Las Vegas Metro Police arrested seven Mongol motorcycle gang members on a variety of charges out of an estimated 10 to 11 gang members believed to be in Southern Nevada.
Its members and their charges include:
-- Harold Reynolds, known as "Face," 40, of Las Vegas, charged in federal warrants with racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
-- David Padilla, also known as "Lazy Dave," 36, of Las Vegas, charged in federal warrants with RICO conspiracy, racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
-- Ismael Padilla, also known as "Milo," 33, of Las Vegas, charged in federal warrants with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
-- William Ramirez, also known as "Moreno," 38, of Las Vegas, charged in federal warrants with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
-- Jason Hull, also known as "Big Jay," 33, of Las Vegas, charged in federal warrants with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
-- John Babcock, also known as "Sinister," 43, of Las Vegas, charged in a state warrant with unlawful transfer of a firearm.
-- Gary Lawson, also known as "T.C.," 49, of Las Vegas was taken into custody in California as part of the operation.
"This has effectively dismantled both chapters in Southern Nevada," said Lt. David Logue, head of Metro's intelligence unit. Mongol chapters operated in Las Vegas and Henderson, he said.ro Police said at least nine motorcycles were confiscated, along with five revolvers, a chrome-plated pistol, three shotguns, numerous rifles and semi-automatic weapons. Some weapons and money were on display at a Tuesday news conference, said Bill Cassel, public information officer for Metro Police.
The federal racketeering indictment unsealed in Los Angeles also alleges the name "Mongols," which was trademarked by the gang, is subject to forfeiture.
The massive law enforcement crackdown against the Mongols, dubbed "Operation Black Rain," began three and a half years ago by various agencies, including local police, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Lt. David Logue, Metro Police intelligence chief.
Four agents outside of Nevada went undercover and earned a patch, becoming Mongol members, Logue said.Former national Mongol president Ruben Cavazos was arrested at his home near South Hills Country Club in West Covina, authorities said.
Law enforcement officers served a total of 110 federal arrest warrants and 160 search warrants in Southern California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington state and Ohio. Seven of those warrants were served in Las Vegas by members of Metro Police, Henderson and North Las Vegas SWAT teams. No one resisted arrest and there were no injuries, Logue said.Mongol members have been involved in previous criminal activity in Las Vegas.Nine men, two of them Mongol members, were named in a federal grand jury indictment unsealed in April 2004 in Las Vegas on 73 counts of murder in connection with a shootout at Harrah's Laughlin casino at a 2002 gathering known as the River Run that left three people dead. Others involved were from the rival Hell's Angels motorcycle gang, authorities said. The shootout killed Salvador Barrera, Robert Tumelty and Jeremy Bell.About a half dozen people formed the gang in the 1970s because they were banned from joining the notorious Hell's Angels motorcycle group due to their Hispanic heritage. The Mongol gang began attracting members with criminal tendencies as it grew and was then labeled "outlaw" by law enforcement officials.The Mongols tend to recruit younger, more violent people from street gangs, said Thomas L. Chittum III, resident agent in charge in the Las Vegas branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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Showing posts with label Mongols Motorcycle Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mongols Motorcycle Club. Show all posts
The incident began when the investigators — Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent James Packard and Eugene police Detective Dave Burroughs — were searching for the residence of Justin James “Mooch” Deloretto, 26, near Turner.Deloretto, according to trial testimony, is president of a newly formed Oregon chapter of the Mongols Motorcycle Club — a group the U.S. Department of Justice labels as a 300-member “extremely violent outlaw motorcycle gang” originating in Southern California that is involved in narcotics, assault and murder.The Mongols moved into Oregon last year without permission from the five other active outlaw motorcycle gangs — a major violation of accepted protocol among the gangs, according to Packard, who has investigated outlaw motorcycle gangs for 25 years, instructs other police agencies and is a recognized expert witness on the topic.He noted that the vast majority of motorcycle club members are law-abiding. But Packard said outlaw gang members distinguish themselves by wearing a “1 percent” patch on their clothing, indicating that they are the 1 percent of riders who are not law-abiding.The Mongols’ intrusion set up a potential conflict between the Mongols and the other clubs, but particularly with the Gypsy Jokers because the Gypsy Jokers and the Mongols both claim the same colors for their insignia — black and white, Packard testified.
