Overview of #303 Mel Chancey - Youngest President in Hells Angels History
In this episode of The Shawn Ryan Show, Shawn sits down with Mel Chancey, a former Chicago Hells Angels president whose life story moves from strict Catholic upbringing and teenage fatherhood, to bodybuilding, outlaw motorcycle club leadership, violent turf war, federal RICO prosecution, prison, and a dramatic Christian conversion. The conversation also covers Mel’s current work with John 3:16 Devotional Team, Core Medical, veteran outreach, and the upcoming film about his life starring Dwayne Johnson and Jon Bernthal.
Mel Chancey’s Background and Entry into the Motorcycle World
Mel grew up in the Chicago suburbs in a tightly knit, strict Catholic family.
- Youngest of three children
- Altar boy, catechism, communion, and church life
- Became a father at 16
- Got expelled from school after punching a principal
- Started working construction and concrete pouring as a teenager
He was also heavily into bodybuilding from an early age, inspired by the He-Man image and old bodybuilding magazines. That training brought him into contact with bikers at the gym, which eventually led to his involvement with the Hell’s Henchmen.
Rise Through the Hell’s Henchmen and Hells Angels
Mel describes the club structure as highly organized and military-like:
- Hang around → prospect → full member
- Club roles included president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary, treasurer, and road captains
- Respect had to be earned through reliability, loyalty, and action
Key milestones in his rise:
- Became a hang around at 18
- Became a prospect
- Earned full membership around age 20
- Became sergeant at arms about a year later
- Became president of the Chicago chapter at 24, making him the youngest president in Hells Angels history
He describes the draw of the club as a combination of:
- Brotherhood
- Identity
- Adrenaline
- Violence
- Lifestyle freedom
- Loyalty and structure
The Outlaws War and Escalating Violence
A major portion of the interview covers the violent conflict between the Hells Angels/Hell’s Henchmen and the Outlaws.
What the war looked like
- Street fights, bar fights, and ambushes
- Ball peen hammers, axes, knives, guns, and explosives
- Surveillance, counter-surveillance, and street intelligence
- Families and support networks eventually being targeted
Major turning points
- Monty Mathias, a Rockford Hells Angel and early supporter of the merger, was murdered in his bike shop
- A club member named Four-by was shot and killed while sitting in his truck
- A bomb made with 100 pounds of C4 destroyed the Chicago clubhouse area
- Another bomb exploded under a club member’s truck
- Mel says the bombing era was the most dangerous because attacks could happen without warning
He explains that the goal on both sides was not just local dominance but to push the other club out of the Midwest.
RICO Case, Arrest, and Prison
Mel says the federal government built a long-running case against him and the club, eventually tying together years of conduct under RICO.
What led to the case
- Violence linked to the club war
- Drug sales and weapons trafficking
- Clean-up and logistics tied to criminal acts
- Informants and flipped members providing evidence
Arrest and prosecution
- He describes the raid on his home early in the morning
- He was taken in under no bond
- He was hit with a large RICO indictment after years of investigation
- He ultimately chose to plead guilty rather than risk a trial
He also discussed an earlier state case and a federal mail fraud case, explaining how those experiences taught him how the system worked and how serious the guidelines were.
Faith, Prison, and Full Surrender to Christ
The spiritual center of the episode is Mel’s testimony about finding Christ.
His turning point
He says that while sitting in federal holding on the RICO case, he felt God pressing on his heart, especially around his continued womanizing and divided life.
- Raised Catholic, but not walking with the Lord during the club years
- Began praying seriously in prison
- Eventually gave God full surrender
- Says he stopped trying to hold the wheel himself
What “full surrender” means to him
- Letting God guide his decisions
- Praying before major life choices
- Not chasing money, fame, or ego
- Living in the present rather than obsessing over the future
He repeatedly returns to the idea that God put him through each season for a purpose, and that his testimony is meant to reach people who think they are too far gone.
Family, Restoration, and Life After the Club
Mel says his life today is centered on family and faith.
- Married to Melissa
- Proud father and grandfather
- Reconnected deeply with his daughter after prison
- Describes his granddaughters as the “apple of his eye”
- Says his mother remained faithful and praying for him throughout his darkest years
He is honest that leaving the club was hard, but he knew he could no longer give it 100%. He says he left because he didn’t want to hurt people or keep living a split life.
John 3:16 Devotional Team and Daily Prayer
One of the most personal parts of the episode is Mel describing how the John 3:16 Devotional Team began.
How it started
- Hulk Hogan gave him Jesus Calling
- Hogan suggested Mel record daily devotionals on social media
- What began as a single post turned into a daily ministry
- Viewers responded strongly, and the devotional team was born
Mel now reads devotionals and scripture Monday through Friday and prays for people by name. He says the goal is simple:
- Encourage people
- Pray for those in need
- Remind people they are not too far gone
- Plant seeds of faith, especially with hard-to-reach men
Core Medical, Veterans, and Hormone Replacement Advocacy
Mel also talks extensively about his work with Core Medical, a hormone replacement therapy company where he works alongside his partner Sidney Gordon.
Main mission
- Help men and women with hormone optimization
- Focus on veterans and first responders
- Push for better access to treatment through the VA
Veteran outreach
- Core Medical Foundation raises money for veterans every year
- Military appreciation weekends have raised large sums for support
- They are working to get the VA to cover hormone replacement therapy properly
- Mel argues many veterans are under-treated and left struggling with low testosterone, poor energy, and mental health issues
He presents this as both a health issue and a moral obligation to care for those who served.
The Movie About His Life
The interview also covers the upcoming movie based on Mel’s story.
- Dwayne Johnson and Jon Bernthal are attached
- The film is being developed by Seven Bucks Productions
- Mel says they are now in the writer-selection phase
- He expects filming could happen in the near future
He says he never chased the project; instead, it came to him through prayer, relationships, and timing.
Notable Takeaways
Main themes
- Brotherhood can become idolatry when loyalty is detached from morality
- Violence is addictive, especially for men drawn to adrenaline and identity
- No one is too far gone for redemption
- Faith changed the trajectory of his life more than prison ever did
- Prayer and surrender are central to how he makes decisions now
Memorable insights
- He says he doesn’t “dip his toe” in old lifestyles anymore because he knows how quickly he could fall back
- He views his past as something God can redeem, not something to hide
- He believes God uses people in different seasons to reach different audiences
- He sees his current work, family life, and public testimony as part of his calling
Final Impression
This episode is part gangster history, part prison testimony, and part Christian witness. Mel Chancey tells a gritty, unfiltered story about how deep he went into outlaw biker life, how close he came to destruction, and how completely he believes God rebuilt his life. It’s also a story about recovery, fatherhood, marriage, service to veterans, and using a hard past to reach people who need hope.