--- title: "Pagans MC: 1959 Founding, Surtur Patch, Chapters & Rivals" slug: "all-about-the-notorious-pagan-biker-gang" description: "Pagans MC own the East Coast. Inside the 1959 founding, the Norse fire-giant Surtur patch, why they wear no bottom rocker, and the Hells Angels feud." pubDate: 2022-07-05T00:00:00.000Z canonical: https://bobberbrothers.com/pages/all-about-the-notorious-pagan-biker-gang/ --- The Pagans Motorcycle Club is one of the four largest outlaw motorcycle clubs in the United States, classified by the US Department of Justice National Gang Intelligence Center alongside the Hells Angels, Outlaws, and Bandidos. Unlike the other three, the Pagans operate almost entirely along the East Coast and have not expanded internationally. The club has been the subject of decades of federal investigation and academic research. | Field | Documented detail | |---|---| | Founded | 1959, Prince George's County, Maryland | | Founder | Lou Dobkin | | Original membership | 13 riders on Triumph motorcycles | | Center patch | Surtur (Norse fire giant) on the sun, sword in hand | | Notable patch feature | No bottom rocker (chapter location not displayed) | | Documented presence | East Coast US (DOJ National Gang Threat Assessment) | | Federal classification | "Big Four" outlaw motorcycle gang (DOJ) | This article covers the documented history of the Pagans MC: founding, patch symbology, territorial development, recorded conflicts, and the club's documented place in American outlaw motorcycle culture. Sources for every claim are listed at the bottom. For the broader context on outlaw motorcycle club structure, our [one-percenter motorcycle clubs](/pages/1-percenter-biker/) guide is the cluster reference. ## Founding of the Pagans MC The Pagans Motorcycle Club was founded in 1959 in Prince George's County, Maryland, by Lou Dobkin. The original group had 13 members. At first they did not look like the outlaw clubs of later decades. The early Pagans wore blue denim cutoffs and rode Triumph motorcycles, more of a riding club than an outlaw organization. That changed within a few years. By the mid-1960s, the Pagans had transitioned into a one-percenter outlaw motorcycle club, and the club has held that classification across published reporting and federal documentation ever since. By the mid-1960s, the Pagans started transitioning into a [one-percenter](/pages/1-percenter-biker/) outlaw motorcycle club. Members traded their Triumphs for Harley-Davidsons. The blue denim gave way to black leather. The club adopted the structure, rules, and attitude of the outlaw biker world --- and they never looked back. A man named John "Satan" Marron is widely credited with transforming the Pagans from a local riding club into a full-blown outlaw MC during this period. Under his leadership through the late 1960s and 1970s, the club grew aggressively, absorbing smaller clubs and expanding into new states. ## The Surtur Patch: Pagans MC Colors Every MC is defined by its colors, and the Pagans patch is one of the most recognizable in the outlaw world. The center patch depicts Surtur (also spelled Surtr), a fire giant from Norse mythology. In the old Norse stories, Surtur wields a flaming sword and is destined to set the world on fire during Ragnarok --- the end of all things. On the Pagans patch, Surtur is shown seated on the sun, holding a sword. The image is painted in red, blue, and black. It is a striking piece of imagery that fits the club's identity perfectly. One thing that separates the Pagans from most other MCs: they do not wear a bottom rocker. Most clubs use a bottom rocker to identify their chapter's geographic location. The Pagans skip it entirely. This is a deliberate choice --- it makes it harder for law enforcement and rivals to identify which chapter a member belongs to or where he is based. To learn more about what different patches mean in the MC world, check out our guide on the meaning of biker patches. ### Common Pagans MC Patches Beyond the center patch, Pagans members wear several other patches that carry specific meanings within the club: - **"Live and Die"** --- The unofficial motto of the Pagans. This is sometimes called Patch Number 4. - **SS bolts** --- Patch Number 5. Some members wear patches or tattoos with Nazi-associated imagery, which has been documented by law enforcement and journalists. - **"In Memory" patch** --- Patch Number 7. Worn to honor fallen brothers. - **Chapter patch** --- Patch Number 9. Identifies a member's chapter affiliation. - **Mother Chapter patch** --- Patch Number 13. Signifies a connection to the club's national leadership, known as the Mother Club. Some members also display acronym patches like "ARGO" and "NUNYA," which translate to profane phrases directed at outsiders asking questions. ## Pagans MC Territory: East Coast Dominance The Pagans are an East Coast club through and through. While the Hells Angels dominate the West Coast and the Bandidos control much of the South and Southwest, the Pagans have carved out their own territory along the Eastern Seaboard. Their strongest presence has historically been in: - **Pennsylvania** --- long considered the