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Kingsmen defendents found guilty after 2014 murders

Nick Lippa
/
WBFO

All three defendants in a trial involving members of a North Tonawanda motorcycle club have been found guilty of charges relating to two murders in 2014.

A jury found 67-year old David Pirk, who at the time was the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club's national president, conspired with others to kill rival members Paul Maue and Daniel Szymanski.

FBI Special Agent Gary Lowfert said motorcycle gangs have evolved over 70 years from bar room ballers to somewhat sophisticated criminals.

“The Kingsman leadership not only voiced a desire to turn their club into a one percenter gang, but they acted on that desire,” said Loeffert. “With their intent to become one percenters, they were telling everyone that they do not want to be included in the 99 percent of riders who are law abiding citizens.”

Lowfert said outlaw motorcycle gangs have a reputation for crimes such as assault, robbery, and homicide and that’s what the Kingsman were all about.

Andre Jenkins was convicted a year after the deaths of Maue and Szymanski on state chargers for carrying out the murder. It turns out he had some help. In addition to Pirk, former regional Kingsmen president 59-year-old Timothy Enix faces at least 30 years in prison after being convicted on weapons and drug charges.

US Attorney James Kennedy said in some instances it’s easier to get the gunman than it is the person that is actually responsible.

“We could lop off the top of the dandelion and call it a day,” said Kennedy. “But we wanted to dig out the whole root of the problem. The root of the problem with the Kingsmen was its leadership. If we are going to try those leaders in federal court, it was every reason to have Mr. Jenkins there to tell the whole story.”

Assistant US Attorney Joseph Tripi said a key part to the prosecution’s success was the extra effort put in to gathering 60-plus witnesses.

“Having investigators willing to drop what they were doing on a Saturday morning to go interview a scared witness in Pennsylvania, the girl that was on the back of Mr. Jenkins motorcycle… without that decision to put the investigation over a fun Saturday afternoon walking the dog, it just doesn’t happen,” Tripi said.

Pirk and co-conspirator Jenkins face a mandatory life in prison. Sentencing for all three defendants will take place September 25th.

A total of 16 members of the Kingsmen were indicted in 2016 with charges relating to alleged criminal activity. The club started in Lockport in the 1950’s and operates in other states.

Nick Lippa leads our Arts & Culture Coverage, and is also the lead reporter for the station's Mental Health Initiative, profiling the struggles and triumphs of those who battle mental health issues and the related stigma that can come from it.
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