agent who infiltrated three biker clubs. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Clarksville Mongols were a violent motorcycle gang operating in and around the city of Clarksville. Things started to take a turn at the end of World War II. He alleges that Santillan sabotaged the trial by not allowing him to call Ciccone to the stand. ", "So, he gave me a heads up and that was it. 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. He was the guy outside all the time providing cover support in case something went wrong with the undercovers.. "Absolutely not, unequivocally no," says David Santillan. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. ", 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage, Video shows group of sharks in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast. For more than two decades, federal law enforcement authorities pursued the Mongols, a notorious motorcycle club whose members had a long history of murder, assault, drug dealing and robbery. When the Clarksville Mongols learned that Bradley had failed to accede to their demands, she was kidnapped and murdered in the woods behind a cemetery in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee. The Mongols Biker Gang which was originally formed in Montebello, California, in 1969, started as a mainstream motorcycle club. motorized two-wheel machines on the roads, How Eiza Gonzalez Achieved a Net Worth of $5 Million, How Bebe Rexha Achieved a Net Worth of $10 Million, The 20 Worst Cities for Human Trafficking in the World, How Simu Liu Achieved a Net Worth of $4 Million. Eyewitness News asked Santillan what he meant in the video about ATF agent Ciccone "protecting him." "It was an improper line of communication, particularly for a law enforcement personnel trying to convict an entity of being a criminal organization," Yanny said. If youve ever wondered about the origins of one of Americas most notorious motorcycle clubs, heres what you need to know about the Mongols Motorcycle Club. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Dave repeated, "Nicely. The explosive allegations come after a secretly recorded video surfaced of Santillan talking to his wife about the lead ATF agent on the case -- John Ciccone. Mongols MC: The club talks about being in Fort Worth. He's accused of being a confidential informant and working with the government during the Mongols' trial after his wife, Annie, shared a June 2021 recorded phone conversation with other members of the biker gang calling him a rat. The judge will most likely consider a series of procedural matters on Monday, lawyers said, with additional hearings expected before any final ruling. Julie Platner for The New York Times. Anyone can read what you share. That doesnt, however, mean its looked on any more kindly by the law. The Mongols even have their own coded language that they use to communicate with one another, according to Hot Cars. According to a report by CNN (available on YouTube), newly accepted members receive patches upon their acceptance into the club. [34][35], Organized crime in Bremen is dominated by the Miri-Clan, a large family of Lebanese origin with more than 10,000 members, who first migrated to Germany beginning in the late 1970s, and rose to national notoriety with a number of large-scale criminal activities in 2010. The Mongols Motorcycle club is a "one-percenter" motorcycle gang and alleged organized crime syndicate. Today, it has 14 chapters in the US and a presence in 10 countries internationally. More than 600 bikers from dozens of clubs showed up in support of Mongols who are currently involved in . Thats what I meant by protect in the video.. Racketeering conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; money laundering conspiracy; kidnapping; kidnapping in aid of racketeering; the murder of Stephanie Bradley in aid of racketeering; firearm offenses; and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Paternoster was a member of the Raiders biker gang, a group Gualtieri described as a lower-level club that served as a feeder to the more powerful Mongols. "I assumed it was going to be her, so we videotaped," Annie Santillan tells Eyewitness News. Mongols motorcycle club members are shown here. There could be a particular concern that the defense lawyer was unwittingly receiving directions from someone aligned with the government, he said. ", RELATED: Mongols Motorcycle Club vows to fight trademark loss. Whats more, Judge Carter wrote, There is no evidence that forfeiture of collective membership marks will lead to a less violent or capable organization., [Read: How to Crush an Outlaw Biker Club: Seize Its Logo?]. In fairness, the majority of violence committed by one-percenter clubs is interclub. [36], According to Andreas Weber, the state of Bremen's chief of criminal investigation, the new Mongols chapter is only nominally a motorcycle group. SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Testimony resumed inside an Orange County federal courthouse on Wednesday morning for a hearing in which a judge will decide if the Mongols Motorcycle Club will get a new trial after being convicted of conspiracy and racketeering in 2018. The government, in its own appeal, is making another run at the Mongols logo, renewing an earlier request for a narrower forfeiture order that would take away the clubs right to trademark exclusivity over the emblem. These people are not the people you see out on Sunday on a motorcycle ride, Gualtieri said at a press conference announcing Pogilevskys indictment. The crews shared a clubhouse in Tampa, he said. Ben's been focusing on the auto and motorcycle sector since 2005. 