A federal raid on the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Indiana resulted in no arrests and left the targeted compound vacant.
Details of the Raid
The raid was not unexpected. The Outlaws were under a court order to vacate the property by September 9, and the raid occurred on September 11. Nearby neighbors reported seeing club members removing items from the compound days before the raid.
US Marshal Kerry Forestal said, "The Outlaws were ordered to move out by Wednesday of this week. They took the doors off and some of the things when they left. It might've been the final goodbye from them to the government."
A club member’s house was also raided as part of the operation.
Legal History and Background
The clubhouse property, including connected buildings in the city, has been linked to a series of arrests and civil forfeitures since 2009. Before the raid, 42 club members faced charges for various offenses. Most of these members were in jail in Indianapolis at the time of the raid, with trials pending. The remaining member, Terrell Lamont Adams, was listed as at large, and a search is underway.
In 2012, several members of the Outlaws were charged with violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The charges included violent loansharking, fraud, and illegal gambling. A 49-count indictment filed in 2013 accused members of criminal activities across the state.
Community and Law Enforcement Response
US Marshal Forestal commented, "The action of placing them in jail was important. They've done years of extortion and other types of crimes. Now, if they're going to do it, they're going to start back out when they get out of prison from some other location other than their home place."
He also added, "I've been in law enforcement over here 30 years, and whatever happened to the Outlaws, they still came back home. Now they don't have a home to come back to. If they raise their head again, law enforcement will step back up and do their job."
The property was locked by federal agents after being thoroughly swept for explosives and illegal items.
Previous Raids and Outcomes
This wasn’t the first time the clubhouse had been raided. A 1996 raid saw the Outlaws sue the city and receive $112,000 in what one Marion County judge called a "fiasco." That raid involved two chained dogs being shot and killed and three club members injured. Despite the efforts, no drugs were found during the 1996 search.
Seized Items
More than 50 U.S. Marshals participated in the raid, bringing dogs and some team members in SWAT gear. Authorities did not release a complete inventory of seized items, but a report in the Indy Star indicated that authorities confiscated:
- Five guns, including assault rifles
- $14,000 in cash
- Various drugs, including a kilogram of cocaine
- Cars and motorcycles
Community Opinions
Opinions about the Outlaws varied among community members. Some residents believed the club kept the neighborhood safe, while others referred to the One Percenters as "bullies."
