The FBI’s public reports do not substantiate a current, official list of exactly six motorcycle clubs formally designated as “outlaw gangs.” The closest clear list, in the Bureau’s 2015 National Gang Report, names seven of the largest outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs): Hells Angels, Pagans, Vagos, Sons of Silence, Outlaws, Bandidos and Mongols. A different FBI report names five groups under a different criterion, so neither list should be presented as a definitive six-club roster.
What the FBI’s reports actually list
The count depends on what a document is measuring. The FBI’s 2015 National Gang Report identifies seven groups as the largest OMGs and says all seven are classified as “one percent” clubs. It does not describe them as an exhaustive, current roster of formal FBI designations. Read the FBI’s 2015 National Gang Report.
- Hells Angels
- Pagans
- Vagos
- Sons of Silence
- Outlaws
- Bandidos
- Mongols
The FBI’s 2013 National Gang Report presents a separate survey result: law-enforcement respondents named Hells Angels, Pagans, Bandidos, Outlaws and Iron Horsemen as the most significant OMG threat. That is a five-group result based on the report’s survey, not a formal designation list or a ranking directly comparable to the 2015 list. Read the FBI’s 2013 National Gang Report.
Why lists of motorcycle gangs differ
These lists answer different questions and come from different kinds of material. The 2015 report names the largest OMGs; the 2013 report summarizes a survey about perceived threat; and the Department of Justice’s archived profile gallery describes a broader set of groups. The DOJ resource includes support organizations as well as clubs—for example, it describes the Black Pistons as the official support club for the Outlaws. It is not a uniform or current six-club designation roster. View the DOJ’s archived OMG profiles.
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| Source | What it identifies | How to read the list |
|---|---|---|
| FBI, 2015 National Gang Report | Seven largest OMGs | A report-era description, not stated as a current exhaustive designation list. |
| FBI, 2013 National Gang Report | Five groups named by survey respondents as the most significant OMG threat | Survey reporting; a different selection criterion from the 2015 list. |
| DOJ archived profile gallery | Profiles of multiple clubs and support organizations | A broader historical resource, not a single standardized roster. |
The FBI’s current general gangs page describes the National Gang Intelligence Center and the Bureau’s anti-gang work, but it does not provide a current OMG designation roster. See the FBI’s gangs overview.
What “outlaw motorcycle gang” means in agency material
The DOJ’s general description characterizes OMGs as organizations whose members use motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises. That is an agency description of the category, not proof that every member, chapter or club activity is criminal. Reports and case records have different scopes, and claims about particular people or conduct need to be tied to the relevant case and outcome.
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The phrase “one percent” also needs context. The FBI’s 2015 report traces the symbol to a statement attributed to an American Motorcycle Association spokesperson after the 1947 Hollister races, and says OMGs adopted the reference. It is a historical account of the symbol—not a statistic that one percent of current motorcyclists, or any defined share of riders, are involved in crime.
How to read criminal cases without generalizing
Federal announcements about club members describe specific investigations, defendants and allegations. For example, a DOJ announcement concerning federal charges against 30 Pagans members and associates quoted FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman on targeting organizational leadership. The statement belongs to that case context; it is not a definition of every Pagans member or a finding about every OMG. Read the DOJ announcement about the Pagans charges.
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Likewise, an FBI release about Hells Angels concerns a particular investigation and sentencing outcomes, rather than establishing criminal involvement by every member or chapter. Charges are allegations; a conviction or sentence is a case outcome for the individuals involved. Read the FBI’s Hells Angels case release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is there an official list of exactly six?
The cited public materials do not establish that the FBI currently maintains a public, exhaustive list of exactly six clubs formally designated as “outlaw gangs.” The defensible answer to the title’s claim is therefore no: the 2015 FBI report names seven largest OMGs, while the 2013 report’s five-group survey finding measures something else. The number six should not be presented as an official FBI count based on these sources.
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