Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger dies after cancer battle

Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger has died at the age of 83 after battling cancer.

The biker, of California, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Zorana and relatives on June 29.

A statement on his Facebook page read: “If you are reading this message, you’ll know that I’m gone. I’ve asked that this note be posted immediately after my passing.

“I’ve lived a long and good life filled with adventure. And I’ve had the privilege to be part of an amazing club.”

He told fans to “stay loyal, remain free, and always value honor”.

Barger was best known for launching the Oakland Hells Angels and is often credited for building the gang into an international organization, The Mercury News revealed.

The group marked its 65th anniversary in April.

Barger revealed in his autobiography that he was inspired by the 1953 crime movie The Wild One, which starred Marlon Brando.

In 1972, he and three others were acquitted of murdering a Texas drug dealer and setting a home on fire.

Barger was sentenced to ten years to life behind bars in 1973 after he was convicted of possession of narcotics and a weapon by a convicted felon.

He was paroled in November 1977 after serving four-and-a-half years of his sentence, The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

After being released, Barger said he was unaware if he would continue leading the motorcycle gang.

In 1979, he was among 33 people indicted on charges that violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The legislation, signed by President Richard Nixon, explicitly aimed to combat organized crime across the United States.

Barger was acquitted in 1980 after a split verdict.

The biker was diagnosed with cancer years later and had his vocal cords removed.

BATTLES WITH THE LAW

In 1987, Barger was arrested on charges relating to narcotics, weapons, and explosives as FBI agents and state law enforcement carried out a series of raids.

Law enforcement revealed that Barger was accused of transporting and receiving explosives designed to “kill, maim or threaten”.

Cops claimed he was suspected of being involved in the murder of John Cleve Webb – the Anchorage Hells Angels president.

John Van de Kamp, who was the California Attorney General, at the time, said police seized more than 100 weapons and $1million in cash and drugs as more than two dozen raids were executed.

Barger was convicted of conspiracy in October 1988 and was sentenced to four years in jail.

He was released from FCI Phoenix in November 1992 after serving three-and-a-half years behind bars.

Barger has written six books including his autobiography Hell’s Angel.