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Mongols MC

Mongols vest with "patch"
Founded	1969
In	Montebello, California
Years active	1969-present
Territory	Chapters in Canada, Mexico, Italy and the United States[citation needed]
Ethnicity	Hispanic, Native American and White[citation needed]
Membership	500-600 full-patch[clarification needed] members, around 1,000 other prospects and hang-arounds[1][verification needed]
Criminal activities	Illegal firearms, narcotics, stolen motorcycles, and killing for hire[2]
Rivals	Brother Speed, Free Souls, Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels and the Ukrainian Mafia[3][verification needed]

The Mongols Motorcycle Club, sometimes called the Mongol Nation or Mongol Brotherhood, is a one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate. The club is headquartered in southern California and was originally formed in Montebello, California in 1969 by Hispanic Vietnam War veterans who were refused entry to the Hells Angels because of their race.^[4] Law enforcement officials estimate there are approximately 500 to 600 full patched members.^[5] 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 the countries of Canada, Italy and Mexico.^[6]

[edit] Criminal activities

The Mongols members have had long-running confrontations with law enforcement in such areas as drug dealing (especially methamphetamine), money laundering, robbery, extortion, firearms violations, murder and assault, among other crimes.^{[5][7][8][9][10]}

[edit] 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 Hells Angels member can be clearly seen on the casino security videotape performing a front kick on a Mongol which in turn started the ensuing melee.

Mongols member Christopher Ablett turned himself in to authorities in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on October 4, 2008 after going on the run for murdering Hells Angels President Mark "Papa" Guardado in San Francisco, California earlier that year. The San Francisco Police Department had issued a $5 million arrest warrant for him.^[13]

On December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Mongols members arrived at "A Special Memories Wedding Chapel" for a fellow member's wedding, to find a local Hells Angels chapter 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.^[14]

[edit] Operation Black Rain

On October 21, 2008, 38 members including Ruben "Doc" Cavazos were taken into Federal custody after 4 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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.^[15] Several civil rights groups have called foul, claiming that the actions of the judge violate due process and property rights.^{[citation needed]}

A planned weekend meeting in Lancaster, California, expected to draw 800 Mongols and their families, was blocked after city officials shut down and fenced off the hotel they had booked for the event, which coincides with the "Celebrate Downtown Lancaster" festival. The mayor had previously threatened to shut down the hotel over unpaid taxes if the agreement to host the Mongols was not canceled. An attorney for the Mongols said he plans to sue the city and the mayor, potentially for civil rights violations, after previously threatening to sue the hotel for breach of contract should they comply with the mayor's demands.^[16][17] Mayor R. Rex Parris said he wants to keep the Mongols out because they "are engaged in domestic terrorism...and they kill our children."^[18]

[edit] See also

• Under and Alone by William Queen

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mongols MC website
• Gangland: Mongol Nation A documentary show about the Mongols Motorcycle Club