Fed court dates reset for 2 Solano Hells Angels
Federal court proceedings on weapons charges have been reshuffled for two Solano County members of the Vallejo chapter of the Hells Angels, The Reporter has learned.
Jaime Alvarez, a Vallejo man in his early 50s, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm but released from custody, appeared in a Sacramento courtroom Nov. 17 for more proceedings in the case. The judge, however, rescheduled Alvarez's status conference to Dec. 20.
Also released from custody, Michael Mahoney of Fairfield, who in in his late 20s or early 30s, has pleaded not guilty to two felony firearms charges.
He returned for a status conference Nov. 15 in Judge John A. Mendez's courtroom. The judge reset Mahoney's status conference for Jan. 10.
A third Hells Angel returns in the coming months to a federal courtroom in Sacramento for more proceedings in a firearms case.
Dennis Killough Jr., 51, of Vacaville, indicted earlier this year by a federal grand jury and who appeared in court earlier this month, is charged with being a felon in possession of two firearms and will be back in court for a rescheduled status conference Jan. 9. He remains in Sacramento County Jail without bail.
All three were indicted based on an investigation into a brutal beating in the Vallejo chapter's clubhouse.
At his June 1 arraignment, Killough entered a not-guilty plea, and he was scheduled for a court appearance in front of Chief District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, according to information from the U.S. Department of Justice's Eastern District of California.
Alvarez was arraigned May 31, but on June 1 he was ordered released on a $200,000 secured bond, court records show.
According to court documents, in October 2021, two members of a “puppet,” or subordinate, club of the Hells Angels were allegedly beaten by Killough, Alvarez and other club members based on perceived infractions of Hells Angels' rules, said Phillip A. Talbert, the U.S. Attorney for the DOJ's Eastern District.
Court documents also showed that law enforcement searched Killough's home Dec. 8 and found two firearms, including a Taurus G2C 9 mm pistol with an obliterated serial number and a Taurus PT 745 Pro handgun. Killough has several prior felony convictions — including previous firearm convictions — which, by law, prohibit him from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
According to court documents, a search warrant executed at Alvarez's home Dec. 8 yielded several firearms, including a Glock 27 .40 SW caliber handgun. Alvarez has several prior felony convictions — including a prior conviction for possessing a dangerous weapon — which, likewise, prohibit him from possessing any firearms and ammunition.
These cases stem from investigations by the Solano County District Attorney's Office, the Solano County Sheriff's Office, the Vacaville Police Department, the Vallejo Police Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron D. Pennekamp and Jason Hitt are prosecuting the cases.
If convicted, Killough and Alvarez face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence would be determined at the discretion of the court and federal sentencing guidelines.
If convicted of possessing a firearm with an obliterated or altered serial number, Mahoney faces a maximum term of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. And if convicted of possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun, Mahoney faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The cases are part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program.