Interview with an Angel: Johnny Bart In His Own Words
In 1995 the U.S. DEA began an operation targeting the Salem,
Massachusetts chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club that after
18 months culminated in the convictions of 16 members and associates.
Through the help of an informant, undercover DEA agent Phil Muollo was
able to get close through questionable tactics and what many legal
experts believe was outright entrapment, and build a case against
those people.
In September of 1996 hundreds of officers raided 15 addresses across
the state of Massachusetts. In the aftermath among those charged and
convicted was John Bartolomeo (a/k/a Johnny Bart), a Salem HAMC member.
He was unfortunate enough to meet the undercover agent Muollo. Many
critics of the government's case contend that the drugs sold by those
arrested were not only given to the informant (who actually died of
heart failure,in part possibly by the drugs supplied by the
authorities) but that the entire investigation was a selective strike
against the club based on little or no evidence preceding it. Not one
grain of the drug ever hit the street, so how could the drugs harm
anyone?
Actually, the drugs went straight to a DEA lab. They were never
consumed by the public, only the informant who the DEA supplied with
their own confiscated drugs so that they could keep the investigation
going. Johnny Bart allegedly told the undercover agent that he carried
a gun and would use it on any rival motorcycle club member he saw,
although this was never recorded on tape nor witnessed by anyone. If
this was true, why didn't the DEA immediately take him into custody,
are they not responsible to protect the public? Why wasn't he arrested
after the first drug sale, so the government could manufacture a
larger case and sentence? These questions were never answered and
perhaps never will.
Among the 16 people sentenced in the case, John "Johnny Bart"
Bartolomeo received a 35 year sentence. Mr. Bartolomeo got the
stiffest sentence for his alleged involvement in a rival motorcycle
club member's fatal accident on a Massachusetts highway. A crime that
he was never indicted for or ever charged with. He says he agreed to the
indictment so that pending charges incriminating others allegedly
involved would be dropped. The court papers verify this almost
verbatim. Details of this case and court documents (including the plea
agreement) are available at Johnny Bart's web site:http://www.JohnnyBart81.com
The case was the subject of a BBC television special and an upcoming
Discovery channel documentary. Mr. Bartolomeo was gracious enough to
grant us a rare interview and answered 20 questions about various topics.
AR Hi Johnny, it's been years since you were sentenced, are they treating you well? Does a Hells Angel get extra respect in there?
They treat me much better than I'd treat them! Really though, prison's simple...it's just way too time-consuming. As for Hells Angels getting respect in prison: if you're a stand-up guy, a man's man; a convict, you get respect...Hells Angels get notoriety!
_____________
AR Before we move on, what do you think is the most important thing a person should know?
The life we live is short. The legacy we leave is forever!
_____________
AR Johnny, I'm not a member of the club, so I'd like to know what makes an Angel stand out from the crowd?
My brother, Sonny sums it up best--and these may not be his exact words: we don't recruit, we recognize. When we see people like us, we give them an opportunity to become us.
A Hells Angel would sacrifice his life or freedom for his brother in an instant--he'd give the last beat of his heart for Hells Angels. He's a brother forever and a friend till the end...that's why many have tried to become "US" and few have succeeded.
_____________
AR What was your childhood like? Were you a rebel--were you aware of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club?
I grew up in East Boston with my 4 best friends: my mother, Barbara; my father, Charlie; my brother, Charlie; and my late brother, Ronnie. As the baby of the family with 2 older brothers--one a college football player and the other a workout lunatic--I got tough quick...and sometimes I got beat up trying--but in a good way, of course. It really was a great time in my life--there was a one-of-a-kind family dynamic.
You could say that I was a typical city kid from Eastie: I spent my days playing street hockey and my nights playing basketball at the local gym: The Umana. On the weekends I hung out behind the Umana--drinking a pony-pack or two, looking out over the Boston harbor with my friends--my cousin, Billy always by my side.
I grew up with athletic brothers so working out in many different forms was always a constant in my life. The many grueling workouts down my cellar with a few dumbells and a bunch of steel immediately come to mind.
As for being a rebel, I guess it would appear to everybody that I am the quintessential rebel. Yet, I never quite viewed myself as a rebel growing up. As I said, I was a typical city kid.
Hells Angels didn't have a charter in my neighborhood--the Boston charter was established at a much later date. That aside, I have very early memories of me running around my house twisting the invisible throttle on my invisible motorcycle yelling: "vrooom vroom..." This behavior was so pervasive and talked about within my family so much that my cousin, Diane--in one of her first ceramics classes--made a very special gift for me: a red and white motorcycle complete with a bright-eyed, smiling boy that sat atop--black-gloved hands clutched the handlebars...a pretty good indicator of what was to come.
