Former Fresno Hells Angel President Accused of Illegally Cremating 4 Missing Persons In a shocking development, a former president of the Fresno chapter of the notorious California motorcycle club, Hells Angels, has been implicated in arranging the illegal cremation of four fellow members. The revelation comes from a sentencing memorandum filed with the San Francisco division of the U.S. District Court, as reported by Mercury News. Merl Hefferman, 54, was originally scheduled to be sentenced for aiding in the cremation of a man who was murdered in 2014. However, prosecutors alleged that there were a total of four illegal cremations that were reported to the FBI. According to Mercury News, federal authorities believe they have identified all the victims, and they named former Hells Angels members Robbie Huff, Arthur Carasis, and Juan Guevara as the individuals who were illegally cremated by Hefferman. However, Hefferman’s attorney, James Bustamante, vehemently denied his client’s involvement in the illegal cremations, aside from the one he had already pleaded guilty to. Hefferman had previously pleaded guilty to obstructing justice by arranging the cremation of Joel Silva, a resident of Livermore who was shot in the back of the head inside the club’s Fresno headquarters in 2014. In a sentencing memo, Bustamante criticized the prosecution for failing to mention in their court filings that the funeral home owner had given an interview where he dismissed the allegations as a last-ditch effort. Court records revealed that informants had been informing the FBI for years about other deceased individuals who met the same fate as Silva, referring to it as the “pizza oven,” as reported by Mercury News. However, the details of these other cremations were kept from the jury, and the U.S. District judge repeatedly ruled against the prosecution’s attempts to introduce evidence of other murders and multiple body disposals. During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Barry attempted to present testimonies of multiple bodies being illegally cremated in Fresno, but specific details were never brought forward. Hefferman’s sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, where the court will determine the appropriate punishment for his involvement in obstructing justice. As personal injury bloggers, we are committed to shedding light on cases involving illegal activities that put lives at risk. It is crucial to hold individuals accountable for their actions to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. Tag: Criminal Law Suggested Featured Image: “Law and Order”