Kingsmen President and Nomad, Convicted by a Federal Jury of Murder and Racketeering, Sentenced to Life in Prison

A leader and member of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club (KMC) who committed execution style murders were sentenced for their roles in a major racketeering operation that involved violence and murder.

David Pirk, 68, KMC National President, and Andre Jenkins, aka Little Bear, 40, a “nomad” which performed the role of  “enforcer” within the KMC, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to serve three consecutive life terms plus 10 years in prison for their convictions following a four-month jury trial of RICO conspiracy, possession of firearms in furtherance of crime of violence, murder in aid of racketeering, possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, using and maintaining premises for drug dealing and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Jenkins was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Pirk and Jenkins resided in Eustis, Florida prior to going to prison.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. for the Western District of New York, Special Agent in Charge Kevin Kelly of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo and Special Agent in Charge Gary Loeffert of FBI Buffalo Field Office made the announcement.

“While their roles within the brutally violent Kingsmen Motorcycle Club may have been different, David Pirk and Andre Jenkins today share the same well-deserved fate: a lengthy prison sentence for ordering and carrying out the execution of two fellow gang members, among other serious crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “Outlaw motorcycle gangs like the Kingsmen pose a significant threat to the safety and security of our communities, and I applaud the efforts of our prosecutors and our federal and local law enforcement partners in bringing these violent criminals to justice.”

“Through this prosecution, both the national president, who ordered the executions, as well as the trigger pulling member of an outlaw motorcycle club were finally brought to justice and held accountable for two senseless murders,” said U.S. Attorney Kennedy.  “Those murders, together with numerous depraved and heinous acts of violence committed by defendants and others in the club, justify the sentences imposed and fittingly demonstrate that the defendants’ quest to become “1 percenters” ultimately cost them 100 percent of their freedom for 100 percent of the rest of their lives.” 

“These life sentences handed down today are a clear and concise message that this criminal organization will be held accountable for their unruly and unjust actions” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Kelly.  “HSI is committed to protecting the public and working with its law enforcement partners to combat organizations such as these.”

“Violent groups--whether a neighborhood street gang or a violent motorcycle gang--don't belong in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Loeffert.  “Our thoughts are with the Maue and Szymanski families today, and all those who have been impacted by the violence committed under the Kingsmen colors over the years.” 

According to evidence presented by the government at trial, beginning in 2013, certain KMC members, including defendant David Pirk, wanted to establish the KMC as a one percent club.  The one percent refers to a previous statement by a representative of the American Motorcycle Association that 99 percent of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens with the remaining one percent engaged in certain activities such as drug and firearm trafficking and acts of violence.  The defendants, and others, participated in, directly and indirectly, acts of murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.

According to evidence presented at trial, acts of violence committed by the KMC include:

• In September 2014, Pirk told defendant Jenkins to “take care of it.” This was in reference to KMC members Paul Maue and Daniel “DJ” Szymanski who were murdered behind the North Tonawanda KMC Chapter clubhouse on Sept. 6, 2014;
• On June 7, 2013, KMC forcibly shut down the Springville Chapter and strip members of their colors because they were non-compliant members.  Brandishing firearms, KMC members struck a victim in the head with a blunt object and stole items from the Springville clubhouse.  They then used bleach to clean areas where the victim bled and cut and removed portions of the rug, which contained blood; and
• On Sept. 12, 2009, a female victim was punched repeatedly in the face by a KMC member and then held against her will for three days to conceal her facial injuries from police.   

The investigation was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assisting in the investigation were the FBI Knoxville, Tennessee and Jacksonville, Florida Field Offices; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office; the Buffalo Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the New York State Police; the Olean Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; the Amherst Police Department; the Town of Tonawanda Police Department; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police; the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department; the Hamburg Police Department; the North Tonawanda Police Department and the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.  Trial Attorney Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Tripi and Brendan Cullinane for the Western District of New York prosecuted the case.