The notorious Hells Angels biker gang allegedly used a California funeral home dubbed a “pizza oven” to dispose of bodies, federal prosecutors allege.
Merl Hefferman, a member of the Sonoma County Hells Angels, told Levi Phipps, manager of Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno, that he wanted to get rid of something — which Phipps understood to mean a human body, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Prosecutors allege Hefferman, 54, used the funeral home’s crematorium to cremate the remains of Joel Silva, a biker gang member killed in 2014, and three others.
“Merl Hefferman arranged for Joel Silva’s body to be cremated illegally. This was purposeful, planned conduct,” prosecutors wrote in court documents obtained by the Times.
“Hefferman obstructed justice. He also caused immense pain to Silva’s family: they had no body to mourn, no closure, and no certainty about what had happened to Silva until … almost eight years after Silva disappeared.”
Sonoma County Hells Angels member Merl Hefferman is accused of using a funeral home to dispose of murder victims’ bodies, according to federal prosecutors. Merl Hefferman/Facebook A group of bikers allegedly used the crematorium at Yost & Webb Funeral Home in Fresno to dispose of the bodies of Joel Silva and three others.Google Maps
Hefferman pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice by disposing of Silva’s body in December — but he has yet to be charged or convicted in connection with three other alleged cremations of people killed by members of the crime club.
Three Hells Angels were convicted of killing Silva in part: Brian Wendt was convicted of shooting Silva in the head and two senior members of the Hells Angels — Jonathan Nelson and Russell Taylor Ott — were convicted of murder for masterminding the killing, the LA Times reported.
Phipps testified that he did not know who the other three bodies were but claimed that Hefferman ordered him to burn them.
Hefferman pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice by disposing of Silva’s body in December.Alamy Stock Photo
The cremation timeline coincides with the disappearance of three Hells Angels members: Robbie Huff — who helped cover up Silva’s murder — and Art Carasis, who disappeared in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Hefferman’s attorney identified the fourth missing person as Juan Guevara, another member of the Hells Angels, according to the newspaper.
Phipps’ testimony matched recorded calls between himself and Hefferman, who contacted the funeral home manager around the time of each disappearance, prosecutors said.
“The very similar pattern of contact between Hefferman and Phipps near the time of both Silva’s murder and Huff’s disappearance is strong support for Phipps’ grand jury testimony,” prosecutors wrote.
Prosecutors have asked that Hefferman be sentenced to seven years in prison.Merl Hefferman/Facebook
Hefferman’s attorneys accused prosecutors of pulling a “Hail Mary” attempt to tie him to other disposals of bodies that have never been charged.
The judge has refused to allow prosecutors to mention three more cremations during the trial.
“Despite ample opportunity to do so, it is clear that the government did not find Phipps sufficiently credible to seek additional charges through a grand jury or to include in a conspiracy charge,” his lawyer claimed.
Hefferman is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday.
Prosecutors had asked for seven years in prison while his lawyers asked for two and a half years.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
