Mel Chancey – Former Hells Angels Chicago Chapter President | SRS #303
Born and raised near Chicago, Illinois, Mel Chancey grew up in a Catholic household, even serving as an altar boy. But early in life, he found identity and belonging in motorcycle club culture. What began as camaraderie evolved into full immersion in the outlaw biker world. He became part of the Hell’s Henchmen before the club patched over to the Hells Angels, quickly rising through the ranks due to his intensity, loyalty, and commanding leadership presence. At a young age, he was serving as a chapter president. In that world, brotherhood was everything. Life revolved around respect, territory, and reputation. Mel has spoken openly about the violent rivalries, bombings, turf wars, and constant hyper-vigilance required to survive. The bombing of their Chicago clubhouse marked a turning point, escalating tensions and deepening the cost of leadership. Power, ego, loyalty, and fear blurred moral lines — and carrying the weight of that conflict came with consequences.
Eventually, Mel was arrested in a federal case tied to club activity and served years in prison under RICO-related charges. Prison became the defining turning point of his life. Stripped of his title, patch, and status, he describes hitting rock bottom in a quiet cell where self-examination became unavoidable. It was there that he returned to his Christian faith — praying, reading Scripture, and experiencing what he calls a true spiritual awakening. The identity once rooted in reputation and intimidation was replaced with surrender, humility, and conviction.
Walking away from that life was not simple. It meant losing brotherhood, history, and everything familiar. Mel emphasizes that leaving was the hardest decision he ever made — and the strongest one.
Today, he is a motivational speaker focused on faith, redemption, masculinity, and discipline. He is active in the bodybuilding community, affiliated with organizations such as IFBB and NPC, using physical training as a metaphor for rebuilding life through structure and accountability. As Managing Partner at Core Medical Group, he works in health and wellness, specializing in hormone optimization and holistic performance. Now a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Mel Chancey is committed to building legacy instead of reputation — living proof that transformation is possible and that second chances can redefine a life.
Shawn Ryan Show Links
SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow
Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter
Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/
Follow on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/@shawnryanshow
Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow
#vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow
Mel Chancey Links:
IG – https://www.instagram.com/melchancey316
IG – https://www.instagram.com/john316devotionalteam
IG – https://www.instagram.com/chanceyfitness
WEB – www.chanceyfitness.com
Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:
Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at https://roka.com and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide.
Face the decisions our founders grappled with in Revolutionary America, a Hillsdale Studios film. Only in theatres May 31 – June 2. Get your tickets now by going to https://hillsdale.edu/revolution
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/14ipql92 #CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures.
Get 30% off your first subscription order of ARMRA Colostrum at https://armra.com/srs or enter code SRS at checkout.
BetterHelp is now accepting insurance in many states with average copays around $23—fill out the questionnaire and check your coverage today at https://betterhelp.com/SRS. #ad
00:00 Welcome and Mutual Friends
09:26 Baptizing Others and Officiating Weddings
17:08 Gifts and John 316 Devotional
27:48 Expelled for Punching Principal
37:27 First Club Parties
45:10 Brotherhood And Violence
52:41 Earning The Patch
01:01:13 Origins And Rival Clubs
01:19:05 Club Life and Cocaine
01:27:14 Prospecting Nationwide
01:34:07 Monty Mathias Murder
01:43:04 Retaliation and RICO
01:54:10 War Turns Deadly
02:04:14 Clubhouse C4 Bombing
02:23:30 Near Assassination Plot
02:33:21 Undercover Prospect Exposed
02:49:24 Hits Violence And RICO
02:56:10 Pleading Out And Aftermath
03:12:19 Faith And Reflection
03:32:26 SWAT Raid Arrest
03:44:11 Bible Studies Inside
03:54:32 What Full Surrender Means
04:09:00 Jesus Calling and Living Now
04:19:13 Full Surrender Mindset
04:29:35 Core Medical For Veterans
04:42:19 Movie Project Update
04:49:32 Hot Question Biker War
04:58:15 Closing Prayer And Farewell
vigilance elite,shawn ryan,shawn ryan show,the shawn ryan show,shawn ryan podcast,podcast,srs,podcast show
Published by DK Expressions®
Once the surveillance state established itself every group from the Hells Angels to the Mob had to reinvent themselves. Anything thriving today is only evidence of Government supportive corruption. Violence is bad regardless!
Shawn you interviewed george but didnt bless us with the interview??
