Breaking news, Antonio Bagnato convicted in sensational murder case.
According to Thai police, the remains of Wayne Schneider, a 37 year old ex member of the Hells Angels biker gang, were discovered buried near the town of Pattaya. On Monday, Mr. Schneider was abducted from his residence by five masked men who were not of Thai origin and forced into a white pickup truck.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Antonio Bagnato, an Australian who was reportedly a member of the same gang. According to Major General Amphol Buarubporn, the police do not suspect that the murder was premeditated, as the grave seemed to have been hastily dug. Local media reported that security guards at Mr. Schneider's residence claimed they were threatened with a gun by an individual who instructed them to avoid the situation.
The authorities managed to trace the rented vehicle to a Chinese temple and subsequently followed its tire marks into the jungle, where Mr. Schneider's body was discovered buried in a 2 meter deep grave. Major General Buarubporn stated that the investigation was considering the possibility that the perpetrators were involved in the drug trade.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia released a statement acknowledging that the Thai authorities had discovered a grave that was believed to be linked to the abduction of an Australian man, although they did not provide any additional details due to privacy obligations. It was later revealed that the victim, Mr. Schneider, had a significant criminal record and was among the top 10 most wanted fugitives in New South Wales in 2006.
Feb 2017, Antonio Bagnato found guilty for the murder of HA member Wayne Schneider in Thailand.
A court in the Thai resort city of Pattaya sentenced 28-year-old Australian citizen Antonio Bagnato to death for the 2015 murder of Wayne Schneider, a member of the Hells Angels biker gang. Bagnato was found guilty of kidnapping, physically assaulting, and subsequently killing Schneider.
Initially, Bagnato worked as Schneider's bodyguard, but he eventually left to establish his own gang. Following a series of commercial disputes, Bagnato and four accomplices assaulted and kidnapped Schneider, taking him to Bagnato's residence, where they killed him through physical abuse before burying his body. While an American and two Australians involved in the incident are still being sought, Bagnato has been convicted and sentenced to death for his role in the murder.
Wayne Schneider started his criminal career as a methamphetamine producer and subsequently became a member of the Hells Angels biker gang in Sydney. In 2006, he was charged with shooting a bouncer outside a nightclub. In 2012, he moved to Pattaya, where he set up an extensive drug trafficking network.
According to the police, the seizure of two tons of MDMA (ecstasy) and almost one ton of methamphetamine in a $1.5 billion drug bust was believed to be associated with the Hells Angels, Comancheros, and Schneider. Schneider, who was linked to these criminal groups, was found dead and unclothed in a shallow grave in eastern Thailand on November 30 of the previous year. Shortly after the murder, Schneider's former bodyguard, Tony Bagnato, was apprehended in Cambodia.
Antonio Bagnato is a former member of the Comancheros biker gang in Sydney and is suspected of having orchestrated the assault.
A bar named Angel's Place with private member rooms, which is operated by the Hell's Angels chapter in Pattaya, openly exists. The chapter is predominantly composed of Australians, and a commemorative stone was erected at the establishment in honor of Schneider, who had connections with the gang.
Tyler Gerald, aged 21, was among the group of five men who kidnapped an Australian man from his residence. The victim, who was described as a high ranking member of the Hells Angels, was later identified as Schneider.
Schneider's unclothed corpse, aged 38, was discovered buried in bushes alongside the road near Pattaya, in a grave that was two meters deep. According to reports, his neck had been broken. Police were informed by two security guards employed at the housing estate that they were confronted by a man with a firearm and cautioned to keep their distance. The guards subsequently heard Schneider shouting for assistance and reported that they witnessed five men wearing scarves over their faces assaulting the 38 year old.
Saturday, July 8, 2017, Thaksin "Sin" Monthonthaksin, a former member of the Hells Angels, is drinking alone.
"Sin" stated that he is experiencing fear after being tricked into going to the Hells Angels clubhouse in Pattaya, a bar named Angels Place, where he was physically assaulted by Glen Norris, a member of the club, and two other men. Thaksin added that the influx of Australians has put the club on a collision course with law enforcement as they engage in illicit activities.