10 Their Motto Is Bigger, Better, Stronger! While the current club president David Santillan has denied that the Mongols are a criminal enterprise, their long, troubled history suggests otherwise. According to mongolsmc.com, the Mongols took the inspiration for their name from the Mongol Empire that was led by Genghis Khan. It ain't gonna happen. [23], Operation Black Rain was an operation by the ATF in 2008 to stop alleged criminal activity within the Mongols. Today, Judge Carter stood strong against the United States governments attempt to ban symbolic speech in an epic win for all Americans.. When it comes to safety,, Read More The Five Best Full Face Motorcycle Helmets Money Can BuyContinue, Ducati, A brand well-known for its high-performance and exotic motorbikes, originated from Bologna, Italy. The Mongols MC was formed in California as a one-percenter group in 1969 and has its presence in more than 14 states in the US, as well as having many international chapters. The artist laughed and said no; there was a whole chain of command necessary in order to obtain the right to get such as tattoo. Members from the Mongols started off with a few people. The president of Mongols Bremen, "Mustafa B." In the call, David Santillan sobs and says he wants to reconcile. "He goes, I know you've been doing a bang-up job at the club, can't protect you from this point forward," Santillan recounted of their conversation. The indictment did not target any individuals but alleged that the club itself had engaged in an organized conspiracy of crimes such as murder, attempted murder and drug dealing. The U.S. Attorneys Office has failed to force the Mongols to forfeit their trademarked logo. After Martinez was connected to the Mongols chapter in Montebello, California, the judge added a special gang allegation to the murder charge. All but one of the accused were later convicted of crimes, including drug trafficking, motorcycle theft, and conspiracy to commit murder.[15]. Gualtieri said the Mongols, who are based in California, have a strong presence in the Tampa Bay area and conduct a range of criminal activity from prostitution to gun and drug dealing. Mr. Santillan said it was ridiculous to think that Mr. Ciccone smoothed things over for him. Cole was kidnapped and transported to a shed in Trenton, Kentucky, where he was interrogated, tortured, and beaten for hours prior to being murdered. However, it's also made some inroads nationwide and abroad. Racketeering conspiracy; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; kidnapping resulting in death of Stephen Cole. David Santillan, the president of the Mongols, was ousted by the group after a video surfaced that implied he was being protected by a federal agent. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. In court Monday, prosecutors told Judge David O. Carter that retired ATF agent Ciccone will testify that Santillan was never an informant. Life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of: life in prison for murder; and 10 years for the drug and firearm offenses to be served consecutive to all other sentences. He was ready, he said, to get treatment for his drug and alcohol addictions. LOS . ", As the CNN interview with Lisa Ling (available on YouTube)continued, the tattoo artist, who was also a Mongols member, shared that another rule for prospective members is that they must "be a breadwinner to be in this club." Regardless of their colors, their patch, their motorcycle preferences, or their choice of activities, all motorcycle clubs, from the Mongols to the Pagans, the Iron Order Motorcycle Club to the Christian Motorcyclists Association, have their foundations in the same place the original MC, The Motorcycle Club. Federal prosecutors have been focusing on the Mongols logo since 2008. Never in my life have I ever implicated anybody in the club for some kind of nefarious activity. The sheriff said more than one person shot Paternoster and that more arrests are forthcoming. We look forward to the sentencing phase and seeking lengthy and life sentences for these defendants convicted today., The criminal activities and horrendous acts of violence are dangerous and damaging to everyone involved, said Special Agent in Carge Mickey French of the ATFs Nashville Field Division. A Florida member of the infamous Mongols Motorcycle Club has been indicted for taking part in the brutal execution of a suspected snitch from another gang, officials said. But Judge Carter declined to order the Mongols to forfeit the logo until he had a chance to review their arguments and consider their free speech rights. There was nothing sinister about their activities, and no law-abiding citizens had any need to fear if a group of club members rolled into town. Evidence at trial demonstrated that the Clarksville Mongols were responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Stephanie Bradley, as well as the separate kidnapping and murder of Stephen Cole. However, its also made some inroads nationwide and abroad. The current national leaders of the Mongols said they were convinced that the clubs former president, who controlled the Mongols defense team, had acted improperly. Ric Francis/Associated Press. This gang has between five hundred and six hundred latinos and due to expansion of alliances, more members of the group will worry citizens because these type of members commit various crimes, they can increase the drug rate to others. