A US district judge sentenced Jashanpreet Singh, a 27-year-old Indian-origin man and founder of the 'Punjabi Devils' Motorcycle Club, to five years and four months in prison on Monday. Singh, a resident of Lodi in San Joaquin County, California, was convicted for unlawful dealing of firearms and possession of a machine gun. The 'Punjabi Devils' is a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle gang associated with the notorious Hells Angels.
Details of the Crime
On June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell multiple weapons to an undercover law enforcement officer. The arsenal included a short-barreled rifle, three assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices, and a revolver. Following the transaction, authorities searched his residence and uncovered additional firearms, including a machine gun, another machine gun conversion device, and a silencer, according to a release from the US attorney's office for the eastern district of California.
Explosives Discovered
During the initial investigation, officers also discovered a single 'pineapple-style' capped and fused hand grenade, as well as what law enforcement believed to be a military electronic capped claymore mine. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department bomb team safely destroyed these explosive devices at the scene.
Attempt to Flee the US
Singh initially faced state charges in San Joaquin County. On July 21, 2025, he failed to appear in court, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. Two days later, the FBI received an alert from US Customs and Border Protection indicating that Singh had booked a flight to India departing from San Francisco International Airport on July 26. Officers located and arrested Singh at the airport before he could board the flight. He later pleaded guilty and remains in federal custody.
Multi-Agency Investigation
This case was the result of a collaborative investigation involving the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the San Joaquin County District Attorney's and Sheriff's offices. The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and protecting communities from violent crime.
