Biker gangs not implicated in stabbing, but members cause trouble, police say

By Nate Giarnese

In the wake of Sunday's deadly stabbing, which apparently had more to do with bad blood and booze than bikers, police describe an alarming criminal network of highly organized motorcycle gangs stretching from Tamworth to the methamphetamine-soaked West Coast.While Sunday's homicide erupted at the home of local Diablo, Tom Brennan, who like numerous members of outlaw clubs, has a federal weapons conviction, police say gang involvement in Sunday's bloody crime appears incidental.But the Diablos are "sanctioned" to sell drugs here by the most powerful club of all, the Hells Angels, police say. The club's New Hampshire chapter president lived in Ossipee and likely still does, said Ossipee Police Chief Richard Morgan.For years the Angels, whose hands are stained in the deadly synthetic speed known as crystal methamphetamine, largely infused from California, forced the Diablos to hide their colors."If they saw them, the Angels would beat them up," Morgan said.But about three years ago, as rival gang, The Outlaws, began to bully into the region, Angels and Diablos aligned against them, making for an increasingly tense, but largely clandestine turf war."We are talking about a criminal enterprise that is very organized," Morgan said. "The Hells Angels are well past fighting on street corners."While gang members are not regularly arrested, police say investigators are always watching for signs of trouble. Currently, they say at least one known local Diablo, Donald Plug, is facing methamphetamine and cocaine charges here in Carroll County Superior Court.The antennae are up, said Ossipee Police Lt. Donald Grow. Its something in the back of our mind.In the recent past, one Ossipee Diablo was knocked off his bike in Porter, Maine, by Outlaws."They ran him off his bike and ripped of his colors," Morgan said."It's all about drug territory," he said. "The Outlaws are trying to make inroads into New Hampshire." Police say the Diablos, known locally for organizing charitable benefits, are not as fuzzy as the pink bunnies seen strapped to choppers as bikers rumble along on toy drives. The Tamworth school board last year rejected an offer by the club, saying it did not want to associate its fundraiser with the club, the town's chief said.Tamworth Police Chief Dan Poirier said Brennan is the sole Diablo living in his town, but his blue trailer draws others in to party."The neighbors are disturbed," Poirier said. "But they are afraid to report it. He's been a problem for years."Brennan pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge in 2002 and is a convicted burglar, the Union Leader reported Monday.He could not be reached by telephone for comment Monday afternoon. The number listed on a sign for his bike shop outside his home has been disconnected.