Hells Angels Boss Opens Up - George Christie | PBD Podcast #723

Key Takeaways

George Christie distinguished outlaw identity from criminal behavior within motorcycle clubs.
Sonny Barger's leadership style and view of the Hells Angels as personal property led to internal friction.
Outlaw motorcycle clubs originated in 1948 California, founded by World War II veterans.
Christie maintained a top-secret DoD security clearance while leading the Hells Angels during the Cold War.
Inter-club rivalries, notably with the Mongols and Outlaws, resulted in significant violence.
Christie pursued peace negotiations with rival clubs, often clashing with Sonny Barger's directives.
The Hells Angels faced continuous federal pressure, including RICO cases and informant infiltration.
Christie resigned from the Hells Angels, citing internal conflicts and the club's evolving nature.

George Christie explained his lifelong ambition to be an outlaw, not a criminal, a distinction he maintains.
His fascination began in the mid-1950s after seeing a chopped Harley and solidified by Hunter S. Thompson's book.
Outlaw motorcycle clubs emerged in the U.S. around 1948 from WWII veterans, following an AMA event in Hollister, California.
Early clubs included the Pissed Off Bastards and Booze Fighters, formed by veterans who became '1%ers' after AMA labeling.

George Christie quickly rose from rookie to Ventura County president, viewed as a strategist compared to Al Capone.
Julian Scheer's book 'Angels of Death' labeled Christie 'the Al Capone of Ventura' in the mid-2000s.
Christie recounted a strained relationship with Sonny Barger, suggesting the book contributed to their falling out.
Christie contrasted his leadership philosophy with Barger's, noting Barger saw the Hells Angels as his personal property.

Christie recounted refusing to participate in a planned bombing against the Mongols, leading to questions of his loyalty.
He explained collateral damage risks, drawing on his military background, to members unfamiliar with the concept.
Christie was instructed by 'Old Man John' to retrieve an unexploded bomb from downtown Los Angeles.
He personally confronted Outlaws members to negotiate peace, prioritizing club interests over personal safety to earn respect.

George Christie negotiated with George Weggers, then international leader of the Banditos, for peace in Europe.
This initiative aimed to prevent conflict from spreading to the U.S. and attracting federal scrutiny.
A detailed agreement involved a map delineating territories between the Hells Angels and Banditos.
Sonny Barger refused to meet with Weggers, citing personal dislike for the Banditos, opposing Christie's peace efforts.

A conflict with the Mongols escalated after Chester Green, a former Hells Angel, testified against members and joined the Mongols.
Additional tension arose when a Hells Angel member's ex-wife left with Chester Green.
A large physical altercation involving 60 Mongols and nine Hells Angels occurred at an Orange County bike swap meet.
A rookie police officer intervened to break up the fight, which reportedly started when a Hells Angel hit Bud Green.

In 1982, Sonny Barger, diagnosed with cancer, designated George Christie and Irish O'Farrell to take over leadership.
Irish O'Farrell, a powerful Oakland Hells Angel, was positioned as Barger's successor.
Barger requested Christie and O'Farrell handle interviews due to his impending inability to speak after cancer treatment.
After vocal cord removal, Barger learned to speak again, maintaining a commanding voice despite rarely doing interviews.

Christie recounted a 1999 indictment of 36 individuals, including himself, for controlling the Vicodin market in Ventura County.
The operation involved an airman, Josh Adams, at a pharmacy with access to large pill quantities.
Pills were purchased for approximately 50 cents each and resold on the black market for $5 to $10.
The prosecution's case faltered by focusing on discovered pills; 30,000 Vicodin found in a wardrobe, while 60,000 were in the garage.

The guest explained that members prefer the term 'clubs' over 'gangs' to avoid negative connotations in courtrooms.
His daughter employed a legal strategy during his 2011 trial to prevent juries from associating Hells Angels with criminal gangs.
This strategy was particularly relevant due to the popularity of TV shows like 'Sons of Anarchy'.
A judge intervened, encouraging both sides to reach a fair agreement, which he believed resulted when both parties were dissatisfied.

George Christie claimed the Ventura Hells Angels maintained order by stopping local drug manufacturing, theft, and drive-by shootings.
The clubhouse served as a forum for settling disputes, likened to a public courthouse for conflicts.
Christie described mutual understanding and boundaries with older law enforcement officers in Ventura.
The Hells Angels established dominance in Ventura in 1978, including a violent confrontation with the Orphans club on Main Street.

Robert Mueller prosecuted the Hells Angels in a 1980 RICO case, attempting twice and failing.
The case resulted in two lengthy trials that ultimately ended in mistrials.
This legal pressure prompted discussions about decentralizing the club structure to circumvent RICO laws.
Sonny Barger reportedly opposed decentralization due to ego, hindering efforts to adapt to federal pressure.

George Christie recounted ending his final conversation with Sonny Barger after Barger challenged his authority.
Christie asserted he quit the Hells Angels, rather than being expelled, believing the club had become bullies.
He predicted internal conflict, which materialized in 2011 with the murder of San Jose President Jethro Pettigrew by a Vago.
At Pettigrew's funeral, two Hells Angels argued over responsibility, leading to Steve Ruiz fatally shooting Steve Tawson.

During a 1976-77 Las Vegas trip, Christie and companions encountered issues with their Riviera Hotel reservations.
A rude and aggressive man, later identified as Tony Spilatro, appeared, demanding they leave town.
Christie spent an evening with Spilatro, only realizing his identity after seeing the movie 'Casino'.
He also interviewed Frank Collada, portrayed in 'Casino' as Tony Spilatro's hitman, who recounted a story about killing someone.