United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Michael Ottinger, Jr., the sergeant at arms of the San Diego Chapter of the Hells Angels and a career offender, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to serve 262 months (21 years and 10 months) for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ottinger faces additional state charges in San Diego Superior Court for murder, attempted murder, mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, and criminal threats.
At the sentencing hearing, the lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew G. Schopler, told the court that Ottinger was the highest-value target in the year-long Gang Group wiretap investigation conducted by the FBI Violent Crime Task Force. This investigation (which focused on methamphetamine trafficking and violent crimes committed by the San Diego Chapter of the Hells Angels and their criminal partners) resulted in the indictment of 36 defendants.
According to court records, agents began wiretapping Ottinger’s phones after evidence came to light suggesting that he had murdered rival Mongols motorcycle gang member Fernando Fernandez and was using both threats and violence to control the methamphetamine trade in Ocean Beach and Point Loma. Agents arrested Ottinger on drug charges in December 2010, well before the end of the wiretap investigation and almost 10 months before the arrests of the other defendants.
U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff found Ottinger to be a career offender under federal law. His criminal record includes seven prior felonies, including convictions for false imprisonment, a firearms offense, auto theft, evading an officer while driving recklessly, and three drug trafficking crimes. Court documents also show that the Hells Angels awarded Ottinger “Filthy Few” and “Thug Crew” patches, which are given to members who have committed acts of violence on behalf of the Hells Angels.
Defendant in Case Number: 10CR5016-H
Michael Edward Ottinger, Jr.
Age: 43
Summary of Charges
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine-Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846
