Local Mongols held in sweep - News

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Oct. 22, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Local Mongols held in sweep

Valley chapters 'dismantled' after seven-state raid

By ANTONIO PLANAS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

ATF agent Thomas Chittum stands Tuesday among motorcycles impounded from Las Vegas members of the Mongols biker gang. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local law enforcement conducted raids and arrested seven Las Vegas members of the Mongols on Tuesday as part of a seven-state sweep.
Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Former Las Vegas police officer Doug Pearson packs up shotguns and a biker vest impounded during a raid of local Mongols on Tuesday. Pearson moved several weeks ago to a police department in Colorado but returned to Las Vegas to help in the raid.
Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, at podium, speaks during a news conference Tuesday in Los Angeles. During a sweep in seven states, including California, authorities served 110 arrest warrants and about 150 search warrants on Mongols biker gangs.
Photo by The Associated Press

Seven Las Vegas members of the Mongols motorcycle gang were arrested Tuesday as part of a seven-state sweep that shattered its two local chapters, police said.

Lt. Dave Logue with the Metropolitan Police Department's Intelligence Section said Las Vegas SWAT members were assisted in the morning raids across the valley by North Las Vegas and Henderson SWAT units as well as the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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Of the seven Las Vegas men arrested in Operation Black Rain under a federal racketeering indictment, one was held in California. Six of the gang members face federal conspiracy charges of distributing cocaine and methamphetamine. One faces a state charge of unlawful transfer of a firearm.

"In our view, this has effectively dismantled both chapters of the Mongols operating in the Las Vegas Valley," Logue said, referring to the Henderson and Las Vegas chapters.

He said both chapters together had 10 or 11 members.

U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien, who heads the federal agency's Central District in California, said he believed the multistate bust netted the highest number of arrests of motorcycle gang members in the nation's history.

His staff planned to ask a judge for an injunction to seize the Mongols' trademarked name, a first for federal authorities. If the order is approved, no member would be able to wear a jacket or ride a bike bearing the gang's name.

"It would allow law enforcement to seize the leather jackets right off their back," O'Brien said.

Four ATF officers infiltrated Mongols gangs during the 31/2-year investigation and were accepted as full members, a difficult process that requires winning the trust of the gang's top leaders over a period of months, an ATF spokesman said. The agency didn't disclose which chapters were infiltrated.

The sweep netted arrests in Northern Nevada as well. Authorities said that 23 people were arrested in the Reno area as part of its undercover investigation and that 14 others had been charged with crimes.

Of those, six suspects, most of them affiliated with the Mongols, were arrested early Tuesday, said Tom Cannon, resident agent in charge of the Reno ATF office.

Authorities neither specified charges nor identified those arrested in the Reno area, but said more than 6 pounds of methamphetamine and 75 weapons were seized.

Logue said that in addition to Nevada, raids were conducted in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Ohio. Overall, 110 arrest warrants and about 150 search warrants were served throughout those states.

Some of the Mongols members arrested in other states were wanted for murder and attempted murder, Logue said.

Thomas Chittum, resident agent in charge of the Southern Nevada ATF office, said Tuesday's nationwide sweeps were successful.

"We targeted the leadership and structure of the organization," Chittum said. "This is not necessarily the end of all those charged, it's just the beginning."

The Mongols, a gang that originated in Montebello, Calif., in the 1970s, are primarily Latino and formed because the Hells Angels refused to allow Hispanic members. The two gangs are bitter rivals.

Logue said the Mongols were not to be taken lightly.

"It seemed they were stepping up their violent acts between here and the Southwestern United States," he said.

During a news conference, Las Vegas police displayed numerous shotguns, high-caliber rifles and semi-automatic handguns confiscated in the local raids.

Nine motorcycles from local Mongols also were impounded.

The local members arrested were: Harold Reynolds, 40, also known as "Face"; David "Lazy Dave" Padilla, 38; Ismael "Milo" Padilla, 33; William "Moreno" Ramirez, 38; Jason "Big Jay" Hull, 33; John "Sinister" Babcock, 43; and Gary "T.C." Lawson, 49.

All of the men were listed by police as Las Vegas residents. Babcock was the only Mongol arrested locally on a state charge, and Lawson's charges weren't listed by police. He was arrested in California, police said.

Logue said Tuesday's arrests were not linked to the deadly 2002 melee at the Laughlin River Run.