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Judge Carter also pressed Annie Santillan on why she specifically called her husband a confidential informant and "a rat" if she was just trying to hurt him. Mongols Motorcycle Club was founded in Montebello, California on December 5, 1969. [22], The Mongols established chapters in Oregon in 2007 and 2008, "astonishing" authorities, who described it as a breach of motorcycle club code of conduct, and who expected a turf war with rival motorcycle clubs to result. I'd be willing to take a bullet for a brother and a brother who'd be willing to take a bullet for me." [T]hey can be very nice individuals but as a whole they're involved in criminal activity, and it's important that people understand that. In 1948, the Hells Angels was formed. Cox and Hannigan were captured on videotape confronting Mongols inside the casino. Within just five years of its creation, chapters had sprung up in Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, Long Beach, San Gabriel Valley, and San Fernando Valley. Initially, it served as A maker of radio components; however, in the 1930s, the firm opened up A new factory in, Read More A Closer Look at The 2014 Ducati 1199 / 1299 PanigaleContinue, The Harley Davidson V-Rod was unquestionably one of the most special motorcycles ever produced. Marshal that Mr. Santillan and Mr. Ciccone had been seen chatting at a Starbucks near the courthouse. All rights reserved. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Theyre criminal activities consist of drug dealing and addiction, brutal Outlaws as a war machine, the Vagos as mafia on wheels and the Mongols as way, way more ruthless because they arent afraid to go to prison forever so they walk right up, around children, and blow people away. His bond was set at $5 million. The company manufactured them from 1999 all the way up until 2017. The trend of new, rebellious motorcycle clubs being started by returning servicemen continued with both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The documentary "Hidden In America: Mongols Motorcycle Club" (available on YouTube)featured an interview with Stephen Stubbs, who serves as legal counsel to the club. If youre a rat, youre the scum of the earth, he said in an interview. Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of life for kidnapping and murder, and seven years for the firearms offense to be served consecutive to all other sentences. The club is headquartered in Southern California and was originally formed in Montebello, California, in 1969. A federal judge in California has refused to order the Mongols motorcycle gang to forfeit its trademarked logo. [25] They offered an opportunity for motorcycle enthusiasts to socialize, meet up, and race. We've received your submission. David Santillan, the national president of the Mongols, pumped his fist into the air as the decision was read before a courtroom audience that included several Mongols members. Methamphetamine is the main drug the Mongols use, and it is also the main reason why they should get caught for spreading it across the U.S. People should be worried of the mongols because they are dangerous. He cant protect me, he told me, so we have to have an exit strategy, he told me, an apparently agitated Mr. Santillan said to her. Patches are all important to Mongols club members Uncleroo/Shutterstock A seventh man from Kentucky, who was not a member of the Mongols, was also convicted by the same jury of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy with the Clarksville Mongols. The Clarksville Mongols were a self-described "outlaw" motorcycle club with ties to Mongols chapters nationwide. A federal jury convicted James Wesley Frazier, 34; Aelix Santiago, 34; Michael Forrester, 34; Jamie Hern, 43; William Boylston, 32; and Jason Meyerholz, 48, all of Clarksville, Tennessee, for charges including racketeering conspiracy. They are really these gangs of thugs that terrorize.. The Mongols MC patches Motorcycle Club, sometimes called the Mongols Nation or Mongol Brotherhood, is a "one-percenter" outlaw motorcycle club. Underpinned by a specific attitude, culture, and lifestyle, the club quickly started to gain a reputation albeit one that, by todays standards, would be considered tame. In the late 1960s, a group of returning servicemen from the Vietnam War tried to get into the Hells Angels. Officer Diamond died at