_____________
AR Who are your heroes, if any?
My wife! She's the greatest gift I ever received. The most amazing experience in life is finding that a person cares for you when there's nothing in it for them. My wife, Natalie is that person--my blessing...she's my hero...hand's down!
_____________
AR Who are the villains in today's society?
Whores such as Elliot Spitzer--the federal prosecutor turned governor who vowed to rid New York City of escort services and prostitution. This arch hypocrite patronized many escort services...he was one of their best customers! Lawmakers who prosecute people for engaging in the exact same behavior that they themselves engage in are the true whores of society--the real villains. They advance their political careers on the platform of hypocrisy--typical of most of today's lawmakers!
Those who provide a service for a fee--especially one so invigorating and health-promoting (certainly comparable to massage therapy)--are hard working folks that should be applauded (in certain states this work is legal--because, of course, workers give a piece of their earnings to the government!). The real villains are those who use their influence and power to harm children; who bleed the middle class and steal from the poor; who make laws to prosecute the petty criminals while insulating themselves from criminal prosecution (all the while fortifying their political coffers).
_____________
AR 3 things you want the world to know?
Even a fish couldn't get caught if it didn't open its mouth.
Love with extreme prejudice.
If you read my name in the obituaries...it's a misprint!
_____________
AR Why Hells Angels? You're smart enough to conquer Wall Street.
Why? Hell, anybody can be a stock-broker!
_____________
AR What would you say to Phil Muollo (the undercover DEA agent in your case) if you bumped into him in Boston after your release?
I wouldn't say a word to him...
_____________
AR Do you think the U.S. government is targeting clubs such as Hells Angels? If so, why?
There's no question about it! It coincides with a distinct historical trend that all political systems follow: the power structure establishes an enemy, demonizes the enemy and labels that person or party an enemy of the state (or the people, etc.). The government offers these sacrificial lambs to take the focus of its own widespread corruption, brutality, torture, human rights abuses, constitutional violations, and economic policies that crush the populace. The most ferocious organized crime syndicate in this country does not wear leather vests and ride motorcycles...they wear fine imported suits, $1000 shoes, and ride around in chauffer-driven limousines.
_____________
AR If there had never been such a thing as motorcycles and Hells Angels, what would Johnny Bart be doing?
Running an insane asylum...although I'm not quite sure if I'd be an administrator or a patient:)...or maybe I'd be a graduate student...who knows.
_____________
AR Do you have any favorite books or authors?
I've had my nose stuck in school books for the past 4 years, so that leaves very little time for recreational reading. When I do find time to read recreationally, I tend to gravitate toward philosophy, psychology, and history: Kant, Schopenhaur, Nietzsche, Maslow, Toynbee, etc. Actually, with a bit of time off from school at the moment, I'm reading "Case of a Lifetime" by Georgetown law professor, Abbe Smith. My friend, John Scholl sent me the book. He is mentioned in the book--his late father, John plays a pivotal role in the story line.
_____________
AR I know you are taking college courses in there, how's it going? Would you accept donations to offset the cost of tuition?
School is going great! I have 27 credits and a perfect 4.00 GPA thus far at Cumberland County College (the college program offered here at FCI, Fairton). This upcoming semester I'm taking environmental science and precalculus. Word has been circulating, however, that funding for the program is going to be cut drastically--and there's talk that the program may be completely cut out of the budget by next semester. Bottom line, a college education is expensive...especially if I were forced to reenroll at Ohio University. There the cost of just one course ranges from 6-7 hundred dollars. As to a few extra bucks to put toward tuition, every little bit helps. Thank you for asking.
_____________
AR Do you have a favorite movie?
I'm not really a big movie guy these days but I will watch "Good Fellas" when it comes on.
_____________
AR What was the funniest thing you ever saw or heard while riding with the Hells Angels?
It wasn't funny at the time, but since the incident occurred, it has been a running joke...and I earned a new nickname as a result. It all started when I was driving 4 Hells Angels to a party in my Coupe De Ville. I was a prospect--not yet a full member--at the time. I was extremely tired and kept veering off the road a bit, toward the Jersey barrier. Every time I did, the Hells Angel riding shotgun with me would say: "Johnny, you alright--you want me to drive?" Of course I continuously said: "Naw, I'm cool." Well, this scenario played out about 10 more times...until all of a sudden I woke up and my front fender and door were kissing the Jersey barrier...4 Hells Angels were screaming to me at the top of their lungs! I regained my composure, navigated the car back on course, and was so amped up and alert that my eyes wouldn't close for 2 whole days!!!!!! From then on, I was Jersey Johnny:)
_____________
AR What is your favorite Harley-Davidson? What did you ride?
