Editing Joey Hunt (section)

==== Getting in contact with Black Shuck MC ====
When Joey Hunt established his auto repair shop in Strawberry, he understood that visibility would invite friction. That friction came sooner than expected.

Before any violence occurred, Joey made a point of establishing light, harmless contact with Black Shuck MC. He did not rush the approach. Instead, he played the part of a struggling but capable mechanic—asking around for spare parts, favors, and basic assistance. On more than one occasion, he approached club associates for something as mundane as spark plugs, explaining supply issues and offering fair payment. The interactions were brief, practical, and deliberately unremarkable. They served their purpose: Joey became familiar, non-threatening, and known. They did suspect his increased contact, but shrugged it off.

One night, the shop was attacked by local gang members. Joey later claimed he had fought them off on his own. The story held. In reality, the incident had been staged—carefully planned to create the appearance of vulnerability while reinforcing the image of someone capable of defending himself. It served its purpose.

Rather than pursue retaliation alone, Joey escalated in a way that felt natural. He reached out to Black Shuck MC. Arthur and Tyler Nelson brought him to their clubhouse. Tyler led the conversation, methodical and probing, while Arthur remained openly skeptical. Joey presented himself as a former Navy SEAL who had defended his business and was now looking to resolve the situation properly. Arthur doubted the story. Tyler, however, saw value in assisting a fellow businessman who appeared competent, familiar, and discreet.

Joey asked Black Shuck MC to handle the gang responsible for the attack. They agreed. The retaliation against the Rancho gang was swift and decisive. With the matter concluded, contact information was exchanged. Joey remained present, useful, and unassuming.

Once a little bit of trust existed, Joey introduced a far larger proposition: the robbery of the Union Depository.

The proposal was met with immediate skepticism. For Black Shuck MC, the jump from handling local street matters to robbing a major federal bank was a radical escalation. Arthur and others questioned the exposure, the consequences, and Joey’s intentions. Despite the doubts, the club was under financial pressure and in need of cash. Joey understood the hesitation. He pointed to his conduct in the neighborhood and the way he had handled himself during the earlier conflict as proof of reliability. He made his position clear—he needed significant capital to establish a larger operation, and he was prepared to share the reward. A portion of the proceeds would go directly to the club.
[[File:Black Shuck ft Joey Union Depo robbery.png|thumb|Camera footage with Arthur, Tyler and Joey in the elevator going to the vault]]
This choice directly conflicted with Jack Donovan’s instructions. Jack had explicitly ordered Joey to keep a low profile and avoid actions that would draw national attention. Joey chose to proceed regardless.

Preparation took weeks. Joey handled the planning, logistics, and contingencies, involving Black Shuck MC only where necessary. When the robbery was executed, it succeeded. Approximately $15,000,000 was taken. Joey retained $10,000,000, with the remainder distributed among the club.

The heist attracted national attention. With capital secured, Black Shuck MC expanded rapidly. Cocaine storage and counterfeit-cash operations were established at former business locations once controlled by Edward, consolidating their presence at the Los Santos docks. Despite this growth, Joey noted unresolved tensions—particularly with another biker gang, calling themselves the Alamo Hellraisers.