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Outlaws MC Member In Fight With Pagans MC Deployed Explosives
By Insane Throttle News Desk July 1, 2026
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club has been handed a significant federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to using an explosive device during a violent confrontation with rivals, an incident that not only escalated longstanding tensions between motorcycle clubs but also endangered innocent bystanders and damaged a local business.
Gregory E. Simonds Jr., 43, of Pensacola, was sentenced Tuesday to 84 months — seven years — in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers also ordered Simonds to undergo cognitive behavioral therapy during his supervised release period. He was immediately remanded into the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and will receive credit for time served since his arrest on February 15, 2025.
The case stems from a chaotic altercation in the parking lot of Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson in Fort Walton Beach. According to federal court records and statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, Simonds became involved in a fight with individuals associated with the Pagans Motorcycle Club. During the confrontation, Simonds allegedly deployed an explosive device that detonated near the scene, causing substantial damage to a nearby Jimmy John’s sandwich shop and injuring at least one employee.
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Law enforcement responded swiftly. After Simonds fled the area, deputies pulled him over and discovered a cache of dangerous items in his vehicle: four additional explosive devices, two firearms, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia. An Outlaws Motorcycle Club vest that Simonds had reportedly been wearing during the incident was also recovered. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered even more explosive devices, along with materials and equipment used for manufacturing them.
Simonds pleaded guilty in March 2026 to a federal charge of arson by means of an explosive causing personal injury. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of up to 40 years in prison. Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting that the use of explosives in a public area near a commercial establishment elevated the incident to a major federal matter.
This sentencing comes amid heightened federal scrutiny of outlaw motorcycle clubs (OMCs) in Florida and across the nation. The Outlaws MC, one of the “Big Four” outlaw clubs alongside the Hells Angels, Bandidos, and Pagans, has a long and storied history marked by territorial disputes, criminal enterprises, and occasional high-profile violence. Rivalries between the Outlaws and Pagans have flared up in various regions over the years, often involving control of territory, drug trafficking routes, and club prestige.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin described the prosecution as part of broader efforts under initiatives like Operation Take Back America to target violent criminal organizations. “Targeting, prosecuting, and eliminating transnational criminal organizations, like the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, is one of the principal objectives,” Heekin stated in related announcements, underscoring the DOJ’s focus on disrupting such groups to protect communities.
The incident highlights the ongoing risks associated with OMC rivalries spilling into public spaces. While many motorcycle club members participate in charity rides, toy runs, and community events to counter negative stereotypes, cases like this fuel public perceptions of outlaw clubs as inherently dangerous. The blast at Jimmy John’s not only injured a civilian worker but also disrupted a local business, reminding residents of Northwest Florida that biker disputes can have real-world consequences far beyond club lines.
Legal experts note that federal arson charges involving explosives are particularly severe due to the potential for widespread harm. The mandatory minimum reflects congressional intent to deter the use of destructive devices in crimes of violence. Simonds’ additional discoveries of weapons, drugs, and explosive-making materials likely contributed to the strength of the government’s case, prompting his guilty plea rather than proceeding to trial.
For the Outlaws MC’s Pensacola chapter and the broader Gulf Coast region, this conviction represents another high-profile legal setback. Florida has seen multiple prosecutions involving OMC members in recent years, ranging from drug conspiracies to racketeering. The Pagans, historically strong in the Northeast but expanding southward, have increasingly clashed with established clubs like the Outlaws in Florida’s panhandle and central areas.
As Simonds begins his seven-year term, questions remain about the broader impact on club dynamics in Northwest Florida. Will this incident lead to further law enforcement pressure on both the Outlaws and Pagans? How will clubs adapt their public images amid continued federal attention?
This case serves as a stark reminder of the thin line between club brotherhood and criminal enterprise. While supporters of motorcycle culture argue that the vast majority of riders are law-abiding enthusiasts who simply enjoy the open road and camaraderie, incidents involving explosives and firearms underscore the challenges faced by both clubs and authorities in separating legitimate activities from illicit ones.
Local authorities, including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, played a key role in the initial response and evidence collection. Their quick action prevented what could have been an even more tragic outcome. The injured Jimmy John’s employee and the business itself represent the collateral damage that often accompanies such confrontations — damage that extends beyond the immediate participants.
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As the motorcycle community in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach processes this latest development, many will likely call for greater accountability within clubs while others will view it as another chapter in the longstanding cat-and-mouse game between outlaw groups and federal law enforcement. With Simonds now behind bars, the focus shifts to whether this sentencing will deter future violence or simply mark one more battle in an enduring territorial war.
The full story continues to unfold as federal officials signal no let-up in their pursuit of organized crime tied to motorcycle clubs. For now, Gregory Simonds Jr. faces years in prison, a damaged Jimmy John’s is repairing its wounds, and the roads of Northwest Florida remain a complex landscape where freedom, loyalty, and the law sometimes collide with explosive results.
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