heart of Pagans territory - **New Jersey** --- a major stronghold - **Delaware** --- strong presence since the early days - **Maryland** --- where it all started - **New York** --- particularly Long Island and upstate - **Virginia and West Virginia** - **Ohio** - **North Carolina and South Carolina** - **Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island** - **Florida** --- expanding presence, which has led to conflicts - **Kentucky** The club has also maintained a chapter in Puerto Rico. At various points, the Pagans have claimed chapters in more than a dozen states. Their expansion strategy has often involved patching over smaller clubs --- absorbing existing motorcycle clubs into the Pagans organization. This allowed them to grow quickly without having to build chapters from scratch in new areas. ## The Pagans and the Big Four The Pagans MC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI as one of the "Big Four" outlaw motorcycle gangs in the United States. The other three are the Hells Angels, the Bandidos, and the Outlaws MC. Together, these four clubs represent the largest and most influential outlaw motorcycle organizations in the country. What sets the Pagans apart from the other three is their structure. The Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Outlaws are all international organizations with chapters across multiple countries. The Pagans have remained almost entirely domestic, concentrated on the U.S. East Coast. They are smaller in total membership than the Hells Angels or Bandidos, but within their territory, they are the dominant force. ## Rivalry with the Hells Angels The most well-known rivalry in the Pagans' history is with the Hells Angels. This beef is not casual --- it has been violent, persistent, and spans decades. If you follow outlaw biker culture at all, you have heard about it. The root of the conflict is territory. For years, the East Coast was Pagans country. Period. No discussion. Then the Hells Angels, headquartered in Oakland, California, began expanding eastward in the 1960s and 1970s. They established chapters in New York City, Connecticut, and other eastern cities, which the Pagans saw as a direct invasion of their backyard. The Pagans did not take it quietly. What followed was decades of tension, confrontations, and outright violence between the two clubs. Law enforcement agencies across the East Coast have documented hundreds of incidents tied to this rivalry. ### The Hellraiser Ball Incident (2002) One of the most widely reported clashes happened in 2002 at a Hells Angels event on Long Island, New York. Approximately 100 Pagans in a fleet of vans showed up at the Hells Angels' Hellraiser Ball at the Vanderbilt catering hall in Plainview, New York. A large-scale brawl erupted involving knives, bats, and firearms. One Pagan - Robert Rutherford, 51, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania - was shot and killed, and at least 10 others were injured. Seventy-three Pagans were charged with rioting and weapons offenses. Hundreds of weapons were recovered from the scene. This event was significant because it showed the Pagans were willing to bring the fight directly to the Angels on their own turf, and the scale of the confrontation drew national attention. ### Ongoing Tensions The rivalry did not end there. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, there have been documented confrontations between the two clubs in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged the Hells Angels-Pagans conflict as one of the most dangerous ongoing rivalries in the outlaw biker world. The expansion of both clubs into Florida and other southeastern states has created new flashpoints. As the Hells Angels push into areas the Pagans consider theirs, the potential for conflict remains. --- **Ride with your colors on.** If you are looking for patches, back patches, or riding gear that shows who you are, check out our [patches collection](/collections/patches-merch/) and [t-shirt collection](/collections/t-shirts/). Built for riders, not posers. --- ## Rivalry with the Warlocks MC The Hells Angels are not the only club the Pagans have clashed with. The [Warlocks Motorcycle Club](/pages/the-warlocks-biker-gang/) has also been a longstanding rival, particularly in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Florida. The Warlocks and Pagans have overlapping territory in several key areas, and that has led to violence over the years. The two clubs have been involved in documented shootings, assaults, and other confrontations going back to the 1970s. In some cases, the conflict has been over specific bars, rally events, or stretches of highway that both clubs consider their territory. ## Rivalry with the Outlaws MC The Pagans have also had a complicated relationship with the [Outlaws Motorcycle Club](/pages/the-outlaws-biker-gang/). At various points, the two clubs have been allies against the Hells Angels --- both see the Angels' eastward expansion as a threat. But there have also been periods of tension between the Pagans and Outlaws, especially in areas where their territories overlap, such as Florida, Virginia, and