Cash, bikies, tattoos: Victoria’s Instagram bad boys exposed
Since the rise of the “Nike bikies”, wannabe gangsters and bikies have been flashing lavish lifestyles on social media but police say there’s a reason. Now, some of these bad boys can be revealed.
Leader
Don't miss out on the headlines from Leader . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Since the rise of the “Nike bikies”, wannabe gangsters and bikies have been flashing lavish lifestyles on social media with expensive jewellery, cars and luxury holidays.
But rather than just trying to inspire envy among their thousands of followers, police say platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are being used as “marketing tools” for recruitment.
The former head of Victoria Police’s bikie-busting Echo Taskforce, Detective Inspector Graham Banks told the Herald Sun the flashy lifestyles of Senior OMCG figures mask the tough grind of low level players.
“They’re really pawns in a game,” Insp Banks said.
“At the end of the day, the opulence is about a recruitment drive.”
And it’s worked. Australian Institute of Criminology deputy director Dr Rick Brown said the rise of “flashy” crims had led to a culture shift in gangs.
He said many recruits were young men “more prone to violence, attracted by the gangster image, and who are looking to join clubs to get rich quick”.
Known for their love of designer clothing, gold jewellery and expensive accessories, these are Victoria’s bikies who live large on social media.
TOBY MITCHELL
Mongols Victorian president Toby Mitchell is not shy of flaunting his extravagant lifestyle to his 189,000 followers.
The former professional kickboxer turned bikie boss regularly shares images of himself wearing designer clothing and flashy sunglasses.
Mitchell, who has been shot seven times but “gotten back up eight”, has had numerous brushes with the law over his three decade career in outlaw MC gangs, first with the Bandidos and recently as a Mongol.
He’s faced charges from assault and affray to traffic offences, and spent time in jail after he was busted with ice, cocaine and a baton after police searched his car and Docklands apartment in September 2015.
MARK BALSILLE
Former Comanchero Mark Balsillie is now believed to be an influential figure within the Mongols MC, but that doesn‘t stop him posting photos of designer shoes and his gold-plated motorcycle.
His social media account includes pictures of his $500,000 Lamborghini as well as the motorbike, emblazoned with ‘Cosa Nostra’ — a reference to the Sicilian Mafia.
He has been photographed rubbing shoulders with high profile bikie Toby Mitchell.
Balsillie was once described in court as the right-hand man of an alleged bikie debt collection syndicate boss, and was jailed for nine months after taping a bullet to the front door of a man who owed more than $800,000.
HASAN TOPAL
Former male model turned violent Comanchero MC bikie, Hasan Topal was once showed off a glitzy lifestyle most could only dream of.
His social media presence however, appears to have been put on the backburner after he became an international fugitive wanted over two botched murders in 2017.
He was jailed for 10 months in 2017 after a 3am riot in a Canberra strip club, where he was caught on camera beating a man to a pulp before smashing a glass on his own head.
As soon as Topal got out of jail, he flew to his parents’ homeland of Turkey where police are fighting to bring him back for questioning.
LACHLAN JAMES FLOYD
Once an influential figure and founding member in the Mongols MC club in Melbourne, Floyd was stereotypical of the modern bikie.
His Instagram profile flaunted a gangster lifestyle – tattoos, muscles, gold chains, beach locations and beautiful women.
The former soldier’s life unravelled after he was kicked out of the gang in 2016. He was jailed the following year for 10 years over the manslaughter of Stuart Townsend, a rival who had recently started a relationship with Floyd’s ex-partner.
BRENT JAMES (BJ) REKER
The heavily-tattooed bikie was definitely not shy of the camera, posting dozens of photos online of associates, gym selfies and motorcycles.
A notorious outlaw, Reker was often featured in the Instagram stories of influencer and model Teashun Price-Niles.
The former Finks MC boss was no stranger to the law, with a number of run-ins with police culminating with a three year jail stint for attempting to extort teens who falsely boasted of having gang ties.
He was in custody at Ravenhall Correctional Centre accused of a violent bashing when he was found dead in his prison cell in 2019.
Shepparton man with ‘contract’ on his head sentenced
A Shepparton man who had a “contract” on his head has been busted with guns and drugs while under police surveillance.
Shepparton woman defrauds government of more than $20k
A Shepparton woman submitted fake claims that she was impacted by the NSW floods, defrauding the government of more than $20,000.