We do a lot of travelling so I'd have to say my favorite bike for travelling would be a late-model FXRT (which I don't believe Harley makes any longer). For bombing around town, I love a Softail with ape-hangers. I rode (in 1996) a 1994 blacked-out FXRP (low rider) and a 1988 Softail with crazy-high apes, Paucho gooseneck turnout straight pipes, and a pearl-blue paint job with an air brushed mural of Iron Maiden's Eddie running through a graveyard...it was sick:)
_____________
AR Where do you see the Hells Angels in 20 years?
In spite of nonstop arbitrary governmental invasion in the form of constant surveillance, selective prosecution, federally manufactured crimes, and never-ending harassment, Hells Angels will endure. Many Hells Angels will die...many more will be imprisoned! The actions taken by the government to eradicate Hells Angels will have a polarizing effect: men with superordinate morals and values will be attracted to the Club's unrivaled tenacity...Hells Angels will grow and prosper.
_____________
AR Do you have any opinions one way or another about the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan?
My opinion is rooted in the human element: there are living, breathing kids over there that deserve respect, allegiance, and the government's best effort to get them home quickly and safely.
_____________
AR If you could remove one law from the books, what would it be?
I believe in Natural law. Positive law (man's law--laws established by government) amounts to, for the most part, subversion of natural law. Just think: if I were to happen upon a child molester attempting to abduct and rape a child and I stopped the perpetrator by means of force and violence (as oppose to calling the police, which I don't do), I'd be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I can already see the headlines in the morning newspaper: "Convicted violent Hells Angel arrested for bludgeoning a man..."
_____________
AR Johnny Bart, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. Is there anyone you want to say hello to, any shout-outs?
My pleasure. Best of luck with your web site. As for "shout outs," those who are near and dear to me know who they are...not many words need to be spoken between us.
_____________
Interview with an Angel: Johnny Bart In His Own Words
In 1995 the U.S. DEA began an operation targeting the Salem,
Massachusetts chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club that after
18 months culminated in the convictions of 16 members and associates.
Through the help of an informant, undercover DEA agent Phil Muollo was
able to get close through questionable tactics and what many legal
experts believe was outright entrapment, and build a case against
those people.
In September of 1996 hundreds of officers raided 15 addresses across
the state of Massachusetts. In the aftermath among those charged and
convicted was John Bartolomeo (a/k/a Johnny Bart), a Salem HAMC member.
He was unfortunate enough to meet the undercover agent Muollo. Many
critics of the government's case contend that the drugs sold by those
arrested were not only given to the informant (who actually died of
heart failure,in part possibly by the drugs supplied by the
authorities) but that the entire investigation was a selective strike
against the club based on little or no evidence preceding it. Not one
grain of the drug ever hit the street, so how could the drugs harm
anyone?
Actually, the drugs went straight to a DEA lab. They were never
consumed by the public, only the informant who the DEA supplied with
their own confiscated drugs so that they could keep the investigation
going. Johnny Bart allegedly told the undercover agent that he carried
a gun and would use it on any rival motorcycle club member he saw,
although this was never recorded on tape nor witnessed by anyone. If
this was true, why didn't the DEA immediately take him into custody,
are they not responsible to protect the public? Why wasn't he arrested
after the first drug sale, so the government could manufacture a
larger case and sentence? These questions were never answered and
perhaps never will.
Among the 16 people sentenced in the case, John "Johnny Bart"
Bartolomeo received a 35 year sentence. Mr. Bartolomeo got the
stiffest sentence for his alleged involvement in a rival motorcycle
club member's fatal accident on a Massachusetts highway. A crime that
he was never indicted for or ever charged with. He says he agreed to the
indictment so that pending charges incriminating others allegedly
involved would be dropped. The court papers verify this almost
verbatim. Details of this case and court documents (including the plea
agreement) are available at Johnny Bart's web site:http://www.JohnnyBart81.com
The case was the subject of a BBC television special and an upcoming
Discovery channel documentary. Mr. Bartolomeo was gracious enough to
grant us a rare interview and answered 20 questions about various topics.