the Carolinas. The outlaw biker world does not have permanent alliances. Relationships between clubs shift based on territory, leadership changes, and events on the ground. Other regional 1%er clubs like the Iron Horsemen MC in Cincinnati and the Outcasts MC in Detroit have ridden through the same shifting alliances and rivalries along the East Coast and Midwest. ## Pagans MC Structure and Organization The Pagans operate under a structure that is common among outlaw MCs but with some unique elements. ### The Mother Club At the top of the Pagans organization is the Mother Club, sometimes called the Mother Chapter. This is the national leadership body. Unlike some clubs that have a single national president, the Pagans' Mother Club operates more as a governing council. Members of the Mother Club are drawn from chapters across the organization. The Mother Club makes decisions on matters that affect the entire club: expansion into new territories, truces or wars with rival clubs, and discipline of members who break club rules. ### Chapter Structure Below the Mother Club, each local chapter has its own officers: - **President** --- runs the chapter - **Vice President** --- second in command - **Sergeant-at-Arms** --- enforces club rules and handles security - **Secretary/Treasurer** --- manages chapter finances and records New members go through a prospecting period before being patched in as full members. Prospects must prove their loyalty and commitment to the club before being given full colors. ### Secrecy The Pagans are known for being one of the most secretive outlaw MCs. They maintain almost no public-facing presence. Unlike the Hells Angels, who have a well-known website and a degree of public relations savvy, the Pagans keep things locked down. Their website, when it has existed, has been minimal --- mostly used for event announcements. Members do not typically give interviews. This secrecy extends to their refusal to wear bottom rockers, as mentioned earlier. ## Notable Law Enforcement Operations The Pagans have been the target of numerous federal and state law enforcement operations over the decades. ### Operation Midnight Ride (2023) In June 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced charges against multiple Pagans members and associates as part of a racketeering investigation. The indictment alleged that members engaged in acts of violence, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses in furtherance of the club's activities. This was one of the most significant federal cases against the Pagans in recent years. ### Long Island Arrests (2018-2019) In 2018 and 2019, multiple Pagans members were arrested on Long Island, New York, as part of federal investigations into drug distribution and violent crimes. These arrests followed a period of Pagans expansion into the New York metropolitan area, which brought them into increased conflict with local gangs and rival MCs. ### New Jersey RICO Case (2009) In 2009, a federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) case targeted Pagans members in New Jersey. The case resulted in convictions for drug trafficking, extortion, and acts of violence. ### Philadelphia and South Jersey Operations Law enforcement in the Philadelphia and South Jersey corridor has conducted multiple operations against the Pagans over the years. This area has long been one of the club's strongest territories, and the concentration of chapters there has made it a focus for federal task forces. ## Pagans MC Membership Requirements Like most outlaw motorcycle clubs, the Pagans have strict membership requirements: - **You must ride a Harley-Davidson or American-made motorcycle.** This is standard across most one-percenter clubs. - **You must be sponsored by a full-patch member.** - **You must complete a prospecting period.** The length varies, but prospects are expected to do whatever the chapter asks of them during this time. - **You must be male.** Women are not admitted as members, though they may be associated with the club in other capacities. - **You must not be a law enforcement officer or former law enforcement.** This rule is taken extremely seriously. The club has also been known to recruit from military veterans and other motorcycle clubs that are being patched over. Veterans, in particular, are valued for their discipline, loyalty, and comfort with hierarchy --- qualities that translate directly to life in an outlaw MC. ## Current Status of the Pagans MC The Pagans MC remains active and is, by some accounts, growing. Law enforcement sources have noted a significant expansion of Pagans chapters in recent years, particularly in the southeastern United States and the New York metropolitan area. Reports from ATF and FBI briefings have described the Pagans as one of the fastest-growing outlaw motorcycle clubs in the country during the 2010s and into the 2020s. The club continues to recruit new members and patch over smaller clubs. This absorption strategy --- bringing entire existing MCs into the Pagans fold --- has been a hallmark of the club since the 1960s and remains a key growth tactic. When a smaller club gets patched over, its