The founder of a Stockton biker gang has been charged with firearms offenses.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Jashanpreet Singh, 26, of Lodi.
The big picture: Singh was charged with unlawful dealing of firearms, unlawful possession of a machine gun and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
- The case is part of Operation Take Back America.
Driving the news: Singh founded the Punjabi Devils motorcycle club, which is a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle gang associated with the Hells Angels.
- On June 6, Singh attempted to sell several weapons to an undercover officer, including a short-barreled rifle, three other assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices and a revolver.
- Officers searched Singh’s residence and found additional firearms, including a machine gun, a machine gun conversion device and a silencer.
- Singh also had a pineapple-style capped and fused hand grenade, and what law enforcement believed to be a military electronic capped claymore mine.
- Those items were destroyed at the scene by the Explosives Ordinance Detail of the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department bomb team.
State of play: Singh was initially facing state charges in San Joaquin County for the offenses, but he failed to appear in court on July 21, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection notified the FBI on July 23 that Singh had booked a ticket to India from San Francisco, scheduled for July 26.
- Officers located and arrested Singh at the airport on July 26. He remains in federal custody.
What we’re watching: Singh faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of unlawful dealing in firearms.
- He also faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of possession and transfer of a machine gun, as well as 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of unlawful possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
