VACAVILLE - A dispatcher for the California Highway Patrol and her husband, a member of the Hell's Angels, are facing serious weapons, drugs and bribery charges after a lengthy investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to the ATF, who have been investigating the couple since February 2013, Sarah and Dennis Killough committed numerous felonies during meetings with undercover agents.
The ATF claims Sarah Killough, 35, used her job as a CHP dispatcher to help the Hell's Angels with criminal activity, including warning members when law enforcement officers were on the way.
Court documents filed by the Yolo County District Attorney's Office Tuesday reveal aspects of the ATF investigation, though many details are still under seal.
The documents state the ATF began investigating Dennis Killough, 42, back in February when he sold a stolen military rifle scope to undercover agents. During that meeting, Killough informed agents that his wife was a CHP dispatcher.
Undercover agents met with both Killoughs in May, where Dennis said Sarah was in charge and would have to approve any deals going forward. Sarah confirmed to agents that she knew of her husband's involvement in the motorcycle gang.
During the meet, Sarah told agents she had previously used information gathered as a dispatcher to warn Hell's Angels members when law enforcement officers were on the way, according to court records. She said her information had prevented at least one member from being arrested.
Agents met with Dennis Killough again in July, where they negotiated the purchase of an AR-15 assault rifle. Dennis told agents his wife had the gun and he would have to get it from her.
At that same meeting, Dennis told agents his wife could access the confidential CLETS law enforcement database, and suggested they use her car for transporting drugs, the documents stated. The reason, he said, was because her license plate would show her as a CHP employee and police wouldn't pull them over.
In August, undercover agents hired Dennis as security for a staged methamphetamine transaction, for which he was paid $1,000.
On their way to the staged drug transaction, Dennis told agents he thought they were being followed by a police officer. Dennis pulled out a gun and said if the car followed them off the interstate, he would shoot the driver, read the D.A.'s motion opposing the suspects' release.
Dennis also wrote down the license plate of the car and asked Sarah to run the plates for him.
Agents said if Sarah was able to run the plates, they would pay her $250. Less than a week later, she provided the name and address of the vehicle's owner.
The investigation later revealed the plate number on the suspected police car was run at the Vallejo dispatch center where Sarah worked, although she didn't run the plate herself.
According to court documents, Sarah posed as a DMV investigator and asked an unwitting dispatcher to run the plates as part of a DMV investigation.
On Dec. 13, agents served warrants on several locations, including the Killoughs' home, the Hell's Angels Chapter Club House in Vallejo and a Vacaville storage locker rented by Dennis Killough, where they reported finding a sawed-off shotgun.
Dennis Killough is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, sale of an assault weapon, being armed with a firearm during a drug offense, and transportation of methamphetamine for sale. Sarah Killough is charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale and bribery.
At the Killough's Vacaville apartment, neighbor Lucy Olvera the couple was friendly and added she was surprised at the gun-related charges, but not at the charges involving methamphetamine.
"The firearms, yeah. But I don't know, the meth, they kinda seemed like they would be running that way," Olvera said.
Neighbor Cory Brown said Dennis Killough made no secret of his affiliation.
"On the back of his vest was Hell's Angels," Brown said. "So I'm assuming he was a part of a biker club."
The Yolo County District Attorney's Office filed paperwork Tuesday arguing neither suspect should be granted bail. They worry Sarah's connections to law enforcement could endanger the officers who worked on this investigation. They say Dennis' willingness to shoot a police officer clearly makes him a danger to the public.
The CHP confirmed Sarah Killough has been a dispatcher at their Vallejo dispatch center since 2009. They say that allegations against one employee should not reflect on the rest of the hardworking CHP employees.
http://www.news10.net/news/article/266165/2/ATF-CHP-dispatcher-aided-Hells-Angels-with-weapons-and-drug-trafficking
According to the ATF, who have been investigating the couple since February 2013, Sarah and Dennis Killough committed numerous felonies during meetings with undercover agents.
The ATF claims Sarah Killough, 35, used her job as a CHP dispatcher to help the Hell's Angels with criminal activity, including warning members when law enforcement officers were on the way.
Court documents filed by the Yolo County District Attorney's Office Tuesday reveal aspects of the ATF investigation, though many details are still under seal.
The documents state the ATF began investigating Dennis Killough, 42, back in February when he sold a stolen military rifle scope to undercover agents. During that meeting, Killough informed agents that his wife was a CHP dispatcher.
Undercover agents met with both Killoughs in May, where Dennis said Sarah was in charge and would have to approve any deals going forward. Sarah confirmed to agents that she knew of her husband's involvement in the motorcycle gang.
During the meet, Sarah told agents she had previously used information gathered as a dispatcher to warn Hell's Angels members when law enforcement officers were on the way, according to court records. She said her information had prevented at least one member from being arrested.
Agents met with Dennis Killough again in July, where they negotiated the purchase of an AR-15 assault rifle. Dennis told agents his wife had the gun and he would have to get it from her.
At that same meeting, Dennis told agents his wife could access the confidential CLETS law enforcement database, and suggested they use her car for transporting drugs, the documents stated. The reason, he said, was because her license plate would show her as a CHP employee and police wouldn't pull them over.
In August, undercover agents hired Dennis as security for a staged methamphetamine transaction, for which he was paid $1,000.
On their way to the staged drug transaction, Dennis told agents he thought they were being followed by a police officer. Dennis pulled out a gun and said if the car followed them off the interstate, he would shoot the driver, read the D.A.'s motion opposing the suspects' release.
Dennis also wrote down the license plate of the car and asked Sarah to run the plates for him.
Agents said if Sarah was able to run the plates, they would pay her $250. Less than a week later, she provided the name and address of the vehicle's owner.
The investigation later revealed the plate number on the suspected police car was run at the Vallejo dispatch center where Sarah worked, although she didn't run the plate herself.
According to court documents, Sarah posed as a DMV investigator and asked an unwitting dispatcher to run the plates as part of a DMV investigation.
On Dec. 13, agents served warrants on several locations, including the Killoughs' home, the Hell's Angels Chapter Club House in Vallejo and a Vacaville storage locker rented by Dennis Killough, where they reported finding a sawed-off shotgun.
Dennis Killough is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, sale of an assault weapon, being armed with a firearm during a drug offense, and transportation of methamphetamine for sale. Sarah Killough is charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale and bribery.
At the Killough's Vacaville apartment, neighbor Lucy Olvera the couple was friendly and added she was surprised at the gun-related charges, but not at the charges involving methamphetamine.
"The firearms, yeah. But I don't know, the meth, they kinda seemed like they would be running that way," Olvera said.
Neighbor Cory Brown said Dennis Killough made no secret of his affiliation.
"On the back of his vest was Hell's Angels," Brown said. "So I'm assuming he was a part of a biker club."
The Yolo County District Attorney's Office filed paperwork Tuesday arguing neither suspect should be granted bail. They worry Sarah's connections to law enforcement could endanger the officers who worked on this investigation. They say Dennis' willingness to shoot a police officer clearly makes him a danger to the public.
The CHP confirmed Sarah Killough has been a dispatcher at their Vallejo dispatch center since 2009. They say that allegations against one employee should not reflect on the rest of the hardworking CHP employees.
http://www.news10.net/news/article/266165/2/ATF-CHP-dispatcher-aided-Hells-Angels-with-weapons-and-drug-trafficking