California Court Sentences Punjabi Devils Founder in Illegal Weapons Trafficking Case

A California court has sentenced Indian-origin biker gang founder Jashanpreet Singh to more than five years in federal prison after US authorities uncovered an illegal weapons trafficking operation allegedly connected to the “Punjabi Devils” motorcycle club. The case has drawn significant attention because of the gang’s alleged links to the notorious Hells Angels network and the recovery of machine guns, explosives, and assault-style weapons during the investigation. The “Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club” is a Stockton-based biker gang founded by 27-year-old Jashanpreet Singh of Lodi, California. According to the US Department of Justice, the group was considered an “outlaw motorcycle gang” allegedly associated with Hells Angels, one of the most well-known biker organisations in the United States. Reports said the gang used Punjabi-themed symbols and Sikh imagery on jackets and social media platforms, attracting attention among sections of the Punjabi immigrant community in California. Some online discussions described the group as a blend of Punjabi identity and outlaw biker culture. Federal prosecutors stated that the investigation began on June 6, 2025, through an undercover operation. Authorities alleged that Singh attempted to sell multiple illegal weapons to an undercover officer. The weapons reportedly included: A short-barrel rifle Assault-style firearms Machine gun conversion devices A revolver Following the transaction, investigators searched Singh’s residence in California and allegedly recovered several prohibited items, including a machine gun, additional conversion devices, a silencer, high-capacity magazines, and explosive devices. The explosives reportedly included a grenade and a suspected Claymore mine. Officials said the explosives recovered during the raid were serious enough to require the assistance of bomb disposal teams at the property. According to investigators, Singh later failed to appear in court in July 2025, prompting authorities to issue an arrest warrant against him. Federal agencies subsequently tracked him to San Francisco International Airport, where he was allegedly attempting to board a flight to India when he was arrested. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Earlier this week, US District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Singh to five years and four months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal firearms trafficking and possession of a machine gun.