N E W S  R E L E A S E

Glenn T. Suddaby, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and John Pikus, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI, Albany Division, today announced that Chief U.S. District Court Judge Norman Mordue sentenced James Henry McAuley, Jr., a/k/a “Mitch”, 59, of Rochester, New York, to eight years in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1959. McAuley, a long time member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, had been charged with conspiring to murder members of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club in Fulton New York because the Kingsmen, who were affiliated with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, were establishing a chapter in the Hells Angels territory. Fortunately, an informant alerted the FBI and, working closely with local authorities, the deadly scheme was derailed before any shots were fired.

U.S. Attorney Suddaby had high praise for the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. He also expressed his appreciation of the support and cooperation provided by Donald Dodd and the District Attorney’s Office in Oswego County.

McAuley’s co-defendant, Patrick Lawless, also pled guilty to participating in the scheme. Lawless’s sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2008, at which time he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg West who can be reached at (315) 448-0672.