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Founder of Loners motorcycle club charged with gun offence, threatening death

Gennaro "Jim" Raso, from Woodbridge, was denied bail last week

The founding member and president of the motorcycle club The Loners in York Region has been charged with uttering threats and discharging a firearm recklessly.

Toronto Police say Gennaro "Jim" Raso was arrested after the alleged incident took place near Royal York and Allenhurst roads, in Etobicoke on Aug. 3.

He was charged with the seven counts of threats and endangering a life on Aug. 7.

The following day, investigators swooped in on his Woodbridge home after gaining a warrant to search the property.

At his court date on Aug. 11, his bid for bail was turned down by a judge.

The Loners were targeted as part of a large York police bust in 2013, during which officers conducted 12 pre-dawn raids, arresting four alleged members of the club and nine others.

In the end, police landed only one prosecution for several grams of weed after one search warrant was thrown out by the judge in early 2016.