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[JCZ]

Mongols motorcycle gang arrested in federal sweep
     
 
 By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writer – 48 mins ago AP – Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, at podium, speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, …

 Slideshow: Mongol Motorcycle Gang  Play Video Video: At Least 31 Arrested In Motorcycle Gang Bust CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles LOS ANGELES – Dozens of burly, tattoo-covered members of the Mongol motorcycle gang were arrested Tuesday by federal agents in six states following a three-year investigation in which undercover agents infiltrated the group.

More than 60 members of the Southern California-based Mongol Motorcycle Club were arrested under a federal racketeering indictment that included charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, as well as gun and drug violations, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman Mike Hoffman.

During some arrests, sharpshooters stood guard on surrounding rooftops as motorcycles were lined up and confiscated.

"It's going to be a large hit to their organization. We are arresting many of their top members," Hoffman said.

U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien said he believed it to be the highest number of arrests of a motorcycle gang 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.

Federal and local agents had 110 federal arrest warrants and 160 search warrants that were being served across Southern California and in Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Ohio. The sweep, dubbed Operation Black Rain, was to continue throughout the day Tuesday, agents said.

Among those arrested were the gang's former national president, Ruben Cavazos.

Hoffman said the Mongols had been recruiting members of Los Angeles street gangs to assist in their operations.

The Mongols are primarily Latino and formed because the Hells Angels refused to allow Hispanic members.

Four ATF agents infiltrated the gang 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, Hoffman said.

The agents were required to live away from their families in homes set up to make it look like they lived a Mongols lifestyle, Hoffman said. Four undercover women ATF agents also were involved in the operation, pretending to be biker girlfriends and attending parties with the agents; women are not allowed to become full members of the gang.

"If you go to a party all the time and you don't ever bring a girl around, it's kind of weird," Hoffman said. "Someone might get suspicious."

To be accepted in the gang, the ATF agents had to run errands and were subject to a background check by private detectives.

Outside Cavazos' home in West Covina, about 18 miles east of Los Angeles, a red, custom-modified Harley-Davidson motorbike sat outside. No occupants were home but several police and ATF agents were seen going through items in the house.

Cavazos wrote a memoir titled "Honor Few, Fear None: The Life and Times of a Mongol," published by HarperCollins in June. HarperCollins publicist Sarah Burningham in New York City said she only handles book-related issues for Cavazos, but would forward an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting comment.

Another former Mongols national president, Roger Pinney, alleged in an interview with The Associated Press that Cavazos was the problem, not the club in general.

"They were just on the verge of cleaning up their act," said Pinney, who is no longer a member and is serving probation from his role in an infamous brawl at Laughlin, Nev., in 2002 in which three people died. "It's not a club-run deal. It's individuals who are the ones who decide to commit crimes."

Pinney said he warned other club members that Cavazos was trouble.

"He was throwing all the good members out and bringing gang members in," Pinney said. "He was trying to be a drug lord or something."

Pinney doesn't believe the raid will force the Mongols off the road. "The Mongols aren't going away, and neither are the Hells Angels," he said.

[naitram]

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.

i thinks that the most bizarre part of the entire article

[miker]

It is a cool cartoony logo I guess but what would they do with it?? 

Strange is as strange does.. 

[BLM777]

i thinks that the most bizarre part of the entire article

Tells you there's a superseding indictment coming under the RICO statute.  The organization will then be charged as well as the individuals.  Property subject to seizure then goes way up.  Good news for them is they won't need a patch jacket unless they can talk the "G" into letting them ride one of their former bikes....

[Cigarmike]

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

Thye dont wear their colors most of the time anyway. Unless they are in a large group. You don't even need a motorcycle to be a Mongol. They are a disgrace to the MC world.

[mr_magoo]

Looks like the bike gangs are taking some hits from the law.

[miker]

'Bout time....dirtbags, thieves and cowards mostly, imho and unfortunately my experience too...

[JCZ]

I'm guessing that every large motorcycle club out there has/is infiltrated by ATF, DEA, FBI......feds of all types.  And much like the mafia in the past couple of decades, is on their way down.

[SPIDERMAN]

It is a cool cartoony logo I guess but what would they do with it?? 

