Pineapple Grenades and Machine Guns: Founder of US-Based Punjabi Devils Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

In a significant development highlighting the reach of transnational criminal networks, Jashanpreet Singh, the founder of the US-based Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club, formally entered a guilty plea on Monday to multiple federal firearms offenses. The plea comes months after law enforcement officials recovered an alarming cache of illegal weapons, including machine guns and military-grade grenades, from his residence in California.

According to a detailed press release issued by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, Singh admitted to unlawfully possessing and trafficking firearms. He acknowledged his role as the founder and leader of the Punjabi Devils, an outlaw motorcycle gang headquartered in Stockton, California, which authorities have described as a criminal enterprise.

The Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club has previously been linked by investigators to the notorious Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, one of the world’s most well-known outlaw biker organizations. Founded in 1948, the Hells Angels have been designated by law enforcement agencies across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia as an organized criminal syndicate, with a long record of involvement in violent crime, drug trafficking, and the illegal arms trade.

Federal Charges and Guilty Plea

Singh’s guilty plea follows his arrest in July 2025 and a subsequent federal indictment on multiple firearms-related charges. A grand jury accused him of illegally possessing an unregistered short-barrelled rifle, unlawfully dealing in firearms, and possessing a machine gun in violation of US federal law.

Federal prosecutors revealed that on June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell an undercover law enforcement agent a range of prohibited weapons. These included a short-barrelled rifle, three assault-style firearms, and three conversion devices designed to modify semi-automatic rifles into fully automatic weapons.

During a search of Singh’s residence, investigators uncovered an even more dangerous arsenal. Authorities seized a machine gun, an additional conversion device, a firearm silencer, and numerous high-capacity magazines. Officers also discovered a “pineapple-style” hand grenade and an object believed to be a claymore mine.

Given the extreme risk posed by the explosive materials, a specialized bomb squad from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department was deployed to safely dispose of the devices, underscoring the severity of the threat posed by the weapons cache.

Multi-Agency Investigation and Arrest

The investigation into Singh involved a coordinated effort by multiple state and federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations, and several California law enforcement departments.

Initially, Singh was charged in San Joaquin County. However, after he failed to appear in court on July 21, 2025, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Two days later, US Customs and Border Protection alerted the FBI that Singh had booked a flight to India and was scheduled to depart from San Francisco International Airport on July 26.

FBI agents intercepted Singh at the airport before his departure, preventing him from leaving the country. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

Sentencing and Potential Penalties

US District Judge Dale A. Drozd is scheduled to sentence Singh on May 11, 2026. Under federal law, Singh faces severe penalties. He could receive up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for unlawfully dealing in firearms. For the illegal possession of a machine gun, he faces a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison and an additional fine of $250,000.

The final sentence will be determined using federal sentencing guidelines, which take into account the nature of the offenses, the volume and lethality of the weapons involved, and Singh’s role in organizing and leading a criminal group.

Part of a Broader Federal Crackdown

Federal officials noted that the prosecution of Jashanpreet Singh is part of the US Department of Justice’s nationwide “Operation Take Back America” initiative. The campaign targets violent crime, firearms trafficking networks, and transnational criminal organizations, particularly those operating across borders or attempting to evade US law enforcement.

The case underscores growing concerns among US authorities about the intersection of outlaw motorcycle gangs, illegal arms trafficking, and international flight risks. It also highlights the increasingly aggressive stance taken by federal agencies to dismantle criminal networks before they can export violence beyond American borders.

With Singh now awaiting sentencing, law enforcement officials say the case sends a clear message that individuals involved in trafficking military-grade weapons and explosives—especially those linked to organized crime—will face swift and severe consequences under US law.