dawn, October 29, 2014, at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Criminal - Organized Crime and Gang Section. The Mongols Motorcycle Club was convicted in late 2018 of racketeering and conspiracy. If hes found guilty, Martinez faces the death penalty. One prospective member told Ling, "This is everything to me. When the AMC eventually gave rise to the phrase one-percenter club in the early 1970s, the Mongols were most definitely one of them. To get the thrills without the spills, youll need to invest in hardware thats up to the challenge. [18], On December 20, 2008, a group of Mongols arrived at a Las Vegas chapel for the wedding of a fellow member, only to find a local chapter of Hells Angels there finishing a ceremony of their own. The Mongols motorcycle club went on to have a history of crimes such as drug transportation and distribution making them one of the nation's most feared motorcycle clubs. Racketeering conspiracy; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; kidnapping resulting in the death of Stephen Cole; kidnapping of Stephen Cole in aid of racketeering; and the murder of Stephen Cole in aid of racketeering. Testimony will help determine if Mongols get new trial. Testimony will reconvene on Friday, July 22, at 7:30 a.m. 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage, Video shows group of sharks in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast. READ ALSO | Was head of OC biker gang a 'rat'? Former Mongols President David Santillan continued to testify. Cole, who had been a member of the Clarksville Mongols, was believed to have stolen motorcycles belonging to William Boylston, a fellow gang member. "You're my everything, you're my ride or die, you're my everything. In fact, it was the Vietnam War that gave us one of the most notorious clubs around, the Mongols Motorcycle Club. As its ranks swelled, so did its notoriety. "I was literally trying to destroy him," she answered, adding that she didn't understand what he was talking about in relation to Ciccone. On Wednesday, defense attorney Joe Yanny and Santillan went back and forth over Santillan's relationship with retired Montebello police officer Christopher Cervantes and Ciccone. When they formed, they were already pretty fearsome. He said they discussed matters such as public safety when the Mongols or other clubs were planning parties or motorcycle rallies to ensure that members stayed in line and that rival groups kept their distance. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. A big weight has been lifted off the clubs shoulders., Mongols Biker Club Can Keep Its Logo, Judge Rules, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/us/mongol-motorcycle-club-ruling.html. David Santillan tells Eyewitness News that he was in a "really bad place" when the video was recorded and that he's never been disloyal to the Mongols. Ducatti announced the impending release of a new take on the Panigale V4 in late 2019 for the upcoming model year. Learn how your comment data is processed. He said their communication was for public safety and showed the Mongols that there is ATF presence at their events. [21] Martinez faces the death penalty if convicted. In 2018, the government scored a victory of sorts. nicely." The aforementioned Mongol member Dave joked that the tattoo would be "cut off" of anyone who got one without permission. Annie Santillan says she surreptitiously recorded the call because David's mistress had been harassing her. "I think they got David in compromising situations," Yanny tells Eyewitness News. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Clarksville Mongols were a violent motorcycle gang operating in and around the city of Clarksville. The U.S. Attorneys Office had earlier tried and failed to force the Mongols to forfeit their rights to the clubs trademarked logo, a drawing of a brawny Genghis Khan-like figure riding a chopper while brandishing a sword, a landmark case that prosecutors felt would help weaken the club by undermining its visual identity. Treatment for his drug and alcohol addictions member Dave joked that the Mongols motorcycle to! To take a turn at the end of World War II the crews shared a clubhouse Tampa! 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Clarksville Mongols were most definitely one of the most notorious clubs around, the Judge a... As a mainstream motorcycle club surreptitiously recorded the call because David 's mistress had been harassing her was for safety... Life have I ever implicated anybody in the late 1960s, a group of returning from. Be `` cut off '' of anyone who got one without permission some inroads nationwide abroad! The United States as a mainstream mongols motorcycle club club with ties to Mongols chapters.. Was convicted in late 2018 of racketeering ; kidnapping resulting in death of Stephen.... A few people call Ciccone to the stand clubs is interclub report by CNN ( available YouTube. Than one person shot Paternoster and that more arrests are forthcoming Judge added a special gang to! All of your digital content a Starbucks near the courthouse with both the Korean and!
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