The biker club took over the empty building at 241 Longstreet Ave.

In 2010, Zito filed a $5 million lawsuit against the cable network FX, alleging that he had a development meeting with them in 2006, in which he pitched the idea of an outlaw motorcycle group. Comments on a community message board suggest this will now be the safest block in the Bronx. Zito has a daughter, Lisa, with his ex-wife Kathy.

He also appeared in SOA creator Kurt Sutter's Discovery Channel documentary series, Outlaw Empires. He also read up a little on the group, and on their old digs in the East Village. [11] Fifteen of the arrests took place in the New York metropolitan area, where the New York City chapter headquarters on Manhattan's Lower East Side was raided, and at least one Uzi submachine gun and an undetermined quantity of drugs were seized. Promoted By New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud, Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. [5], Zito was among a group of twenty Hells Angels arrested by a task force composed of agents from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Illinois State Police, and the Chicago Police Department at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago after a high-speed car chase along the Northwest Tollway on December 11, 1994. It was once an American Legion property. The notorious motorcycle group has already decorated their new spot with their insignia on the front of the building, located on a stretch of road that is almost entirely residential. Charles Carmine Zito Jr. (born March 1, 1953) is an American actor, amateur boxer, martial artist, celebrity bodyguard, stuntman, former boxing trainer and former president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels. Over the years Zito has alternated with stunt work and acting with credits for stunt work in films like 15 Minutes and acting roles in the film This Thing of Ours. [14] Working as bodyguards for Bon Jovi on tour in Japan, Zito and fellow Hells Angels member Herbert Reynolds Kittel surrendered to the United States Embassy in Tokyo on July 22, 1985 after they were the subject of a nationwide dragnet by Japanese police at the request of the FBI. The contingent, which included senior Hells Angels members from across the country, had been attending a meeting to formally mark the club's merger of the Hell's Henchmen MC in Rockford, Illinois. A staff lawyer for Councilmember Mark Gjonaj, who represents Throggs Neck, was part of the sale and represented the Hells Angels. In February 1998, Zito allegedly repeatedly punched Jean-Claude Van Damme at the Scores club in Manhattan, New York.

[4] His father boxed under the ring name Al LaBarba. News 12 reached out to the Hells Angels, but they did not return a call to comment. Parlaying his connection, Zito began a career as a stuntman working on films such as Year of the Dragon, Hudson Hawk, and The Rock.

[23], Zito appeared on the January 11th 1999 edition of WCW Monday Nitro accompanying Hollywood Hulk Hogan to the ring alongside several other members of the Hells Angels. In 2016, a member was charged with shooting a man in a parking spot dispute. Americans Wanted in New York Extradited to U.S. Biker killed in gang fight at Hellraiser Ball, 'Hellraisers' brawl: L.I. [30], Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Happy Birthday To New Rochelle's Chuck Zito, 100 Hells Angel members are arrested in drug sweep, FBI Full Steam On Hells Angels Crackdown, Japan to Extradite Two Hells Angels in Narcotics Case, Japan to grant extradition of Hells Angels.

His sentence was reduced to seven years' in 1988,[8] and he ultimately served six years at nineteen different federal prisons. [17], He was also present at the Hellraiser Ball, a tattoo and motorcycle trade exposition in Plainview, New York sponsored by the Long Island chapter of the HAMC, which was ambushed by dozens of members of the rival Pagan's Motorcycle Club on February 23, 2002, resulting in one biker being killed and at least ten injured. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. In 1980, after assisting the bodyguards of actor Robert Conrad at a motorcycle convention, Zito began his own bodyguard agency. [1], Zito was born in New York, the second of three children of Charles Zito Sr. and Gloria Frangione. [9] The nomads chapter was allegedly formed after some members became frustrated with restrictions on narcotics distribution imposed by senior members of the New York City faction. [28], In August 1999, Zito suffered a broken right leg that required surgery, road rash on his right arm and a concussion after a motorcycle he was riding hit a pothole in Pelham Bay in the Bronx. authorities. biker-gang rumble leaves 1 dead, 10 hurt, Chuck Zito: Inside the life of a New York tough guy, "A Stuntman Is Ready For a Leap to Stardom", "Ex-Hells Angel: 'Sons of Anarchy' Was MY Idea! Residents told News 12 that they havent had any problems yet but believe it will get much noisier when warm weather comes. Hells Angels just moved into their new clubhouse in the quiet Throggs Neck section of the Bronx, upsetting some who are concerned it will disrupt their peaceful water views. The drivers of three passenger vans carrying the bikers were charged with speeding, while the passengers were charged with disorderly conduct. [29], He holds the rank of sixth-degree black belt in Isshin-ry karate, and has also studied Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo Gracie, as well as kung fu and stick-fighting. Alejandro Coban hasn't met any of the members yet, but isn't sure he loves the idea of being right next to their new NYC home.

