Kamal Ghorui
A California court sentenced the founder of the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club to more than five years in prison after authorities recovered machine guns, explosive devices and a silencer linked to an illegal weapons operation.27-year-old Jashanpreet Singh from Lodi, California, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison for unlawfully dealing firearms and possessing a machine gun, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.US Attorney Eric Grant announced the sentence, saying Singh had been convicted of unlawful firearms dealing and unlawful possession of a machine gun. Singh founded the Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club, a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle gang. His motorcycle club used Punjab-themed symbols and Sikh imagery.The case stems from an undercover operation carried out on June 6, 2025, when Singh allegedly attempted to sell weapons and firearm-related equipment to an undercover officer. The items included a short-barrelled rifle, three assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices and a revolver.Authorities later searched Singh’s residence and vehicle, where they uncovered more weapons and accessories, including another machine gun conversion device, a machine gun and a silencer. Investigators also seized firearm parts, high-capacity drum magazines and several other items linked to illegal firearms possession.During the search, officers discovered a ‘pineapple-style’ capped and fused hand grenade, along with a suspected military electronic-capped claymore mine. Bomb squad later destroyed both items at the scene with caution.Singh initially faced charges in San Joaquin County but did not appear in court on July 21, 2025. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest.Just days later, on July 23, 2025, the FBI received information from US Customs and Border Protection that Singh had booked a flight to India and was due to leave from San Francisco International Airport on July 26. Law enforcement officers arrested him at the airport before he could board the flight. Federal authorities said Singh has remained in custody ever since to avoid him from escaping.The prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America, a US Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative focused on tackling violent crime, organised gangs, illegal immigration and transnational criminal networks.
