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At or about 2:00 a.m. on October 8, 2008 Manuel Vincent Martin was shot while riding his motorcycle on the [[Glendale Freeway]] in California. According to the ''[http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_10680876 San Gabriel Valley News]'' Martin's riding companion at the time was seen wearing a Mongols T-Shirt. While the police were investigating the scene of the accident several people showed up wearing the Mongols apparel and tattoos. The police did not rule out gang retaliation, nor did they confirm it.
At or about 2:00 a.m. on October 8, 2008 Manuel Vincent Martin was shot while riding his motorcycle on the [[Glendale Freeway]] in California. According to the ''[http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_10680876 San Gabriel Valley News]'' Martin's riding companion at the time was seen wearing a Mongols T-Shirt. While the police were investigating the scene of the accident several people showed up wearing the Mongols apparel and tattoos. The police did not rule out gang retaliation, nor did they confirm it.

⚫
On December 20, 2008, Mongols members arrived at "A Special Memories Wedding Chapel" for a fellow members wedding, to find a local Hells Angels MC were just finishing up their own ceremony. It is reported by KTNV Channel 13 news, that the Hells Angels attacked the Mongols members, sending three to the hospital, two of which suffered from stab wounds. No arrests were made and local authorities report that they are looking for suspects said to be involved in the attack<ref>http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?s=9563143 KTNV ABC, Channel 13 News story on Event</ref>.


==Operation Black Rain==
==Operation Black Rain==
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On October 21, 2008, 38 members including Ruben "Doc" Cavazos were taken into Federal custody after 4 [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives|ATF]] agents infiltrated the group for a second time, becoming full patch members. 110 arrest warrants and 160 search warrants were issued in California, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_re_us/biker_gang_busts]
On October 21, 2008, 38 members including Ruben "Doc" Cavazos were taken into Federal custody after 4 [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives|ATF]] agents infiltrated the group for a second time, becoming full patch members. 110 arrest warrants and 160 search warrants were issued in California, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_re_us/biker_gang_busts]
On October 23, 2008, US District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper granted an injunction that prohibits club members, their family members and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo, which typically depicts the profile of a Mongolian warrior wearing sunglasses, because according to the police, they use the logo and names as an identity and as a form of intimidation to fulfill their goals. Prosecutors requested the injunction after authorities arrested dozens of Mongols under a racketeering indictment. If this holds up to appellate scrutiny, it could spell the demise of the club as it is known today.[http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/judge_bans_mongols_from_wearin.html] Several civil rights groups have called foul claiming that the actions of the judge violate [[due process]] and property rights.[http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/federal-hordes-pillage-mongol-property]
On October 23, 2008, US District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper granted an injunction that prohibits club members, their family members and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo, which typically depicts the profile of a Mongolian warrior wearing sunglasses, because according to the police, they use the logo and names as an identity and as a form of intimidation to fulfill their goals. Prosecutors requested the injunction after authorities arrested dozens of Mongols under a racketeering indictment. If this holds up to appellate scrutiny, it could spell the demise of the club as it is known today.[http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/judge_bans_mongols_from_wearin.html] Several civil rights groups have called foul claiming that the actions of the judge violate [[due process]] and property rights.[http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/federal-hordes-pillage-mongol-property]

==Las Vegas Brawl==
⚫
On December 20, 2008, Mongols members arrived at "A Special Memories Wedding Chapel" for a fellow members wedding, to find a local Hells Angels MC were just finishing up their own ceremony. It is reported by KTNV Channel 13 news, that the Hells Angels attacked the Mongols members, sending three to the hospital, two of which suffered from stab wounds. No arrests were made and local authorities report that they are looking for suspects said to be involved in the attack.[http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?s=9563143 KTNV ABC, Channel 13 News story on Event]


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 00:53, 24 December 2008

File:MongolspatchUSfedgov.jpg
Mongols vest with "patch"

The Mongols Motorcycle Club, shortened to "Mongols MC" is a "outlaw motorcycle gang" (OMG)[1] headquartered in southern California that was originally formed in Montebello, California in 1969.[2] Law enforcement officials estimate there are approximately 500 to 600 members,[3] and they have been quoted by the ATF as being "violent and dangerous" OMG partly because it has many former gang members.[4] It has its main presence in southern California. It also claims it has chapters in US states of Nevada, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Oregon, New York, Indiana, Florida and Virginia, and in countries of Canada, Italy and Mexico.[5] Norwegian mainstream news also reports that the Mongols have spread to Scandinavia in April 2008[citation needed].

A half dozen motorcycle enthusiasts came together to form the club; however the club eventually began to attract many with criminal tendencies and soon the label "outlaw" stuck to them.

Name

The Mongols Motorcycle Club is named after the Mongol people. Its website includes a quote on the front page from Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire; however, there is no other relationship whatsoever between the Mongol ethnic group and the motorcycle club other than the shared name.