members trade their old colors for Pagans patches and fall under the Mother Club's authority. Federal law enforcement continues to monitor the Pagans closely, and new cases and investigations emerge regularly. The 2023 Virginia RICO indictment showed that the government is still actively building cases against the club's organizational structure, not just individual members. Despite ongoing pressure from law enforcement, the Pagans have survived for over 65 years. They have outlasted many smaller clubs, weathered internal conflicts, endured federal prosecutions, and maintained their grip on the East Coast. Among outlaw motorcycle clubs, longevity like that does not happen by accident. It takes discipline, loyalty, and a willingness to fight for what you claim as yours. ## The Pagans Within the Big Four Of the four clubs that the US Department of Justice classifies together as the most prominent US outlaw motorcycle gangs, the Pagans are the only one that has remained almost entirely domestic. The Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Outlaws have all expanded into multiple countries across multiple continents. The Pagans have concentrated their documented operations along the East Coast of the United States, with a Puerto Rico chapter as the only territory outside the contiguous US. For more historical context on how outlaw clubs operate and what separates them from other types of motorcycle organizations, the [motorcycle clubs complete guide](/pages/motorcycle-clubs-complete-guide/) is the cluster pillar. ## Frequently Asked Questions About the Pagans MC ### When were the Pagans MC founded? The Pagans Motorcycle Club was founded in 1959 in Prince George's County, Maryland, by Lou Dobkin. The club started with 13 original members. ### What does the Pagans MC patch mean? The Pagans center patch depicts Surtur, a Norse fire giant from mythology. Surtur is shown seated on the sun, holding a sword. In Norse legend, Surtur is destined to destroy the world with fire during Ragnarok. ### Why don't the Pagans wear a bottom rocker? The Pagans deliberately skip the bottom rocker that most MCs use to identify chapter locations. This is a security measure --- it makes it harder for law enforcement and rivals to determine where a member is based. ### Are the Pagans MC enemies of the Hells Angels? Yes. The Pagans and Hells Angels have been rivals for decades. The conflict is rooted in territorial disputes as the Hells Angels expanded eastward into areas the Pagans consider their territory. ### How many Pagans MC chapters are there? The exact number fluctuates, but the Pagans have been reported to have chapters in more than a dozen U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Law enforcement estimates have placed membership in the hundreds to over a thousand at various points. ### What is the Pagans MC motto? The Pagans' unofficial motto is "Live and Die," which is worn as a patch by members. ### Are the Pagans MC one of the Big Four? Yes. The Pagans MC is one of the four largest outlaw motorcycle clubs in the United States, along with the Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Outlaws MC. They are recognized as such by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI. ## Sources - [U.S. Department of Justice --- Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs](https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ocgs/gallery/outlaw-motorcycle-gangs-omgs) --- DOJ overview and federal classification of outlaw MCs including the Pagans - [FBI --- 55 Members and Associates of the Pagans Motorcycle Club Indicted](https://www.fbi.gov/pittsburgh/press-releases/2009/pt100609.htm) --- FBI press release on the 2009 Western Pennsylvania RICO case - [Hells Angel is accused of killing Pagan](https://www.deseret.com/2002/2/25/19639922/hells-angel-is-accused-of-killing-pagan/) --- Deseret News reporting on the 2002 Hellraiser Ball incident - [The Hellraiser Ball Brawl --- Gangster Report](https://gangsterreport.com/the-hellraiser-ball-brawl-rooster-katona-orchestrated-pagans-crashing-of-hells-angels-party/) --- Detailed account of the 2002 Pagans-Hells Angels confrontation on Long Island - [OUTLAW MOTORCYCLE GANG'S known as the "Big Four" --- Virginia DCJS](https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/sites/dcjs.virginia.gov/files/training-events/5753/omgs-basictraining.pdf) --- Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services law enforcement training document - Barker, Thomas. *Biker Gangs and Organized Crime.* Anderson Publishing, 2007 --- Academic overview of outlaw MC structures and the Big Four designation - Lavigne, Yves. *Hells Angels: Into the Abyss.* HarperCollins, 1996 --- Investigative account of Hells Angels-Pagans territorial dynamics --- *The Pagans MC is one piece of a much larger picture --- an outlaw motorcycle club with deep roots in East Coast riding culture, shaped by decades of internal codes, territorial loyalty, and a structure that has endured since 1959.* *Want the bigger picture on outlaw MC history and brotherhood code? Start with our [motorcycle clubs complete guide](/pages/motorcycle-clubs-complete-guide/).*