Lodi, California — A 27-year-old Indian-origin man who founded the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club in Stockton's Central Valley has pleaded guilty to federal weapons trafficking charges, marking a significant victory in law enforcement's crackdown on organized motorcycle gangs.
Jashanpreet Singh attempted to sell illegal firearms to an undercover officer and was arrested at San Francisco International Airport in July 2025 while trying to flee to India.
His case reveals how criminal networks exploit cultural motorcycle communities while raising concerns about illegal weapons networks operating across the region.
Key Facts
• On June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell weapons including short-barreled rifles, assault-style firearms, and machine-gun conversion devices to an undercover officer
• Officers discovered a fully automatic machine gun, hand grenade, military-style claymore mine, and high-capacity magazines during a search of his residence
• Singh faces up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines with sentencing scheduled for May 11, 2026
Singh founded the Punjabi Devils as a motorcycle club in Stockton, but authorities allege it functioned as an outlaw gang linked to the Hells Angels. The group operated in plain sight throughout the Central Valley, establishing what appeared to be a legitimate motorcycle organization.
On June 6, 2025, Singh's criminal enterprise unraveled when he attempted to sell multiple weapons to what he believed was a buyer but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. The attempted transaction included a short-barreled rifle, three assault-style rifles, three machine-gun conversion devices, and a revolver.
When police executed a search warrant at Singh's residence and vehicle, they uncovered a horrifying arsenal. Officers discovered a fully automatic machine gun, additional machine-gun conversion devices, a silencer, and high-capacity drum magazines.
Most alarming were the explosive devices: a "pineapple"-style hand grenade and what law enforcement identified as a military electronic claymore mine.
The bomb disposal team was immediately called to the scene, and both explosive devices were destroyed on-site to protect public safety. This discovery elevated the case from mere illegal weapons possession to a potential terrorism and public safety threat.
After initially facing state charges in San Joaquin County, Singh failed to appear in court in July 2025, triggering a bench warrant for his arrest. Just days later, authorities received a crucial alert from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Federal agents discovered that Singh had booked a one-way ticket to India and was scheduled to depart from San Francisco International Airport on July 26, 2025. The FBI moved quickly, intercepting Singh at the airport before he could board the flight and flee the country.
Singh's case is part of Operation Takeback America, a nationwide federal initiative targeting organized crime groups, street gangs, and illegal weapons networks. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and local California law enforcement departments.
Singh's guilty plea marks a major breakthrough for U.S. authorities in their larger fight against underground gangs operating in plain sight throughout California. As federal agents continue their crackdown, law enforcement warns the real scale of organized motorcycle gang activity may still be unfolding.
Readers should watch for his sentencing hearing on May 11, 2026, which could set important precedents for similar cases nationwide.
Do You Know?
The Punjabi Devils represented a growing network of Sikh motorcycle organizations across North America, but Singh's case highlighted the criminal exploitation of cultural communities. Legitimate Sikh motorcycle clubs have been operating for decades across North America as community organizations, making Singh's criminal use of the identity particularly damaging to the broader motorcycle community.
Key Terms
• Machine-gun conversion devices: Mechanical components that modify semi-automatic rifles to fire automatically like military weapons, making them illegal to possess under federal law
• Claymore mine: A military-grade explosive device designed for combat that is strictly regulated and illegal for civilian possession
• Operation Takeback America: A nationwide federal campaign specifically designed to dismantle organized crime networks, street gangs, and illegal weapons trafficking operations
• Outlaw motorcycle gang: A criminal organization that uses motorcycle clubs as a front for illegal activities including weapons trafficking, drugs, and violence
• Bench warrant: A court order issued when a defendant fails to appear in court, authorizing law enforcement to arrest them immediately
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