Sons of Silence
Encyclopedia
Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club (SOSMC) is a one-percenter motorcycle club
that was founded in Niwot, Colorado
in the United States in 1966. The first chapter outside of Colorado was the Iowa
chapter which was founded in 1968. There are now American chapters in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming. The first foreign chapter was founded in Munich
, Germany in 1998. In 2001, more German chapters were founded in Freising
, Gangkofen
and Nürnberg. In November 2007, a Viernheim
chapter was founded.
The Sons of Silence's logo is an American Eagle
superimposed over the letter "A" (similar to, and taken from, the Budweiser
logo) flying under an arch and their motto is "donec mors non separat ", Latin for "until death separates us". The logo is embroidered onto the back of all members' jackets or vests.
, 35 guns, four hand grenades, two suppressors, cash and motorcycles. The investigation began in 1997 and involved two undercover agents infiltrating the club. The club was featured in a 2009 episode of Gangland
, which included interviews with one of the undercover agents who infiltrated the club.
Six Sons of Silence were arrested by the ATF on April 4, 2001 on the charges of trafficking cocaine
, cannabis
and methamphetamine
, as well as firearms, throughout the state of Iowa
.
Motorcycle club
A motorcycle club is a group of individuals whose primary interest and activities involve motorcycles.In the U.S. the abbreviation, MC or MCC, can have a special social meaning from the point of view of the outlaw subcultures, and is usually reserved by them for those clubs that are mutually...
that was founded in Niwot, Colorado
Niwot, Colorado
Niwot is a census-designated place in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,160 at the 2000 census. The Niwot Post Office has the ZIP Code 80544....
in the United States in 1966. The first chapter outside of Colorado was the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
chapter which was founded in 1968. There are now American chapters in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming. The first foreign chapter was founded in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany in 1998. In 2001, more German chapters were founded in Freising
Freising
Freising is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Freising. Total population 48,500.The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Munich International Airport...
, Gangkofen
Gangkofen
Gangkofen is a municipality in the county of Rottal-Inn in Bavaria in Germany. GeographyThe market town Gangkofen lies in the valley of the river Bina along the federal highway B 388 about 17 km west of Eggenfelden, 26 km south of Dingolfing, 40 km southeast of Landshut,...
and Nürnberg. In November 2007, a Viernheim
Viernheim
Viernheim is a midsize industrial town on Mannheim’s outskirts and is found in the Rhine Neckar agglomeration and economic area. It is the second biggest town in Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany...
chapter was founded.
The Sons of Silence's logo is an American Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
superimposed over the letter "A" (similar to, and taken from, the Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
logo) flying under an arch and their motto is "donec mors non separat ", Latin for "until death separates us". The logo is embroidered onto the back of all members' jackets or vests.
Criminal activities
On October 9, 1999, 37 Sons of Silence members were arrested on drug trafficking and illegal weapons charges after one of Denver's largest federal undercover operations. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raided a number of homes and properties in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, and seized 20 pounds of methamphetamineMethamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
, 35 guns, four hand grenades, two suppressors, cash and motorcycles. The investigation began in 1997 and involved two undercover agents infiltrating the club. The club was featured in a 2009 episode of Gangland
Gangland (TV series)
Gangland is a documentary television series that airs on The History Channel. It usually airs on Thursday evenings although it has been known to arbitrarily change days every so often. Gangland explores the history of some of America's more notorious gangs. It premiered on November 1, 2007 with a...
, which included interviews with one of the undercover agents who infiltrated the club.
Six Sons of Silence were arrested by the ATF on April 4, 2001 on the charges of trafficking cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
and methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
, as well as firearms, throughout the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.