#2295 - Scott Payne

Payne's Background and Interest in Undercover Work

Scott Payne's career in law enforcement and his eventual specialization in undercover work are a product of his background and inherent interests.

Payne's Fascination With Undercover Investigations

Growing up in South Carolina and playing ball, Payne already had the makings of an agent from early on. He learned the "gift of gab" while bouncing in college, along with various fight techniques. It was an elective in criminal justice that initially piqued his interest, and he had always been enticed by the idea of undercover work, often finding himself engrossed in undercover movies. Deciding against becoming an attorney, Payne became a cop and found himself inspired by mentoring from a strongman who had extensive experience working undercover in biker gangs.

Payne's Initial Undercover Assignments in Law Enforcement

Payne began his law enforcement career working uniform patrol for three years before breaking into the undercover scene. Once he got his start as a case agent with the FBI, investigating his own cases, he was sent to New York City. Here, he learned the lay of the land, including how to navigate traffic complexities like the Lincoln Tunnel.

Assigned to the Colombian drug squad in New York, Payne used his state-level certification in undercover work to take on cameo roles in various operations. One significant task involved replicating packages for controlled deliveries linked to drug trafficking. For instance, Payne once built an exact replica of a box filled with 3,000 pounds of weed confiscated in LA for a sting operation in New York. Although he participated in classified operations that are still shrouded in secrecy to the present day, Payne does not divulge any details to avoid issues with lie detector tests.

Payne worked his way up the drug distribution chain by arresting low-level dealers and gathering intelligence to identify their suppliers. He also went undercover in a strip club he was fami ...

Scott Payne’s experiences infiltrate biker gangs shed light on the inherent challenges, tactics, and ethical dilemmas of undercover work in law enforcement.

Payne's Undercover Work With the Outlaws Biker Gang

Payne recounts his deep undercover work with the Outlaws biker gang, where he successfully gained their trust and participated in their activities.

Payne Spent two Years Embedded In the Outlaws, Gaining the Gang's Trust and Engaging In Crime

Scott Payne describes his experience infiltrating the Outlaws biker gang, detailing how he spent two years embedded within the gang and gained access to private events and discussions, like their weekly "church" meetings and the regional event known as Lobster Fest in Brockton. Payne’s deep involvement is highlighted by his recount of a bar outing in Brockton where gang members prominently arrived in their colors. While part of an undercover operation, Payne engaged in constructing a biker club, The Righteous Few, which the Outlaws sanctioned as a top support club in the Northeast, indicating his deep level of integration. He details how he established relationships with key gang members, illustrating the depth of his infiltration. These interactions, including discussing the logistics of illegal activities such as drug transportation, show Payne's ability to gain the gang's trust.

Payne Risked Exposure and Grappled With the Ethics Of Bonding With Criminal Targets

Payne faced situations that nearly led to the exposure of his undercover identity, such as having to defuse suspicion when questioned or being subjected to intense searches for wires. Payne grappled with the ethics of bonding with gang members, especially feeling conflicted and sad when bringing them down, acknowledging the deep relationships he had formed. He also describes moments when he had to maintain his cover by threatening violence, a testament to the moral and personal risks that come with such operations.

Skills and Strategies For Biker Gang Infiltration

Payne Directed Gang Suspicions Towards Undercover Officers and Adapted His Persona to Stay Credible

To remain credible and manage suspicion, Payne had to adapt his persona and backstory con ...

Scott Payne’s undercover work revealed the intense and violent underpinnings of neo-Nazi and accelerationist organizations such as the Base.

Payne's Undercover Work With Neo-nazi Group, the Base

Payne Joined the Base After Recruitment and Vetting

Payne discussed the secretive and cautious recruitment and vetting process, which he went through to join the Base. He engaged in a series of email exchanges focused on personal details and ideology, followed by an interview with a panel from the Base. Only after a 24-hour consideration period, he was accepted into the group under the alias "Pale Horse."

Payne Documented Rituals Like Animal Sacrifice and Burning Religious Texts

During his infiltration, Payne partook in and observed the group's dark rituals, which included pagan ceremonies called "blots," where members engaged in actions like burning Bibles and an American flag while expressing hateful sentiments. He described animal sacrifices in worship of Norse gods, detailing a ritual of sacrificing a ram to Odin and how the group drank its blood, sometimes mixing it with hallucinogens.

The Ideology and Goals of Accelerationist Neo-nazi Groups

The Base and Like-Minded Groups Seek to Hasten Society's Collapse Through Violence

Payne revealed the extreme ideologies these groups hold, such as their desire for an all-white "ethno-state" and their belief in hastening societal collapse. They anticipate a chaotic future where they could engage in guerilla warfare and violent overthrow. Plans for initiating a societal collapse were discussed, including taking down power grids and starting shootouts to spark larger conflicts.

Payne Revealed the Base's Murder, Terr ...

Scott Payne's extensive work in undercover operations reveals a complex interplay of psychological tensions and moral dilemmas he encountered while developing relationships with criminal targets.

Payne's Internal Conflict Over Bonding With Criminal Targets

The deep connections and bonds Payne developed during his undercover assignments led to internal struggles and moral ambiguity.

Payne Developed Genuine Empathy With Undercover Targets, Creating Moral Dilemmas In Bringing Them Down

Payne's undercover work forced him to build trust and relationships with targets, which resulted in genuine empathy and moral conflicts. He felt a personal connection with individuals, including gang members and neo-Nazis. Payne bonded with a member of a criminal organization so strongly that he found himself joking about how they could "finish each other's sins." The intense involvement led Payne to feel anger and take threats against his undercover persona personally. When Payne was emotionally ousted from a group, it signified a psychological and personal impact, as betrayed by his reaction to being removed from the group chat.

Payne Struggled With the Psychological Toll of Violent Ideologies and Crime

While forming relationships with his targets, Payne experienced a powerful psychological impact. Observing the gang's violent ideology, symbolized by stickers such as 'WWSD' (What Would Satan Do), deeply affected him and reminded him of the stark value differences. He uncovered a human side to those he investigated, which led to conflicnds and a deep moral questioning. Payne expressed that he genuinely liked the individuals he infiltrated and could empathize with them, admitting if his life had taken a different path, he might have become like them.

Support Systems and Coping Mechanisms Payne Relied On

Amidst the demanding reality of undercover assignments, Payne leveraged various support systems and coping mechanisms.

Wife's Faith and Prayer Supported Payne Through Undercover Work Stresses

Payne's wife played a crucial role in supporting him throughout his undercover work. She used prayer as a coping mechanism, particularly during times of heightened danger. Payne recounted how on one night, when he was in a perilous situation in a basement, his wife—driven by an overwhelming feeling—pulled over and prayed for him at the same time. His wife also facilitated his recovery by allowing him space to "veg" at home without adding any stress to his plate. Payne's communication with his wife, calling her every night no mat ...