The Hells Angels no stranger to controversy, criminal activity, or members – and in this case, prospective members – being sent to prison for attempted murder.
Most of the time, however, the crimes have to do with rival gangs and other illicit activities. In the situation, it turns out that a “regular guy” decided to try and impress his local Hells Angels chapter by killing his steroid dealer and somehow winning membership in the club.
Jason Nielsen has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of attempted murder (as well as a number of federal state and firearms crimes), and is expected to begin serving out his sentence on June 21 of 2018.
According to prosecutors, Nielsen had been absolutely desperate to try and become not only a prospective member or probationary member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club but had been looking to become a “patched” member.
Patched members of the Hells Angels are said to have spilled blood to earn their way into the motorcycle gang, and this kind of pathway almost always requires individuals to break the law in an effort to become a trusted member of one of the most close-knit and secretive organizations in the world.
This particular chapter of the Hells Angels was located north of the United States (where the legendary and infamous motorcycle club was born), situated in Alberta, Canada. Nielsen had been trying to become a member of the organization for a handful but wasn’t able to “breakthrough” into a full membership position. And that’s when he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Again according to federal prosecutors, on August 19 of 2016 Nielsen had arranged to purchase steroids and other illegal drugs from an individual named Adam Abumeita. Abumeita had been a steroid dealer for Nielsen for a number of years already, as well as a regular supplier to full-time members of the Hells Angels.
Apparently, however, Abumeita had a falling out with the group in early 2016. A fistfight occurred between Abumeita and leadership in the Hells Angels gang, and while the matter was considered settled by all involved parties, this was the opening that Nielsen needed to try and win his “patch” and full-time membership in the motorcycle gang.
Abumeita was forbidden to have any contact with Hells Angels members or probationary members, and the membership base of this chapter Hells Angels was also told to steer clear of Abumeita completely. However, Nielsen had been using Abumeita as a source for steroids for years and wasn’t ready to cut ties just yet.
Setting up a meeting and greet to purchase steroids and other drugs on that night of August 19, 2016, Nielsen told Abumeita to pull his car around to a more secluded part of a local bar parking lot so that they would have a bit more privacy. Nielsen then donned a pair of rubber gloves and placed a pistol against the head of Abumeita, pulling the trigger and shooting him in the face.
The bullet smashed through the jaw of Abumeita, destroying his teeth and tearing up his tongue but somehow he was able to survive the initial shot. Nielsen discovered that his gun had jammed and fled the scene.
Abumeita survived the entire ordeal and became the star witness of this investigation, and it didn’t take very long at all for the jury to convict Nielsen of attempted murder – as well as those other firearm charges.
Nielsen and his defense attorney tried to argue that the situation was a case of self-defense, but the judge and jury flatly denied this to be the case. In fact, the judge that presided over the case told Nielsen that he was lucky to receive a sentence as light as just 12 years and even gave him credit for the 33 months of time served that he had been waiting in jail for his trial date.
Interestingly enough, the judge chose not to rule on whether or not Nielsen was acting under orders from the Hells Angels or decided to shoot Abumeita on his own volition.
Source: Parsons, P. June 15, 2018. Edmonton biker shot steroid dealer in face to impress Hells Angels. Retrieved from: https://edmontonsun.com/news/crime/edmonton-biker-linked-to-hells-angels-convicted-of-attempted-murder/wcm/0370892e-ffc8-49fc-abf7-9bcf5faffe1d