AR Hi Johnny, it's been years since you were sentenced, are they treating you well? Does a Hells Angel get extra respect in there?
They treat me much better than I'd treat them! Really though, prison's simple...it's just way too time-consuming. As for Hells Angels getting respect in prison: if you're a stand-up guy, a man's man; a convict, you get respect...Hells Angels get notoriety!
_____________
AR Before we move on, what do you think is the most important thing a person should know?
The life we live is short. The legacy we leave is forever!
_____________
AR Johnny, I'm not a member of the club, so I'd like to know what makes an Angel stand out from the crowd?
My brother, Sonny sums it up best--and these may not be his exact words: we don't recruit, we recognize. When we see people like us, we give them an opportunity to become us.
A Hells Angel would sacrifice his life or freedom for his brother in an instant--he'd give the last beat of his heart for Hells Angels. He's a brother forever and a friend till the end...that's why many have tried to become "US" and few have succeeded.
_____________
AR What was your childhood like? Were you a rebel--were you aware of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club?
I grew up in East Boston with my 4 best friends: my mother, Barbara; my father, Charlie; my brother, Charlie; and my late brother, Ronnie. As the baby of the family with 2 older brothers--one a college football player and the other a workout lunatic--I got tough quick...and sometimes I got beat up trying--but in a good way, of course. It really was a great time in my life--there was a one-of-a-kind family dynamic.
You could say that I was a typical city kid from Eastie: I spent my days playing street hockey and my nights playing basketball at the local gym: The Umana. On the weekends I hung out behind the Umana--drinking a pony-pack or two, looking out over the Boston harbor with my friends--my cousin, Billy always by my side.
I grew up with athletic brothers so working out in many different forms was always a constant in my life. The many grueling workouts down my cellar with a few dumbells and a bunch of steel immediately come to mind.
As for being a rebel, I guess it would appear to everybody that I am the quintessential rebel. Yet, I never quite viewed myself as a rebel growing up. As I said, I was a typical city kid.
Hells Angels didn't have a charter in my neighborhood--the Boston charter was established at a much later date. That aside, I have very early memories of me running around my house twisting the invisible throttle on my invisible motorcycle yelling: "vrooom vroom..." This behavior was so pervasive and talked about within my family so much that my cousin, Diane--in one of her first ceramics classes--made a very special gift for me: a red and white motorcycle complete with a bright-eyed, smiling boy that sat atop--black-gloved hands clutched the handlebars...a pretty good indicator of what was to come.
_____________
AR Who are your heroes, if any?
My wife! She's the greatest gift I ever received. The most amazing experience in life is finding that a person cares for you when there's nothing in it for them. My wife, Natalie is that person--my blessing...she's my hero...hand's down!
_____________
AR Who are the villains in today's society?
Whores such as Elliot Spitzer--the federal prosecutor turned governor who vowed to rid New York City of escort services and prostitution. This arch hypocrite patronized many escort services...he was one of their best customers! Lawmakers who prosecute people for engaging in the exact same behavior that they themselves engage in are the true whores of society--the real villains. They advance their political careers on the platform of hypocrisy--typical of most of today's lawmakers!
Those who provide a service for a fee--especially one so invigorating and health-promoting (certainly comparable to massage therapy)--are hard working folks that should be applauded (in certain states this work is legal--because, of course, workers give a piece of their earnings to the government!). The real villains are those who use their influence and power to harm children; who bleed the middle class and steal from the poor; who make laws to prosecute the petty criminals while insulating themselves from criminal prosecution (all the while fortifying their political coffers).
_____________
AR 3 things you want the world to know?
Even a fish couldn't get caught if it didn't open its mouth.
Love with extreme prejudice.
If you read my name in the obituaries...it's a misprint!
_____________
AR Why Hells Angels? You're smart enough to conquer Wall Street.
Why? Hell, anybody can be a stock-broker!
_____________
AR What would you say to Phil Muollo (the undercover DEA agent in your case) if you bumped into him in Boston after your release?
I wouldn't say a word to him...
_____________
AR Do you think the U.S. government is targeting clubs such as Hells Angels? If so, why?
There's no question about it! It coincides with a distinct historical trend that all political systems follow: the power structure establishes an enemy, demonizes the enemy and labels that person or party an enemy of the state (or the people, etc.). The government offers these sacrificial lambs to take the focus of its own widespread corruption, brutality, torture, human rights abuses, constitutional violations, and economic policies that crush the populace. The most ferocious organized crime syndicate in this country does not wear leather vests and ride motorcycles...they wear fine imported suits, $1000 shoes, and ride around in chauffer-driven limousines.
