Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Entire Hells Angels Bakersfield Chapter Arrested for Assault, Kidnapping
ANTHONY NEW HS
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 12 months ago on
June 26, 2024

Six members of the Hells Angels, including the president and vice-president of the Bakersfield chapter, were arrested on multiple felony charges in a major operation by law enforcement. Firearms, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines were seized. (Kern County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Six members of the Hells Angels, including the president and vice-president of the Bakersfield chapter, were arrested on Tuesday on various violent charges in a major crackdown.

Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, and John Seeger, 57, all of Bakersfield, were taken into custody early Tuesday, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally, Joshua Vaughn, 37, of Bakersfield, was already in custody on separate charges. Authorities executed eight search warrants across various locations in Bakersfield.

During the operation, more than 150 law enforcement personnel from the sheriff’s office, CHP, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized about 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines, and gang-related paraphernalia.

Weapons taken from the Bakersfield Hells Angels Chapter on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Facebook/Kern County Sheriff’s Office)

Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr., and Zavala are confirmed members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club’s Bakersfield chapter. Vaughn and Seeger are affiliated with the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Club, a subordinate group that operates under the Hells Angels’ direction.

The suspects face charges including kidnapping, first-degree robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, witness intimidation, and elder abuse. They were booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Facility.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Says His Spy Chief Gabbard Wrong on Iran’s Nuclear Program

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

DON'T MISS

Man Fatally Shot in Southeast Fresno, Suspect Arrested After Traffic Stop

DON'T MISS

Groceries Are Now a Luxury. So Is Breathing.

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Ruth Fire Burns 10 Acres Near Dunlap, Cause Under Investigation

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Waters Down Infill Housing Tool. Perea Says Compromise Could Be Worse

DON'T MISS

US Judge Orders Release of Pro-Palestinian Activist Khalil

DON'T MISS

Israel Tells UN Security Council “We Will Not Stop” Iran Attacks

DON'T MISS

Visalia Police Arrest Three in Stolen Car With Gun and Fentanyl

DON'T MISS

Hips Don’t Lie, and Neither Do Ticket Sales: Shakira Adds Fresno Show

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

UP NEXT

Man Fatally Shot in Southeast Fresno, Suspect Arrested After Traffic Stop

UP NEXT

Groceries Are Now a Luxury. So Is Breathing.

UP NEXT

Fresno County Ruth Fire Burns 10 Acres Near Dunlap, Cause Under Investigation

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Waters Down Infill Housing Tool. Perea Says Compromise Could Be Worse

UP NEXT

US Judge Orders Release of Pro-Palestinian Activist Khalil

UP NEXT

Israel Tells UN Security Council “We Will Not Stop” Iran Attacks

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Arrest Three in Stolen Car With Gun and Fentanyl

UP NEXT

Hips Don’t Lie, and Neither Do Ticket Sales: Shakira Adds Fresno Show

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes Kill 44 Palestinians in Gaza, UN Warns of Man-Made Drought

Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

8 hours ago

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

8 hours ago

USDA Develops Potential Plan to Vaccinate Poultry for Bird Flu

8 hours ago

Trump Says He May Support Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘Depending on Circumstances’

8 hours ago

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

9 hours ago

Trump Says a Deal With Harvard Is Possible Over Next Week

9 hours ago

Ohio Man Charged for Allegedly Threatening US Congressman Max Miller

9 hours ago

Town Hall Unveils New Season With Best-Selling Authors, ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, and More

9 hours ago

Trump Says His Spy Chief Gabbard Wrong on Iran’s Nuclear Program

10 hours ago

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

11 hours ago

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Struck Down by US Appeals Court

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked Louisiana from enforcing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms of ...

6 hours ago

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill leaves the U.S. Supreme Court after justices heard arguments in an appeal by President Joe Biden's administration of restrictions imposed by lower courts on its ability to encourage social media companies to remove content deemed misinformation, in Washington, U.S., March 18, 2024. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Struck Down by US Appeals Court

A view of the Voice of America (VOA) building, a day after more than 1,300 of the employees of the media broadcaster, which operates in almost 50 languages, were placed on leave in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 16, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Voice of America Parent Terminates Over 600 More Staff in Likely Death Knell

A farmworker repairs irrigation lines at a tomato farm in Woodland, California, U.S. May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Trump Administration Says It Is Suspending Enforcement of Biden-Era Farmworker Rule

The Ruth Fire in Yokuts Valley has burned 14 acres, destroyed one structure on Friday, June 20, 2025,, and is 20% contained as firefighters continue battling the blaze in steep terrain. (CalFire)
8 hours ago

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

A federal appeals court struck down California’s “one-gun-per-month” law Friday, June 20, 2025, in a 3-0 decision, ruling it unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. (Shutterstock)
8 hours ago

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

Cage-Free chickens are shown inside a facility in Lakeside, California, U.S., April 19, 2022. Picture taken April 19, 2022. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

USDA Develops Potential Plan to Vaccinate Poultry for Bird Flu

President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One upon his arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S., June 20, 2025. (Reuters/Ken Cedeno)
8 hours ago

Trump Says He May Support Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘Depending on Circumstances’

9 hours ago

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend