National bike gang leader in North Carolina will spend rest of life in prison: Prosecutor

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina-based nationwide bike gang chief who authorities say usually used violence was sentenced to 75 years in jail for drug trafficking, cash laundering and different crimes.

Christopher Lamar Baker was sentenced in Wilmington by U.S. District Choose Richard Myers on Thursday, greater than 4 months after a jury convicted him of 17 counts, in response to court docket paperwork.

Primarily based in Raleigh, the 49-year-old Baker was a pacesetter within the Pagans Motorbike Membership, which legislation enforcement deems an outlaw gang for utilizing its membership for felony enterprises, in response to the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace in Raleigh.

Baker’s conviction was a part of an ongoing organized crime and drug enforcement operation that has led to indictments in opposition to 20 individuals, in response to a information launch Friday from federal prosecutors. They stated seven of these have been convicted and sentenced, and 9 are awaiting sentencing.

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The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace stated Baker provided over 268 kilograms (591 kilos) of methamphetamine within the Raleigh space. The investigation reached into West Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia, from the place methamphetamine was distributed in Raleigh via a community of Pagan members who’ve been indicted, the discharge stated.

The federal government stated Baker additionally was convicted of possessing a firearm to help him with drug trafficking crimes.

“Eradicating this very harmful particular person from our streets was a unprecedented step in making our group and state safer,” Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson, whose company helped lead the investigation, stated within the launch.