_____________
AR If there had never been such a thing as motorcycles and Hells Angels, what would Johnny Bart be doing?
Running an insane asylum...although I'm not quite sure if I'd be an administrator or a patient:)...or maybe I'd be a graduate student...who knows.
_____________
AR Do you have any favorite books or authors?
I've had my nose stuck in school books for the past 4 years, so that leaves very little time for recreational reading. When I do find time to read recreationally, I tend to gravitate toward philosophy, psychology, and history: Kant, Schopenhaur, Nietzsche, Maslow, Toynbee, etc. Actually, with a bit of time off from school at the moment, I'm reading "Case of a Lifetime" by Georgetown law professor, Abbe Smith. My friend, John Scholl sent me the book. He is mentioned in the book--his late father, John plays a pivotal role in the story line.
_____________
AR I know you are taking college courses in there, how's it going? Would you accept donations to offset the cost of tuition?
School is going great! I have 27 credits and a perfect 4.00 GPA thus far at Cumberland County College (the college program offered here at FCI, Fairton). This upcoming semester I'm taking environmental science and precalculus. Word has been circulating, however, that funding for the program is going to be cut drastically--and there's talk that the program may be completely cut out of the budget by next semester. Bottom line, a college education is expensive...especially if I were forced to reenroll at Ohio University. There the cost of just one course ranges from 6-7 hundred dollars. As to a few extra bucks to put toward tuition, every little bit helps. Thank you for asking.
_____________
AR Do you have a favorite movie?
I'm not really a big movie guy these days but I will watch "Good Fellas" when it comes on.
_____________
AR What was the funniest thing you ever saw or heard while riding with the Hells Angels?
It wasn't funny at the time, but since the incident occurred, it has been a running joke...and I earned a new nickname as a result. It all started when I was driving 4 Hells Angels to a party in my Coupe De Ville. I was a prospect--not yet a full member--at the time. I was extremely tired and kept veering off the road a bit, toward the Jersey barrier. Every time I did, the Hells Angel riding shotgun with me would say: "Johnny, you alright--you want me to drive?" Of course I continuously said: "Naw, I'm cool." Well, this scenario played out about 10 more times...until all of a sudden I woke up and my front fender and door were kissing the Jersey barrier...4 Hells Angels were screaming to me at the top of their lungs! I regained my composure, navigated the car back on course, and was so amped up and alert that my eyes wouldn't close for 2 whole days!!!!!! From then on, I was Jersey Johnny:)
_____________
AR What is your favorite Harley-Davidson? What did you ride?
We do a lot of travelling so I'd have to say my favorite bike for travelling would be a late-model FXRT (which I don't believe Harley makes any longer). For bombing around town, I love a Softail with ape-hangers. I rode (in 1996) a 1994 blacked-out FXRP (low rider) and a 1988 Softail with crazy-high apes, Paucho gooseneck turnout straight pipes, and a pearl-blue paint job with an air brushed mural of Iron Maiden's Eddie running through a graveyard...it was sick:)
_____________
AR Where do you see the Hells Angels in 20 years?
In spite of nonstop arbitrary governmental invasion in the form of constant surveillance, selective prosecution, federally manufactured crimes, and never-ending harassment, Hells Angels will endure. Many Hells Angels will die...many more will be imprisoned! The actions taken by the government to eradicate Hells Angels will have a polarizing effect: men with superordinate morals and values will be attracted to the Club's unrivaled tenacity...Hells Angels will grow and prosper.
_____________
AR Do you have any opinions one way or another about the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan?
My opinion is rooted in the human element: there are living, breathing kids over there that deserve respect, allegiance, and the government's best effort to get them home quickly and safely.
_____________
AR If you could remove one law from the books, what would it be?
I believe in Natural law. Positive law (man's law--laws established by government) amounts to, for the most part, subversion of natural law. Just think: if I were to happen upon a child molester attempting to abduct and rape a child and I stopped the perpetrator by means of force and violence (as oppose to calling the police, which I don't do), I'd be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I can already see the headlines in the morning newspaper: "Convicted violent Hells Angel arrested for bludgeoning a man..."
_____________
AR Johnny Bart, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. Is there anyone you want to say hello to, any shout-outs?
My pleasure. Best of luck with your web site. As for "shout outs," those who are near and dear to me know who they are...not many words need to be spoken between us.
_____________
Visitors
