Ex-Hells Angels leader Christie accused of firebombing rival tattoo shops

Former Hells Angels leader George Christie Jr. has been arrested along with three others in connection with an alleged extortion plot and the firebombing of two Ventura tattoo shops, FBI officials said Friday.

Christie, 64, of Ventura was arrested Friday morning along with Kyle Douglas Gilbertson, 33, of Ventura; Richard Reeves Russell III, 29, of Ventura; and Benito Hurtado, 34, of Oak View, FBI officials said.

Christie was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, extortion and arson charges stemming from an alleged extortion and firebombing plot, officials said. The other suspects were arrested on suspicion of extortion, officials said.

A six-count indictment alleges Christie, while he was president of the Ventura Hells Angels chapter and owner of The Ink House tattoo shop in Ventura, conspired to "damage or completely destroy" the Scratch the Surface and Twisted Ink rival shops after they remained open despite threats designed to shut them down, FBI officials said. The indictment also alleges Christie conspired to confront the owners of the two shops in an effort to shut them down.

Scratch the Surface, 1779 E. Main St., and Twisted Ink, 2098 E. Main St., were both damaged on July 6, 2007, in attacks involving Molotov cocktails, authorities said.

Fires at both tattoo shops were reported about 4 a.m. about 10 minutes apart, officials said. The blaze at Twisted Ink caused an estimated $12,000 in damage, and Scratch the Surface sustained about $2,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.

FBI officials said explosives were thrown at the shops "by individuals acting in furtherance of the conspiracy." The FBI did not detail Christie's or the other suspects' alleged roles in the incidents.

If convicted of all charges, Christie could face up to 120 years in prison, officials said.

Christie's Beverly Hills-based lawyer, Robert Sheahen, said his client is innocent.

"We will fight this case every step of the way," Sheahen said. "It's just part of a continuing vendetta by law enforcement against Mr. Christie."

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department, Ventura police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted the FBI with the investigation, officials said.

Long a target of law enforcement, Christie has twice spent time behind bars. He now runs Felony Prison Consultants, which advises people headed to prison on how to survive there.

In 1986, Christie spent a year in federal prison on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder for hire, for which he was eventually acquitted.

In 2001, he spent a year in jail after a massive bust involving local Hells Angels and alleged illegal prescription drug sales. Christie eventually pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to possess a prescription drug for sale.

In 2008, he pleaded guilty to possession of less than 2 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine and being under the influence of a controlled substance, for which he was sentenced to eight months' probation.

In an April interview about his prison consulting business, Christie said he was not involved in any criminal activity. On the website for Felony Prison Consultants, Christie's biography says he has been indicted on more than 65 counts during his 35-year battle with authorities.

A man who answered the phone at Scratch the Surface declined to comment Friday, and a phone number listed for Twisted Ink led to a different business.