Former leader of the notorious ‘Ghost Riders’ motorcycle gang, Karl Twilleager, alias ‘King Karl’, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to charges of illegal weapons possession. The 66-year-old Spanaway resident has been a law enforcement target since his property was raided on June 13, 2013.
According to U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan, Twilleager’s sentencing is scheduled for December 6, where he faces up to ten years imprisonment under federal law. Prosecutors and the defense are recommending a five-year sentence.
The investigation uncovered a storage locker brimming with illegal explosives and firearms. On June 11, 2013, ATF agents found more than two sticks of Emulsion explosives, four blasting caps, six firearms, including three rifles, two shotguns, and a handgun. Ammunition and empty magazines were also seized.
Further searches at Twilleager’s home and the Ghost Rider’s clubhouse shed revealed additional firearms and ammunition. One of the weapons recovered was a J.C. Higgins model 20 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun with no serial number, which violated Twilleager’s rights as a convicted felon.
Twilleager was previously convicted of second-degree murder in Grant County, Washington, in 1994 and is prohibited from possessing firearms and explosives. The ATF led the investigation, with support from local law enforcement agencies including the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, the Washington State Patrol SWAT Team, and the South Sound Gang Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory A. Gruber.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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