Starting the Conversation: RICO, Bikers, and Due Process

Since 2021, I’ve been traveling this country, building relationships, and listening to stories from the ground up. What I’ve come to learn, and continue to learn, is how deeply misunderstood the biker community is, especially when it comes to how the legal system treats them.

I come from a background in family law with over ten years of experience, but nothing prepared me for the world of criminal law, especially the weight of RICO cases being brought against motorcycle clubs. I didn't grow up around people facing this kind of legal scrutiny; this journey required me to step out of my comfort zone, ask hard questions, and dive deep into research with an open and unbiased mind.

Real research is not biased; it must be rooted in truth and perspective, examining all angles: one side, the other, both, and the bigger picture. That’s how we uncover justice; that’s how we begin to restore humanity.

I’ve had the honor of bikers, club members, and independents teaching me both the "street smarts" and the unspoken truths behind these legal battles. I don’t ride yet, and I don’t live the lifestyle, but I have sat across from people who do, and I’ve listened. Many of these men and women have opened their lives to me, not out of obligation, but because they believe in the importance of this dialogue; that alone is powerful.

I am also learning how damaging the media can be when it comes to these cases: the way headlines are written, the way bikers are portrayed, the way clubs are painted with a broad brush, without understanding their structure, history, or human side. It creates stigma; it spreads stereotypes; and it dehumanizes individuals who deserve their constitutional right to due process, no matter what patch they wear or bike they ride.

What I see is profiling happening across all walks of biker life, from one-percenter clubs to veterans' groups, to riding clubs and independents—people are being judged before they ever step foot in a courtroom. That’s not justice; that’s assumption, and it’s wrong.

I’m not here to pretend I know everything. I don’t. But I’ve committed myself to learning. I’ve worked hard to strip away my personal beliefs to better understand the humanity inside the legal system, and the corruption that can often hide behind it. I pray that this conversation helps bridge a gap, between legal systems and real people, between the law and human dignity.

This is only the beginning of the dialogue, and I’m grateful to every biker who has stood by me and helped me navigate it. You’ve given me more than information; you’ve given me perspective. And with that, I will keep listening, keep learning, and keep fighting for a system that values truth over assumption, and humanity over headlines.