationary chapter, before eventually we spread throughout the East coast. This obviously created animosity with Suat. We had a few situations where we turned guys away(from the Rock Machine) and they contacted Suat in an attempt to open chapters through him. Two of the three original members were very active with social media and immediately fed into the Suat bashing online. Since those members removal from the club we have reached out to Suat and did broker a deal that we would not feed into this internet bullshit, nor would we publicly bash him  as long as he agreed not to recruit in the United States. Whatever anyone says bad about the man, he has kept his word with us and we do keep an open line of communication with him to this day for diplomatic reasons. Any issues he has or we have are easily handled with a phone call. We are aware of the horror stories with people from the United States sending money to Suat for patches and never receiving them. I personally have never seen actual proof of this and probably wouldn’t entertain anyone’s complaints. If you are  stupid enough to think you can join a 1% club through the mail you deserve to lose your money! We have 8 active charters in the United States and anyone is welcome to knock on our door and state their intentions. No one in this country will fly a Rock Machine patch without coming in the correct way." The journalist then asked about the proper process in which someone becomes a member of the legitimate Rock Machine USA and if it was similar to the process north of the border in Canada, the RMMC United States spokesperson responded with: "Despite  what is said about the club through the internet we run a tight ship. Everyone from the Nomads to the hangarounds throughout the country knows each other on a first name basis, we know each other’s families through meetings, extensive background checks are done, everyone comes in as a hang around, prospect or probationary and no one person makes the decision as to who joins. It starts with a hang around period and application that’s sent to the nationals, upon approval the membership fee is then sent to nationals and only after that can someone prospect or come  in probationary. Probationary is only used when starting new chapters or for members who have come from established crews and clubs." Issues with the Iron Order. In late 2017. The "Iron Order Truth Crew” part of the Iron Order Motorcycle Club obtained the Rock Machine USA club website information from a beleaguered former member and changed things in attempt to hurt the reputation of the Rock Machine. The Rock Machine leadership in the United States released a statement, declaring that the "Iron Order Truth Crew page" was influenced by law enforcement. This has been a common criticism about the Iron  Order in the motorcycle community. Initially it was believed that the website had been hacked and then sold to the Iron Order, this turned out to be incorrect however, when it was found that one of their own former members that was out in bad standing had given them the information, there was also rumors of information being leaked to law enforcement by the Truth Crew. A spokesperson for the Rock Machine USA stated: “It was a combination of him(former member) and a wife of another member from New York. She recently fabricated paperwork on another one of our guys . It’s been ridiculous. The problem with the Iron Order Truth Crew site is we know for a fact that they are in bed with law enforcement. One of the pictures they use against us was taken by the task force while everyone was standing in front of the clubhouse. There is no way anyone should have a copy of that picture”.