BUFFALO, NY – In a major blow to the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club, two high-ranking members have been sentenced to life in prison for their roles in a racketeering operation that involved violence and murder.
David Pirk, 68, the national president of the KMC, and Andre Jenkins, 40, a ‘nomad’ and muscle within the club, were convicted by a federal jury of RICO conspiracy, possession of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, murder in aid of racketeering, possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, using and maintaining premises for drug dealing, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jenkins was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The sentencing came after a four-month jury trial, during which the government presented evidence of the defendants’ involvement in a string of violent crimes, including the execution-style murders of two fellow gang members.
According to court documents, the defendants’ involvement with the KMC began in 2013, when they sought to establish the club as a ‘one percent’ organization, a reference to a previous statement by the American Motorcycle Association that 99 percent of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens. The one percent refers to the remaining 1 percent engaged in certain activities such as drug and firearm trafficking and acts of violence.
The KMC’s violent activities included the murder of two individuals in September 2015, as well as numerous other acts of violence, robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.
The defendants resided in Florida prior to their sentencing, but will now serve their life sentences in prison. The case was brought to justice through the efforts of Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert of the FBI Buffalo Field Office.
The sentencing is a significant victory for law enforcement, who have been working to dismantle the KMC’s operations for years. The case serves as a reminder that outlaw motorcycle gangs pose a significant threat to public safety and that those who engage in violent crimes will be held accountable.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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