The Hells Angels who fed enemies by way of a pizza oven and compelled face tattoos on rivals

The Hells Angels have had a notorious reputation for decades. The unofficial slogan for some of the biker gang’s most brutal factions perhaps says it all – “f*** around and found out”.

And that brutality is particularly on display in the Sonoma and Fresno chapters in California, where members have carried out a series of heinous crimes. From burning bodies in a “pizza oven” to murdering own members and forcing victims to have a face tattoo, the gang doesn’t take mercy on its enemies.

And although some members might like to call it divine “justice”, several figures have found themselves in court over the years.

In 2023, then-US attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail Ramsey said: “The Hells Angels followed a malicious code of conduct, encouraging the beating, maiming, and even killing of anyone who dared to cross their criminal enterprise.” Here is a look at some of the organisation’s most gruesome crimes in recent times.

The ‘Pizza Oven’

Former leader of the Fresno Chapter-then-Sonoma member, Merl Hefferman was known for his work organising children’s charities. But the biker also routinely turned his enemies to ash.

In October 2023, Heffermen was jailed for 10 years following a racketeering investigation after being convicted of feeding their corpses through an incinerator at a funeral home nicknamed the “pizza oven”. His “chilling” acts stemmed from his desire to make “something disappear” – and the Yost and Webb Funeral Home in Fresno, California appeared to offer the ideal solution.

Three other bodies were reported to have been illegally cremated using the funeral home, according to court papers. Prosecutors said: “Merl Hefferman arranged to have Joel Silva’s body illegally cremated. This was purposeful, premeditated conduct.”

Forced face tattoos

Hefferman’s investigation led to the arrest of further members from California. This included Raymond ‘Ray Ray’ Foakes, a former leader of the Sonoma chapter.

He was convicted in May 2023 of racketeering, beating a former member, witness intimidation and sexual assault. Foakes learned that a member had an affair with his common law wife – a non-ceremonial marriage – and was expelled from the group.

But that wasn’t enough for the thug, who disregarded the outlaw biker gang’s doctrine and took the law into his own hands. He beat the former member with a baseball bat for an hour, before encouraging another associate to pistol whip the victim in the face.

Foakes then forced the biker down and tattooed his forehead, before raping the man’s wife as a final act of revenge.

Murdering member for backchat

Loose-lipped Sonoma member, Joel ‘Doughboy’ Silva, threatened a pal of chapter leader, Christopher Ranieri in 2014. After deliberating with the other bikers, some members decided that there was one solution – Silva had to be killed.

In July 2014, Doughboy was lured to a clubhouse in Freson on the day of his daughter’s 15th birthday, before being shot in the back of the head by another member. Hefferman was later charged with disposing of his body in the Pizza Oven.

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