Clubs’ insignia are no small matter among members. In fact, insignia are central to each club’s identity and are awarded in stages as members work their way up from “hang arounds” to “prospects” to “full-patch members,” Packard said.Potential members are invited to apply, and do so as though looking for a job — divulging family relationships, criminal records, education and personal history that the club then confirms. It may take six weeks to two years to advance from “hang around” to full membership — with insignia awarded as the candidate progresses through the three levels, Packard said.Most of the gangs display insignia in three parts — an upper patch naming the club, a lower patch identifying their home base and an elaborate central depiction of their mascot or club symbol. The patches are awarded to signify a member’s level of advancement toward full membership.
Generally, full membership requires a 100 percent vote of approval by members of a local chapter, Packard said.The clubs’ insignia, or “colors,” are so revered that a member who drops his on the ground may be fined or disciplined. Rival clubs often will display colors taken forcibly from an enemy, hanging them upside-down in their clubhouse as a trophy, Packard said.“That is their pride in possession,” Packard told a 12-member jury. “It means everything to a member. It means loyalty and brotherhood to those groups. They will fight and die for those colors.”Oregon had four outlaw motorcycle gangs until the Vagos Motorcycle Club sought permission to operate in the state, and was voted in by the other four, in the mid-1990s, Packard said.The Mongols’ failure to seek permission, and their conflicting colors with the Gypsy Jokers, raised concerns among law enforcement officials around Eugene when the local chapter of the Free Souls Motorcycle Club threw its annual birthday party in February, Packard testified.The party draws a couple of hundred Free Souls members from other chapters around the country. Contingents from the other Oregon clubs typically are invited to the festivities, usually riding separately to Eugene, Packard said.However, officers who monitor the event were alarmed this year when they observed a gathering of about 100 motorcyclists from the five established clubs riding together from Salem toward Eugene. Police feared the united approach may signal a joint effort to drive out the Mongols, who were gathered at a Springfield motel, he said.In order to warn the Mongols of the potential danger and to try to ward off trouble, Packard introduced himself to DeLoretto at a Mongol gathering in the motel parking lot. The meeting was cordial, said Packard, who testified that he frequently talks with club members and leaders to gather information.“I wanted to give them a heads-up,” Packard said. “Mr. Deloretto said they were aware of the bikers coming from Salem, that he had his own eyes and ears out there. He said they weren’t looking for trouble, but they wouldn’t back down.”Packard contacted Deloretto a few hours later to tell him that police had found firearms when they stopped the presidents of a couple of the gang chapters who had come to Eugene for the Free Souls celebration. He said Deloretto thanked him, but said his club nonetheless would frequent the same bars it had the previous evening.No violence occurred during the weekend, Packard said.A few months later, in an effort to find Deloretto’s residence, Packard and Burroughs drove up a secluded single-lane driveway near Turner and encountered Deloretto driving out, Packard said.
The officers backed out of the driveway and drove off, and DeLoretto followed them, first north into Salem and then south into Eugene. Just south of the Harlow Road overpass, two associates of Deloretto — Nathan Andrew Cassidy, 22, of Creswell, and Matthew Aaron Weiss, 24, of Eugene — joined in separate vehicles. The menallegedly used their three vehicles to box in the officers’ unmarked sport utility vehicle in an attempt to force it off the road.Packard said he took evasive action, turned on the vehicle’s emergency siren and lights, and summoned police patrol units.
In an interview after his arrest, Deloretto told Packard he did not realize the men he followed were police. His lawyer, Kelly Beckley of Eugene, is arguing that Deloretto acted legally in protection of his property.Cassidy and Weiss have been convicted and sentenced to 90 days and 30 days in jail, respectively.Deloretto’s trial is expected to conclude next week. He is charged with two counts each of conspiring to coerce, coercion, conspiring to unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and reckless endangering, and one count of reckless driving. He has been in jail in lieu of a $1 million security deposit.
Clubs’ insignia are no small matter among members. In fact, insignia are central to each club’s identity and are awarded in stages as members work their way up from “hang arounds” to “prospects” to “full-patch members,” Packard said.Potential members are invited to apply, and do so as though looking for a job — divulging family relationships, criminal records, education and personal history that the club then confirms. It may take six weeks to two years to advance from “hang around” to full membership — with insignia awarded as the candidate progresses through the three levels, Packard said.Most of the gangs display insignia in three parts — an upper patch naming the club, a lower patch identifying their home base and an elaborate central depiction of their mascot or club symbol. The patches are awarded to signify a member’s level of advancement toward full membership.