Strange is as strange does.. 

miker
         Someone once cautioned folks on this site about putting out personal information such as me for instance. If you couldn't find my house from the member map you can't read. Contact info is available via e-mail etc.I haven't checked your profile, so I don't know how much is out there for the world to see.
        Having said that, probably the worst offense one can commit against an outlaw biker is to disrespect his patch. Any Mongol reading your post would be obligated to find you and "deal" with you. I caution you and all of our members as to making comments on the site of this nature. We have 6600 members. I know for a fact several of our members around the country who are fomer patch holders. I have former brothers and friends in the HA, Outlaws and Mongols. Emphasis on former.There is a way to walk away correctly and respectfully from that life. Anyway, Who knows if there are any current members who log onto our site. Many of these guys are as has been pointed out on the HA thread unrecognizable without their colors. I'm not trying to be a dick here or a chicken little. I've lived the life and I know what's what and as a site brother I'm just giving you a heads up. Talk about the arrest, what the various quotes in the article mean etc etc, but stay away from coments like the one you posted above.

B B

[miker]

As was the military art from where it all started. 

Caricaturistic is a more correct word.

I have my own reasons for a certain amount of distain for some, not all.

[WFP]

I'm guessing that every large motorcycle club out there has/is infiltrated by ATF, DEA, FBI......feds of all types.  And much like the mafia in the past couple of decades, is on their way down.

We have been infiltrated by Scot...

[toneman]

Judge bans Mongols from wearing trademark logo
October 23, 2008 3:14 AM EDT
LOS ANGELES - Mongols can no longer wear patches bearing the motorcycle gang's insignia following what appears to be an unprecedented court order stripping them of their trademarked logo.

U.S. District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper on Wednesday granted an injunction that prohibits gang 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.

Prosecutors requested the injunction after authorities arrested dozens of Mongol members under a racketeering indictment.

"If a Mongol is wearing a vest or jacket bearing the Mongols patch, that item is pursuant to seizure based on this order," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Welk.

It is believed to be the first case in the nation in which the government has sought to take control of a gang's identity - via its logo - through a court order.

"I've never heard the government going after something like this in this context," said David Welkowitz, a law professor at Whittier Law School. Welkowitz said attorneys and academics who specialize in trademark law are wondering whether the order will stand.

Sixty-four Mongol members have been arrested in six states under an indictment released Tuesday.

The indictment describes a tightly organized group, which is mostly Latino, that routinely engages in murder, torture, drug trafficking and other offenses.

Among 79 people named in the indictment, 15 were still at large, said Mike Hoffman, a spokesman with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The judge initially issued an injunction Tuesday, but that order was limited to barring the sale or distribution of the logo. New language was added, saying the gang members and their affiliates "shall surrender for seizure all products, clothing, vehicles, motorcycles ... or other materials bearing the Mongols trademark, upon presentation of a copy of this order."

Welk said his office is drafting the protocol for such seizures. Law enforcement agencies could begin enforcing the injunction by Thursday or Friday, he said.

Observers questioned whether the injunction is constitutional.

"Here you have the government stepping in and preventing a rights holder of using the (trade) mark they legally obtained," said attorney Douglas Mirell, who specializes in First Amendment cases.

"It strikes me as a serious potential First Amendment violation to have the government come in and attempt to, and in this case exceed, stripping lawfully obtained rights," he added. "This is one for the record books."

Meanwhile, 44 defendants have appeared in court, all of them pleading not guilty. It wasn't immediately clear whether they had been assigned defense attorneys.

The incarcerated Mongols were being kept at various federal detention centers, separate from inmates loyal to the Mexican Mafia gang, said Anthony Burke, a supervisory inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service in Los Angeles. Segregation of incarcerated rival gang members is common practice.

The Marshal's Service is guarding 60 motorcycles, almost all of them Harley-Davidsons, that were seized during Tuesday's operation. Burke estimated the average value of the customized machines to be $22,000.

[LarryB]

back in the day.....man, there would be a posse rolling. I still have friends from the Day and there has been some softening. While in Mil for 105th, ran into some O-L's and while showing respect, one realized who I was and remembered and received the respect back. and they bought my wife and I refreshments.
The Only reason I'm still alive today is what I learned as a patch wearer, and the fact I no longer fly one.
hmmm same thing can be said about my military experience.

[toneman]

That Judge must be up for reelection. My call is that ruling has such deep implications it won't stand up to the opposition which will no doubt come...

[JCZ]

That Judge must be up for reelection. My call is that ruling has such deep implications it won't stand up to the opposition which will no doubt come...

It'll be interesting to watch this one in the news.  I think it'll go back and forth before it ends up in the supreme court.  It's going to get a lot of attention, for sure.  I can see where this could have far reaching implications outside of the motorcycling community.