Doing good deeds getting baptized being a alter boy doesnt get you into heaven once a racist pos always a racist pos i love the Mc culture just cant stand these whyte boy scout clubs
It’s somewhat strange but some of the friendliest people you will run into at a convenience store are 1%ers. Awesome guys, just stay in your lane.
Not surprised Mel’s favorite bike is a shovelhead…..
You should read from that book in every interview..
I was good friends with a outlaw named kickback who was a bad mf he was grease lighting Chicago presidents bodyguard and killed a hells angel president at the Lancaster speedway New York he was a scary dude
You’ve had a lot of crappy people on your podcast here lately.When you let young Turks come on your podcast.I lost all respect for you.They hate Americans, dude Hates you and you have him on your podcast..😂 sell out!
Man I hope the rock doesn’t play Mel 😂😂😂
support the local 81″s
THE CROW FLIES STRAAAAIIIIGHT
He needs better theology. “Baptism now saves you” 1Pet 3:21. I’m not doubting his conversion but so many re-interpret scripture to fit there theology. Salvation by baptism has been believed by everyone, everywhere and for all time until about 30 years ago.
2:00:05 “everybody wants to be gangster until it’s time to do gangster shit”😂🤙🏼
Shout out to over 300 killer interviews, Shawn! Just fished this episode and another great one in the books. Look forward to a lot more to come and shout out to the SRS team!
There’s nothing quite like bad men who’ve become good men & will only become bad men again if it’s to protect good men, women, and children from other bad men. Now say it 10 times fast while walking in circles.
Whatever. No way to descibe a biker gang other than what it is. As far as the money goes, yeah, Shawn’s advertising all the time so I suppose he’s chasing a dollar.
“Thats for you Chauncey!!” -Big Lenny
What is is t he hulks uncle
Typical well intentioned guy who thinks he knows the bible and doesn’t. The verse he quoted was from Matthew 28 after Jesus resurrection when Jesu was instructing his APOSTLES he told THEM to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” If you weren’t an Apostle OR in the chain of succession from the Apostles you have NO Authority to baptize. FULL STOP.
Who are you calling a gang? It’s a motorcycle club that’s it. It’s like calling military members gang members for being in a organization that kills
“America” aka USA where criminals can laugh about what they did ♥and after all God will forgive ♥
on gdn
What do you think about that, DALE?!
Used to run with the 81 in Illinois south side charter & there was an older patch there named Jerry & I believe it’s who Mel mentioned cause he was there for decades, coolest old school guy & loved sitting with him just shooting the breeze, used to call him Uncle Jerry out of respect.
When I see “ Chancy” I think of big Lenny lol.
Think this guy was around Chicago Heights back in the day…Jimmys. Great burgers. 😉
Mel Chancey respect from Scotland 🫡✝️🏴
🚬 🚬 🚬
So excited to watch this ❤
What do you think about that Lenny.
Two and a half hours through, just starting my lunch, man this is an awesome episode
@ShawnRyanShow good stuff, per usual. What should no longer be “per usual” for you Shawn is all that cussing. I’m not judging you, all I’m saying is from one Christian brother to another, the Holy Ghost hurts when you talk foul. Walk your walk brotha, keep doing big thangs!
WAIT! SIG didn’t wanna give this legend a free pistol!!??
SIG takes a BIG L
Awesome brother ⚜️⚜️⚜️
🙋♂god does work in mysterious ways, amen in the name of Jesus Christ..
Awesome sauce.
I close my eyes and all I hear is Johnny Knoxville’s voice
Fuck you gotta stop that god shit keep that at church
Hell yeah, trust this guy more than the politicians
Crazy I saw his Cody’s and Mel baptism video just before I seen this podcast wad on
It’s so hard to watch a five hour interview😢
There’s an older gentleman just a little bit older than Shawn same age as you brother it’s amazing how you see our warriors our peace givers want nothing but peace
0:44 shout out to Blake….that’s my boy all day! Shout out to you as well Shawn and the rest of the team!!!!
This guy sounds sooo much like mafia street boss Anthony Arillotta
Sentenced to 9 years, gets less than 3 years. Our system is a joke 😂
Wow! When Mel mentioned Jim Manion and Steve Weinberger I was completely impressed! This guy climbed out of the hole!
Amazing interview. Bless you both 🙏
Chopping sks barrels… baaalright
Biker gangs are gay
He dug Mel’s hole