Report: Hells Angels Member Accused of Burning Columbia Strip Club

A Hells Angels member is accused of setting fire in March 2012 to Crush Gentlemen's Club on River Drive as part of an insurance fraud scheme, according to a report in The State. 

Daniel Bifield, former president of the Rock Hell City Nomad Chapter of the gang, is named in a document filed in U.S. District Court in Columbia as part of a group that tried to burn the club, according to The State. The allegations about the strip club fire are a foot note in a large document that was filed in response to a defense attorney's motions. 

Bifield pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in December. But in February, he filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, according to The State. 

No other members of the Hells Angels are accused by name in the arson, according to The State. The Richland County Sheriff's Department and the FBI would not comment to a reporter from The State on the arson.

Crush Gentlemen's Club, which is now closed after being raided by Richland County Sheriff's deputies twice in January, , causing about $100,000 in damage. The club later re-opened. 

Multiple shootings led the sheriff's department and 5th Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson to build a nuisance case against the club, according to The State. The club owner shut the business down.

According to The State, both the club owner and the building and property owner say they had nothing to do with the fire.