A gunbattle at that annual motorcycle event resulted in two Hells Angels and one Mongols member being killed. Several members of both gangs were sent to prison on various charges stemming from the incident.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Valjean wrote on October 28, 2008 02:18 PM: when will we be able to buy their stuff at public auction?!?!??! :) rumble wrote on October 28, 2008 11:16 AM: THEY WERE BUSTED WITH 6 POUNDS OF METH WHAT PART OF THIS ARE YOU NOT GETTING? rumble wrote on October 28, 2008 11:09 AM: So what, they got busted..thats what happens when you break the law.. How did religion get drug up in this? And the big brother crap? you guys are morons. someone wrote on October 23, 2008 03:14 PM: You know not all of these so called Mongols members are bad. I personal know one that was arrested that is a good man. H e just got mixed up with the wrong group of people for what I don't know. I wish I did because he isn't like them. I just thank god that he isn't in the trouble they are all in and that we can bring him home. Why would a good man want to be mixed up with these people can someone tell me that. Someone with a heart of gold. Someone that is well liked. Someone that is loved by his friends and family. I have never meet anyone from this gang or even knew they existed but why would they take in someone that has never done anything bad or wrong. Did he lie to them? How did he get in? He had a great job and a load of support. Why? Why? BIG ED wrote on October 23, 2008 01:54 PM: You idiots--Jesus as you call him is long dead-if every existed at all--You talk as if its ok to commit crimes against the public-murder-drugs-etc.. Then you hide behind your cross. I guess the Devil made them do it. The Jackboots as you say are doing what is right by a court order--They did not make up the rule, the courts said so you idiot. They do what must of you cowards wouldn't do--Thank goodness for them-I won't shed 1 tear over any mongol or angel or any other piece of scum killed by law enforcement if commiting crimes that effect my society-what style bike did your so called Jesus ride-Jesus was a criminal he committed fraud. Bye Bye Mongols-great job and cudos to the federal government and the police. christian biker wrote on October 23, 2008 06:56 AM: if jesus was not considered a criminal by his government, why did he die the death of a criminal? why was he beaten and hung on a cross? why was he placed on that mountain along with 2 other criminals? do you really think it was because they thought he was a nice guy? come on, get real, read your bible people. who do you think jesus reached out to more? the people who already accepted him- or the murders, prositutes and thieves? again, read your bible. what?..because an outlaw comes to know jesus now they have to dress like every so called "normal christian"- by the responses to my comments it just proves how narrow minded society is towards bikers &christians. jesus doesnt care what we look likeon the outside. matthew 6:25 i tell you, do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. is not life more important than food, the body more important than clothes? and to know jesus is not about an organized religion, its about a relationship with jesus. these brothers & sisters are more devoted to following and living for jesus than many of those who sit next to you in church every sunday. so before you judge these brothers & sisters for what they wear on their backs or how they look come meet a few & get to know them. but please, leave your narrow-mindedness at home. ralph wrote on October 22, 2008 10:31 PM: even the Hendertucky "SWAT" got to don their jackboots and get in on this notorious bust of the ages. Ya I heard of the mongols but haven't seen ANY of them in my neighborhood. The paramilitary tactics and civil rights violating nazis that masquerade as our police need to be reined in!! Siezing jackets and firearms isn't the point here! We are all in danger of losing our freedom to the 2008 version of the SS troops!! Wake up people!!!!! This bust is just a grandstanding act by the police and the ATF!! And how disgusting for the "cop mentality" of siezing jackets? Speaks volumes if you ask me. HAL R JOHNSON wrote on October 22, 2008 10:17 PM: this is going to get a lot of brothers of all the major clubs killed. as well as a bunch of cops/feds/etc when the law says its a crime to wear this club name or that name. as the leo s all ready know there is a core group of all the major clubs who would die before they would quit wearing there colors.law or no law you want my colors take team if you can this is a very dumb move on leo s part Poser wrote on October 22, 2008 08:30 PM: Jesus was a biker? Jesus emulated the lifestyle of criminals? Jesus was involved in rackateering and organized crime? Why would you profess to be Christian and align yourself with criminals? To bring the word to the poor downtrodden bikers....? Please... At least be honest and admit that you have a hard time living by the strict rules of organized religion, and by using the crutch that you are trying to "save" others, you are really just allowing yourself to be closer to the renegade lifestyle without feeling like a lowlife. BANDIDOS ARE NEXT! wrote on October 22, 2008 08:28 PM: We know who you are, your cell phone records, and everywhere you have lived, your neighbors, relatives, exes, places of employment, plus video surveillance. You are next. Read All Comments