Requirements must be met before joining Outlaws Motorcycle Club

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - It's a motorcycle club that's been around for 77 years. Though the Outlaws Motorcycle Club was raided in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne Wednesday afternoon, this organized group has members worldwide.

To become a member, it takes a minimum of a year and a half before becoming a full member. Before becoming a member, you must be 21 years old and over, own an American-made motorcycle, and be a white male, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

For the first year, you become a "hangaround". According to the 70 page indictment released Wednesday, a "hangaround" is a person who's brought in through a lengthy, phased process to make sure a potential member is dedicated to commitments of O.M.C. and to guard against law enforcement trying to become members. The "hangaround" stays in this position for at least a year.

After being a "hangaround", the potential member will then be upgraded to probate status. To reach that level, a full-member of O.M.C. must sponsor this individual. Joe Hogsett, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, also handling the investigation, said this is the point in the membership process where potential members may engage in criminal activity to join the group.

"Individuals are required to follow orders by Outlaws members, that may, in fact, include criminal activity," he said.

After a minimum of six months of being a probate, the individual may move up to full-member status after an unanimous vote from chapter members.

Members of the group wear certain patches on their vest or have tattoos to prove their loyalty to the gang. Some include a skull with crossed pistons, representing the groups' symbol, "MC" meaning motorcycle club, "A.O.A" meaning American Outlaws Association, and "1%er, representing the 1940's response to a proclamation issued by the American Motorcycle Association that 99% of persons in motorcycle clubs were law-abiding citizens, according to the indictment.