Generally, full membership requires a 100 percent vote of approval by members of a local chapter, Packard said.The clubs’ insignia, or “colors,” are so revered that a member who drops his on the ground may be fined or disciplined. Rival clubs often will display colors taken forcibly from an enemy, hanging them upside-down in their clubhouse as a trophy, Packard said.“That is their pride in possession,” Packard told a 12-member jury. “It means everything to a member. It means loyalty and brotherhood to those groups. They will fight and die for those colors.”Oregon had four outlaw motorcycle gangs until the Vagos Motorcycle Club sought permission to operate in the state, and was voted in by the other four, in the mid-1990s, Packard said.The Mongols’ failure to seek permission, and their conflicting colors with the Gypsy Jokers, raised concerns among law enforcement officials around Eugene when the local chapter of the Free Souls Motorcycle Club threw its annual birthday party in February, Packard testified.The party draws a couple of hundred Free Souls members from other chapters around the country. Contingents from the other Oregon clubs typically are invited to the festivities, usually riding separately to Eugene, Packard said.However, officers who monitor the event were alarmed this year when they observed a gathering of about 100 motorcyclists from the five established clubs riding together from Salem toward Eugene. Police feared the united approach may signal a joint effort to drive out the Mongols, who were gathered at a Springfield motel, he said.In order to warn the Mongols of the potential danger and to try to ward off trouble, Packard introduced himself to DeLoretto at a Mongol gathering in the motel parking lot. The meeting was cordial, said Packard, who testified that he frequently talks with club members and leaders to gather information.“I wanted to give them a heads-up,” Packard said. “Mr. Deloretto said they were aware of the bikers coming from Salem, that he had his own eyes and ears out there. He said they weren’t looking for trouble, but they wouldn’t back down.”Packard contacted Deloretto a few hours later to tell him that police had found firearms when they stopped the presidents of a couple of the gang chapters who had come to Eugene for the Free Souls celebration. He said Deloretto thanked him, but said his club nonetheless would frequent the same bars it had the previous evening.No violence occurred during the weekend, Packard said.A few months later, in an effort to find Deloretto’s residence, Packard and Burroughs drove up a secluded single-lane driveway near Turner and encountered Deloretto driving out, Packard said.
The officers backed out of the driveway and drove off, and DeLoretto followed them, first north into Salem and then south into Eugene. Just south of the Harlow Road overpass, two associates of Deloretto — Nathan Andrew Cassidy, 22, of Creswell, and Matthew Aaron Weiss, 24, of Eugene — joined in separate vehicles. The menallegedly used their three vehicles to box in the officers’ unmarked sport utility vehicle in an attempt to force it off the road.Packard said he took evasive action, turned on the vehicle’s emergency siren and lights, and summoned police patrol units.
In an interview after his arrest, Deloretto told Packard he did not realize the men he followed were police. His lawyer, Kelly Beckley of Eugene, is arguing that Deloretto acted legally in protection of his property.Cassidy and Weiss have been convicted and sentenced to 90 days and 30 days in jail, respectively.Deloretto’s trial is expected to conclude next week. He is charged with two counts each of conspiring to coerce, coercion, conspiring to unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and reckless endangering, and one count of reckless driving. He has been in jail in lieu of a $1 million security deposit.
James Packard, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Detective Dave Burroughs of the Eugene Police Department were returning to Eugene from investigative work in the northern Willamette Valley around 6 p.m. when their car was surrounded by vehicles driven by members or associates of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, according to Eugene police."We could see him on his cell phone following us," Burroughs said of one of the men, "and a short time later one of the other gang members were ahead of us on the road to the right."Packard, who was driving, took evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision in the busy construction area north of the I-105 interchange.
"They ran us off the road onto the shoulder," Burroughs said. "At that point we put on our lights and sirens and they backed off."
The two officers recognized the drivers of the other vehicles, according to police.
Police arrested Justin James Deloretto, 26, of Turner within minutes of the incident. Police later located Matthew Aaron Weiss, 24, of Eugene in Creswell. Police took Nathan Andrew Cassidy, 22, of Creswell into custody in Eugene following a traffic stop at 11 p.m.Police charged all three men with two counts of attempted assault in the second degree. The charges are subject to change following review by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
"It was scary," Burroughs said. "I felt like I was in danger."
"They ran us off the road onto the shoulder," Burroughs said. "At that point we put on our lights and sirens and they backed off."
The two officers recognized the drivers of the other vehicles, according to police.
Police arrested Justin James Deloretto, 26, of Turner within minutes of the incident. Police later located Matthew Aaron Weiss, 24, of Eugene in Creswell. Police took Nathan Andrew Cassidy, 22, of Creswell into custody in Eugene following a traffic stop at 11 p.m.Police charged all three men with two counts of attempted assault in the second degree. The charges are subject to change following review by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
"It was scary," Burroughs said. "I felt like I was in danger."
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