TAMPA, Fla., April 17 -- A federal court jury in Tampa convicted Harry "Taco" Bowman, the former chief of the notorious Outlaws motorcycle gang, Tuesday of racketeering and murder.
Bowman faces a possible life sentence.
His face was expressionless as the clerk read the verdict -- convictions on eight of nine counts -- but his two teenage daughters wept. The jury found him innocent of an arson charge.
"We think the jury returned an appropriate and just verdict," said lead prosecutor Stephen Kunz.
The prosecution's key witness was former Outlaws vice president Wayne "Joe Black" Hicks, who said Bowman repeatedly ordered killings, beatings and firebombings.
Hicks is the highest ranking gang member to turn government informant.
Most of the 10 counts against Bowman, 51, involve crimes that took place from 1980 to 1997. He is charged with killing an Outlaws member in Ormond Beach, Fla., in 1982 and the president of a rival motorcycle club in 1991.
The defense called just 10 witnesses -- including the defendant's elderly mother -- before resting last week. The trial then recessed until closing arguments Monday.
Bowman, listed as one of the FBIs 10-most-wanted for two years, was arrested in 1999.
The Outlaws, who rival Hell's Angels as one of the nation's largest motorcycle gangs, call Florida home with eight chapters but have also been targeted by authorities in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Colorado on suspicion of murder, drug trafficking and other crimes.
The trial lasted one month. Sentencing was set for July 27 by U.S. District Judge James S. Moody.