Criminal activities

The Mongols members have historically been charged and convicted of criminal activities ranging from drug dealing, especially methamphetamine, money laundering, robbery, extortion, fire arms violations, murder, assault, etc.[6][7][8][9][10].

Instances

In 1998, ATF agent William Queen infiltrated the club, eventually becoming a full-patch member and rising to the rank of treasurer using the undercover alias of Billy St. John. In April 2000, based on evidence gathered during Queen's 28-month undercover time with the club, 54 Mongols were arrested. All but one of the accused were later convicted of various crimes including drug trafficking, motorcycle theft, and conspiracy to commit murder.[11]

In 2002, members of the Mongols and the Hells Angels had a confrontation in Laughlin, Nevada at the Harrah's Laughlin Casino, that left three bikers dead.[12] Mongol Anthony 'Bronson' Barrera, 43, was stabbed to death; and two Hells Angels -- Jeramie Bell, 27, and Robert Tumelty, 50 -- were shot to death.

On February 23, 2007, Hells Angels members James Hannigan and Rodney Cox were sentenced to two years in prison for their respective roles in the incident. Cox and Hannigan were captured on videotape confronting Mongols inside the casino. A HA can be clearly seen on the casino security videotape performing a front kick on a Mongol which in turn started the ensuing melee.

It is clear that the HA came to confront the Mongols. Charges were dismissed against 36 other HA and Mongols originally named in the indictment.

On September 2, 2008 witnesses identified Mongol Christopher Ablett of Modesto, California as the man who shot and killed Mark "Papa" Guardado, the President of the San Francisco chapter of Hells Angels. By the time 2000 members of the Hells Angels and other various motorcycle clubs attended the funeral of Mark "Papa" Guardado police had issued a $5 million warrant for the arrest of Christopher Ablett.

On October 6, 2008 Christopher Ablett turned himself in to authorities in Bartlesville, Oklahoma for the murder of Mark Guardado. He fought extradition back to San Francisco and was held at a location away from the general prison population for his own protection. He indicated he hired an attorney and stated that he wished to take his 5th Amendment right to remain silent.

At or about 2:00 a.m. on October 8, 2008 Manuel Vincent Martin was shot while riding his motorcycle on the Glendale Freeway in California. According to the San Gabriel Valley News Martin's riding companion at the time was seen wearing a Mongols T-Shirt. While the police were investigating the scene of the accident several people showed up wearing the Mongols apparel and tattoos. The police did not rule out gang retaliation, nor did they confirm it.

On December 20, 2008, Mongols members arrived at "A Special Memories Wedding Chapel" for a fellow members wedding, to find a local Hells Angels MC were just finishing up their own ceremony. It is reported by KTNV Channel 13 news, that the Hells Angels attacked the Mongols members, sending three to the hospital, two of which suffered from stab wounds. No arrests were made and local authorities report that they are looking for suspects said to be involved in the attack[13].

Operation Black Rain

Main article: Operation Black Rain

On October 21, 2008, 38 members including Ruben "Doc" Cavazos were taken into Federal custody after 4 ATF agents infiltrated the group for a second time, becoming full patch members. 110 arrest warrants and 160 search warrants were issued in California, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. [1] On October 23, 2008, US District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper granted an injunction that prohibits club members, their family members and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo, which typically depicts the profile of a Mongolian warrior wearing sunglasses, because according to the police, they use the logo and names as an identity and as a form of intimidation to fulfill their goals. Prosecutors requested the injunction after authorities arrested dozens of Mongols under a racketeering indictment. If this holds up to appellate scrutiny, it could spell the demise of the club as it is known today.[2] Several civil rights groups have called foul claiming that the actions of the judge violate due process and property rights.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/gangunit/about/omgangs.html
  2. ^ Organized Crime in California Annual Report the California Legislature 2004
  3. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-me-mongols22-2008oct22,0,7167755.story
  4. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/gangunit/about/omgangs.html
  5. ^ "Mongols MC website". Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  6. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mongols22-2008oct22,0,754213.story
  7. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-21-mongols_N.htm
  8. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/21/mongols-motorcycle-gang-a_n_136726.html
  9. ^ http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mongols-members-gang-2201754-agents-hoffman
  10. ^ "Feds seize biker gangs trademark". Andrew Orlowski, The Register, http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/22/doj_seizes_biker_trademark/, accessed 25th October 2008.
  11. ^ Queen, William Under and Alone : The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, Random House, 2005 (ISBN 1400060842)
  12. ^ Las Vegas Review Journal, 4/30/2002; LAUGHLIN SHOOTOUT: Signs told of melee in making
  13. ^ http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?s=9563143 KTNV ABC, Channel 13 News story on Event
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