September 25-October 1, 2003

city beat

Web Angels

Bikers take to the Internet and a rat takes to the stand.

by Brendan McGarvey

Already involved in a battle to wrest control of the biker underworld -- drugs, prostitution, chop shops, etc. -- from the Pagans, the Hells Angels have moved into the cyber world. Log onto www.hamcphila.com and youíll see that the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club now has an official Philadelphia chapter.

Though you'll have to wait to order official, copyright-protected merchandise since some parts of the site remain under construction, the move itself is noteworthy.

"It's psychological warfare," explains one underworld source close to both gangs. "The Pagans are losing members to the Hells Angels everyday. There's been some violence but there ain't a whole lot of Hells Angels physically walking around here yet. So the website is just another way to psych out the Pagans. It's an in-your-face thing They're basically saying to the Pagans, åLook we even own you on the fuckin' Internet. We're the future. Pagans, they're history.' It shows you how smart the Hells Angels are. They're taking their fight to the Internet. Now that's 21st century!"

Adding insult to injury, the site welcomes new prospect chapters in York and Baltimore, Md., places where the Pagans have long had a strong presence. (They were even founded in Maryland, turf they consider their outlaw homeland.)

But don't count the Pagans out yet. Philly's mob squad has their eye on an upscale biker bar on the fringes of Old City that has been the scene of at least two confrontations between Pagans and the owners, who are legitimate businessmen who don't want to make any waves.

Their bar attracts a healthy variety of patrons from off-duty firefighters and union workers to starving artists, yuppie businessmen and women from Old City.

Underworld has seen police reports about Pagans causing trouble there but the bar manager says there were no problems with the Pagans. Well, he adds, there was a misunderstanding that's since been cleared up and that the Pagans who also frequent the establishment are "perfect gentlemen."

Still, organized crime investigators are keeping a close watch to see if the Pagans try to make themselves silent partners in the bar. "We think the owners are afraid of the Pagans," one detective says, "but if Pagans make a play for the bar, we'll know about it and we'll be all over them."

It’s Chinatown, Jack

Underworld has learned that the Police Department's Internal Affairs unit is investigating a group of officers for allegedly shaking down illegal businesses in the Chinatown neighborhood. More details as the investigation continues.

Vella Good Most folks have already heard about the newest mob turncoat Roger Vellaís recent Common Pleas Court debut at which he testified against reputed North Philly drug dealer Trent Pickard, brother of deceased Junior Black Mafia member Julius Pickard.

(The JBM was an African-American drug gang with ties to the Mafia and police reports from the late '80s documented meetings between gang members and Philly mob associates including boss-to-be Joey Merlino.)

Now, Trent Pickard, a Merlino associate, is apparently following in his big brother's footsteps. Last week, he was convicted on two counts of third-degree murder for killing two rival dealers who tried muscling in on his turf.

Vella comes into play since he claims Merlino introduced him to Pickard in 1994 and that the pair were involved in several deals. He went on to say Pickard bragged to him about the killings in question.

The thought is that the trial was a test to see how Vella would perform under the pressure -- even though mob insiders claim he's making things up.

"Vella was a gofer for Joey Merlino. Sometimes he drove him around. Sometimes he picked up his laundry," one says. "He's a kid that wanted to hang around and he got kicked in the ass and slapped around. Nobody would've discussed any real business in front of this kid."

Vella, they say, hated jail life and was just willing to do anything to get out.

"He went to jail and put on this big åI'm a mob guy' act. The blacks wanted to shake him down because he was a drug dealer so they asked, åIs he with you?' We said no, so [they] found out he was a fraud and started shaking him down for money," one insider recalls. "They were beating him and he was cryin' and sayin' how he can't take jail. Vella is a complete fraud. He's a professional blowjob ... Our lawyers can't wait to get him on the stand."

In an odd aside, Billy Rinick, the one-legged cocaine dealer found hiding under a bed in Merlino's house two years ago, is now said to be helping Trent Pickard. While the two didn't know each other before they got to jail, they're sharing legal advice. "They're both thinking of hiring the same attorney to handle their appeals," one source says. "They want to hire Bobby Simone, if they have the money."