On March 7, a brawl is believed to have occurred due to disagreements about Thaksin "Sin" Monthonthaksin, the former sergeant at arms, being allowed to introduce new Thai members. The sergeant at arms, was reportedly attacked and injured by 4-5 members of the Hells Angels Pattaya, all of whom were Australian.
The Australians reportedly attacked Monthontaksin and other Thai members. It is uncommon for HA internal affairs to be made public. In response to the abduction and murder of Australian Wayne Schneider in Pattaya, police in Phuket have increased security measures targeting international biker members.
The club presented a different narrative, stating that Mr Thaksin was expelled from the club for violating their rules. They assert that he engaged in a one on one physical altercation with Glen Norris, and that they regarded the issue as resolved. Thaksin alleges that he has faced intimidation tactics for refusing to surrender his Hells Angels patch.
Sunday, March 26, 2017, There has be an internal dispute within the HA.
Rewritten: Thaksin "Sin" Monthonthaksin, a co founder of the Hells Angels' Pattaya branch, is concerned about the club's current path. As the sergeant at arms, he wanted to introduce a new Thai member to the club but faced opposition from Australian members.
Mr. Monthonthaksin sent expletive laden messages, including a photo of his foot, which is considered deeply disrespectful in Thai culture, to Australian member Glen Norris. He had wanted to introduce a new Thai member to the Pattaya branch but was blocked by the Australians. During the ensuing brawl, Monthonthaksin claims that he was attacked by Norris, Dan Stalley, and Matthew "Tab" Robinson, which violated the club's code of one on one fights only.
T. Monthonthaksin, along with Wayne Schneider, was among the founding members when the Pattaya charter of the Hells Angels was established in April last year. Currently, the club has a total of 14 fully patched members consisting of five Australians, four Germans, a Canadian and four Thais. However, Monthonthaksin is now advocating for the deportation of the Australian members.
A summarizing the story and its aftermath.
In 2015, the Hells Angels motorcycle club established a new chapter in the Thai resort town of Pattaya. The club quickly became a major player in the local underworld, involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and violent turf wars with other criminal organizations.
But internal tensions within the club soon boiled over into a deadly conflict. In March 2017, Thaksin "Sin" Monthonthaksin, one of the founding members of the Pattaya chapter, was attacked and beaten by Australian members of the club after a dispute over the admission of new Thai members.
The incident sparked a wave of violence that culminated in the abduction and murder of Australian HA Wayne Schneider in November 2015. Schneider was kidnapped from his home in Pattaya by a group of five men, including American Tyler Gerald and Australian Antonio Bagnato. Schneider's body was later found buried in a shallow grave in the nearby province of Sattahip.
In the aftermath of Schneider's murder, Thai authorities launched a crackdown on the club and other motorcycle gangs operating in the country. Bagnato was arrested in Cambodia and extradited to Thailand.
Antonio Bagnato was found guilty of the murder of Wayne Schneider and sentenced to death by a Thai court in 2017. His appeal was rejected in 2019 and his sentence was upheld.
Tyler Gerald was one of the five men involved in the abduction of Wayne Schneider and was arrested in Thailand as he attempted to cross the border. He was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the crime.
"Sin", one of the founders of the HA Pattaya branch, was reportedly attacked by Australian members of the club in March 2017. He later made statements to the press about the incident and the direction of the club, leading to tensions within the organization. It is unclear what happened to him after the incident.
Meanwhile, the Australian members of the Pattaya chapter, John Lee, Glen Norris, Dan Stalley, and Michael 'Tab' Robinson, were expelled from the Hells Angels and returned to Australia. They were later charged with a range of offenses, including assault, and served time in prison.
Today, the HA and other motorcycle gangs continue to operate in Thailand, albeit with greater scrutiny from the authorities. The case of Wayne Schneider and the Pattaya chapter has highlighted the growing influence of transnational organized crime in Southeast Asia and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in tackling these groups.