Real Estate Expected to Bail Out Hells Angel Leader

After 10 months behind bars, Hells Angels leader George Christie Jr. is expected to bail out this month after a judge ruled Thursday that $2 million in real estate offered by Christie’s friends is legitimate.

Five supporters--all linked to the Hells Angels--are offering their homes and commercial properties to release Christie from Ventura County Jail as he awaits trial on drug and racketeering charges.

During a series of hearings, Ventura County prosecutors had raised concerns on the source of money behind those properties.

“I think it is our obligation to turn over every stone,” Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Bennett argued Thursday.

But Los Angeles attorney Mark Heaney told a judge there is no evidence to suggest those individuals had acquired their property with money obtained through illegal actions.

“I think the evidence before the court more than satisfies our burden,” Heaney argued.

Superior Court Judge Barry Klopfer agreed, ruling the properties could be used for bail.

Christie, 54, has been jailed since February on charges he ran a narcotics ring that peddled prescription drugs to high school students in Ojai and Ventura. He is charged with fraud, tax evasion, firearms possession, drug sales to minors and the use of a street gang in a criminal conspiracy.

Christie is being held in lieu of $1-million bail. By law, he must put up twice the bail amount if securing a bond with property instead of cash, and the defense must prove the bond money comes from legitimate sources.

For several months, defense lawyers have been collecting real estate appraisals from friends and supporters of Christie who have offered their homes to help bail him out.

The defense is offering 10 properties valued at more than $2 million, including a Ventura property owned by Christie and his ex-wife.

Five other properties are owned by Maurice Eunice and Robert Poulin, two Hells Angels members from San Diego and Palo Alto. Also, four residences in Ventura and San Diego counties are owned by supporters Candace Gaddie, Arnold Fry and David Alfer.

Gaddie’s son is a local member of the Hells Angels and has been indicted on criminal charges in a related case.

Fry and Alfer were described by the defense Thursday as associates of a Hells Angels chapter in the San Diego area.

Klopfer is expected to preside over another hearing in which the defense must turn over deeds, titles and other documentation verifying the value of the properties being tendered for bail.

A date has not been set for that hearing, but defense attorneys are pushing for Christie’s release by the end of the month.