A former high-ranking member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club who helped federal authorities convict the top two leaders of the biker gang received 15 years without parole Wednesday, making a tearful apology and promising to continue to cooperate

“I’m remorseful for what I’ve done. I apologize to the family of Anthony Benesh,” “Downtown” Johnny Romo, 48, told the judge, crying. “ I took a man’s life. It’s been a heavy burden on me for many years. Now I have to live with it.”

Romo rose to become a sergeant-at-arms in the Bandidos’ national chapter before he turned informant and became a key prosecution witness in the three-month trial of former national president Jeffrey Fay Pike and then-vice president John Xavier Portillo. The pair were sentenced last week to life in prison without parole for leading the Bandidos’ racketeering conspiracy.

A former chapter president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club was found guilty Tuesday of plotting a woman's murder and attempting to have her husband killed in jail to cover up a drug ring the woman was threatening to expose.

A jury found Ferdinand Augello guilty in Superior Court in Mays Landing, after a trial that lasted just more than two weeks, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner announced. The attorneys in the case had made closing statements Tuesday morning.

After hearing the verdict, Augello faced the media sitting on the opposite of the courtroom. He denied his role in the crimes and said "I'll be back."

One of his attorneys, Mary Linehan, later told Breaking AC that they would appeal the decision.

NEW LONDON - A Norwich man accused of helping a fellow motorcycle club member avenge an attack on a woman is facing nine months in prison after agreeing to a plea deal.

Sean Simmons, 30, pleaded guilty Monday in New London Superior Court to third-degree burglary and second-degree unlawful restraint. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 16.

According to Norwich police, Simmons and Christopher Manuel, both members of the Legion of Doom Motorcycle Club, went to a Norwich home on Oct. 21, 2017, after a woman reported the attack. Simmons held down another occupant of the home while Manuel punched the attacker, Assistant State’s Attorney Lawrence Tytla said.

Manuel agreed to a plea deal last week and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9 to 18 months in prison.

A 32 year-old Reno man was arrested Friday evening at 7:34 p.m. in the area of North Carson Street and College Parkway on felony drug possession and a host of misdemeanor offenses, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

Jeramy Scoggin was taken into custody after the motorcycle he was riding had been stopped for no visible license plate. Registration on the motorcycle was found to be expired for more than a year, according to the arrest report.

Scoggin was observed to be wearing the insignia of a motorcycle gang, the report said. He failed multiple times to comply with law enforcement instructions to place his hands on his head and keep his kick stand up while straddling the bike with his legs.