Hells Angels Infiltrator Says U.S. |Failed to Protect Him From Threats

TUCSON, Ariz. (CN) - The government allegedly failed to protect a federal agent who became the first law enforcement officer to successfully infiltrate the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. Since completing "Operation Black Biscuit" in 2003, Jay Anthony Dobyns says he and his family have received continual "threats of murder, rape, assault, torture, general violence and brutality," but instead of protecting them, the government has responded with a smear campaign.

Hells Angels even offered to pay members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang and the MS-13 street gang to kill Dobyns, according to his federal lawsuit.

Dobyns has been a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for more than 20 years. After spending nearly two years with the Hells Angels, his true identity as a federal agent was revealed. His undercover work allegedly led to numerous search and arrest warrants and the federal indictments of at least 16 Hells Angels members for RICO violations.

"ATF has refuse to adequately protect or defend Dobyns and family from the threats coming from the very criminals and alleged syndicates that ATF encouraged Dobyns to investigate," the suit claims.

He says his house and belongings were destroyed by arson on Aug. 10, 2008, which also put his wife and kids' lives in jeopardy.

"In a demonstration of an extreme example of a United States government agency abandoning an employee," the lawsuit claims, "Dobyns's supervisors at ATF have subjected and are subjecting Dobyns to unheard-of malicious reprisals including, but not limited to, ATF's refusal to investigate the arson of Dobyns's home and naming Dobyns as a suspect in the arson of Dobyns's family home and attempted murder of his family with no evidence or investigative activity to support the charge."

He is suing the government for mismanagement of threats and breach of contract, claiming the ATF's lack of post-investigation protection effectively ended his career as an agent.

A Hells Angels member in Tucson allegedly told Dobyns that he'd been tracking his family, and that Dobyns would "run from the (Hells Angels) for the rest of his life" and that he was "going to get hurt."

"Dobyns's entire chain of command ignored the threats," the lawsuit claims. "Dobyns's supervisors immediately conspired to initiate a smear campaign against Dobyns claiming that Dobyns was acting outside of approval and authority at the time of the threat."

The plaintiff claims the ATF also received a copy of a handwritten letter in which a Hells Angels member, who was incarcerated for a beheading, threatened to arrange and videotape the gang rape of Dobyns' wife.

Dobyns and his family demand more than $4 million in damages, plus $1.85 million in salary and benefits.

The family is represented by James Reed of Baird Williams & Greer LLP.

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