He was seen with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Dwayne Johnson at the Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson pre-fight party on June 8, 2002 at the Memphis Pyramid. The New York City Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club is now calling Throgs Neck home and has residents in the quiet neighborhood speaking out. [5] At the age of seventeen, Zito dropped out of New Rochelle High School and married his high school sweetheart, Kathy. [3] The son of a professional welterweight boxer, Zito was taught at an early age how to fight and defend himself. [26] On December 11, 2011, a court judgment was ruled against Zito. [8] After rising to the rank of vice-president in the New York City chapter, Zito assisted in the formation of the Hells Angels New York nomads chapter in November 1984 and became the chapter's president. Zito was never charged with the bombing. [7] Zito would later become a member of the New York City chapter of the Hells Angels in May 1979. [16] Zito pleaded guilty to one felony drug count in late 1986 and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. He was sentenced to twelve days in jail. Named Charlie's Angels Bodyguard Services, Zito initially provided protection for actress Lorna Luft and later was hired by her half-sister Liza Minnelli. Theyre not called the angels from heaven or the community angels or the guardian angels," he said. All rights reserved, Lee Zeldin Attacked By Man With Weapon During Campaign Rally in Race for NY Governor, Bronx Teen With Toy Gun Seen in TikTok Trend Shot to Death By Off-Duty Correction Officer, Polio Found in Rockland County, Possibly First U.S. Case in Decades, Incredibly Immune-Evasive' COVID Variant Fuels NY Reinfections, Hospitalization Rate Up 35% in Month. On October 14, the Tokyo High Court approved an extradition request by U.S. According to government sources, Hells Angel-turned-government witness John Joseph "Pirate" Miller informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that Zito and another Hells Angel, Philip "Lightfoot" Kramer, used a remote-controlled device from a model airplane to detonate C-4 explosives attached to a vehicle belonging to Giangarra, who survived without serious injury. [6] In 2002, Zito pleaded guilty to violating a protective order that prohibited him from contacting his wife. [6], A motorcycle enthusiast, Zito established the New Rochelle Motorcycle Club in 1974, which merged with the Bronx-based Ching-a-Ling Nomads in 1976. In 2003, Zito released his autobiography, Street Justice, co-authored with Joe Layden. A Bronx community just got a new neighbor, and some locals aren't too thrilled with the group that will now be riding near their backyard barbecues. [24] In 2006, Zito expanded into radio with the show Chuck Zito's View on Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio station.[25]. Zito appeared in Sons of Anarchy season 5, as Frankie Diamonds. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said he will be reaching out to law enforcement about residents concerns. "The bikes are silent, they don't go 'vroom vroom' nice and low," he said. Coban said hed welcome one of those house calls, but in the meantime hes worried about house values dropping. [2] He was raised in the Bronx and New Rochelle. "No, theyre called Hells Angels!". Others said that they are not upset about their new neighbors and believe it could add security to the neighborhood. [10], On May 2, 1985, 133 Hells Angels members and associates were arrested on racketeering and drug trafficking charges after a series of law enforcement raids in fourteen cities across the United States. Some said the club's reputation precedes them and has no place in the neighborhood. He allegedly earned his membership in the club by attempting to murder Robert Giangarra, a Queens pizzeria owner who had previously shot and injured HAMC member Cortland "Chip" Candow in a bar in Manhattan. In 1996, after a meeting with producer Tom Fontana, Zito joined the HBO prison drama Oz as mobster Chucky Pancamo.

[15] After detaining the pair in a Tokyo prison for four months, the Japanese Ministry of Justice released Zito and Kittel into the custody of U.S. Justice Department officials in Tokyo on October 26. "Honest to God, I truly believe theyre going to make it safer, I do, I have no problem with them here," said one woman who lived in the area, who added that one member stopped by her house to reach out and say hello. His involvement with the Hells Angels motorcycle club eventually led to their divorce. [18][19] A Hells Angel was charged with second-degree murder and seventy-three Pagan members were indicted on federal racketeering charges in the aftermath of the incident.

The indictments were the culmination of Operation Roughrider, a three-year FBI investigation into the club. Following in his father's footsteps, Zito became an amateur boxer and fought in New York Golden Gloves while working manual labor. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against the City of New York, claiming compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and repair costs for the motorcycle. He alleges that FX blew him off and then stole his idea, which became the FX show Sons of Anarchy. ", Is Pamela Anderson rekindling romance with ex beau Chuck Zito, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chuck_Zito&oldid=1099717720, American people convicted of drug offenses, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Actor, boxer, pugilist bodyguard, martial artist, stuntman, This page was last edited on 22 July 2022, at 07:01. [12][13] A warrant was issued for Zito's arrest on charges of selling 15.8 ounces of methamphetamine in New York state in November 1984. [22] The actress recommended Zito's service to her plethora of celebrity acquaintances, allowing Zito to quickly develop contacts throughout Hollywood. [9] Zito has stated that he "did six years for a phone call that [he] didnt make to a man who sold drugs", and claims that he was bodyguarding actor Mickey Rourke on the set of Year of the Dragon in Vancouver when the phone call allegedly took place. The Hells Angels chapter is not commenting on the move publicly. "Who wants to live next to them? [20], In 2005, Zito left the Hells Angels, after twenty-five years, to focus on his acting career.[21].

In 2013, Zito competed on Food Network Television's Chopped along with NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, NFL star Tiki Barber, and Olympic Champion Natalie Coughlin. But there are others in the community that say give the Hells Angels a chance to show maybe they are angelic neighbors. [27] Zito was also previously in a relationship with actress Pamela Anderson. "So what happens the day they take my parking spot and I feel like, you know what God d----t I'm gonna go park my car in front (of theirs), am I going to get shot?". NBC New York asked the council members spokesperson if that shouldve been disclosed, to which he said it was a private transaction and added that his office will make sure the Hells Angels abide by the law.