Punjabi Devils Founder Arrested At SF Airport While Trying To Flee To India

Photo: DoJ

India-West News Desk

STOCKTON, CA- A federal grand jury has indicted Jashanpreet Singh, 26, the founder of the “Punjabi Devils” Motorcycle Club, on serious firearms offenses, including the unlawful possession of a machine gun. Singh, of Lodi, was arrested at San Francisco International Airport as he was attempting to flee to India.

According to court documents, Singh, whose club is a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle gang associated with the Hells Angels, was charged with three counts: unlawful dealing of firearms, unlawful possession of a machine gun, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. The indictment was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez.

The investigation began after Singh allegedly attempted to sell several weapons to an undercover officer on June 6.These weapons included a short-barreled rifle, multiple assault weapons, and machine gun conversion devices. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered additional illegal firearms, including a machine gun and a silencer, as well as a hand grenade and a suspected military-style claymore mine. The explosive devices were safely destroyed at the scene by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department bomb team.

After initially facing state charges, Singh failed to appear for a court appearance on July 21, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. The FBI was alerted on July 23 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that Singh had booked a flight to India. He was arrested at the airport on July 26 before he could board the flight and remains in federal custody.

If convicted, Singh faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the machine gun and short-barreled rifle charges, and five years for unlawful dealing of firearms.