DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida

For Immediate Release

Friday, July 17, 2015
Wifredo A. Ferrer
, United States Attorney
Contact: Sarah Schall

Pagans Motorcycle Club Members Convicted of Firearms Charges

Two members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club were convicted of firearms offenses at trial. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Ken J. Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, William D. Snyder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and Michelle Morris, Chief, Sebastian Police Department, made the announcement.

Richard Todd Badali, 52, of Castelberry, and Thomas Richard Laakmann, 60, of Orange City, were convicted of all charges following a jury trial in Fort Pierce, Florida, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Donald L. Graham.  Badali was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g) and sale of a firearm to a known convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d).   Laakmann was convicted of possession of a firearm, after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(9) and sale of a firearm to a known convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d).

Badali and Laakmann will both be sentenced by Senior Judge Graham in Miami, Florida on a date not yet scheduled in September 2015.  At sentencing, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

According to court records and trial testimony, between August 9, 2011 and September 3, 2011, Badali agreed to sell a 9mm pistol to another Pagans Motorcycle Club member who was cooperating with the FBI.  The cooperating source secretly recorded conversations with Badali and Laakmann regarding the sale of the firearm.  Laakmann delivered the firearm to the cooperating source on September 3, 2011, at the Pagans’ clubhouse in Sebastian, Florida.

These charges were the result of a multi-year federal, state and local law enforcement task force operation targeting the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club.  The operation resulted in the conviction of nine individuals for violations of federal firearms and narcotics laws.

U.S. Attorney Ferrer stated, “[T]his verdict reflects the commitment of this Office and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in combating the illegal trafficking in firearms.”

“This operation exemplifies the cooperation among federal, state and local agencies to target dangerous individuals who through illegal gun sales may threaten the safety of our communities,” stated St. Lucie County Sheriff Mascara. 

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, ATF, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, Martin County Sheriff’s Office and Sebastian Police Department in Indian River County.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell R. Killinger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan L. Butler.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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Miami Field Division