Federal Grand Jury Indicts 14 Members of Rival Motorcycle Gangs
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
FILE – The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building is seen Friday, June 9, 2023, in Washington.
A Federal Grand Jury Indicts 14 Members of Rival Motorcycle Gangs
A federal grand jury last week returned a 22-count indictment against more than a dozen Houston-area members of rival motorcycle gangs, the Department of Justice announced.
The Indictment
Fourteen members of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and Mascareros Motorcycle Club are facing criminal charges in the justice department’s crackdown of the rivalry that’s resulted in two deaths. The men were alleged members of the Katy-based ‘Welcome to Hell’ Bandidos chapter, Nicholas Ganjei, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said.
Charges Outlined in the Indictment
Charges outlined in the indictment include racketeering, assault, robbery, arson, and murder. The indictment alleges that a violent turf war between the groups erupted in 2019. Shootings prompted by the rivalry broke out in bars, restaurants, and public roads across the greater Houston area.
Violent Turf War Erupted in 2019
The indictment alleges that a violent turf war between the groups erupted in 2019. Shootings prompted by the rivalry broke out in bars, restaurants, and public roads across the greater Houston area.
Bandidos Issued a “Smash on Site” Order
National leaders of Bandidos, who are not named in the indictment, allegedly issued a “smash on site” order directing local members to assault and kill members of B*EAST, another rival outlaw gang in Houston.
Investigation
The indictment stems from a six-years long investigation into the motorcycle gang rivalry and a 2023 case in which two local Bandidos members, Darvi Hinojosa and John Sblendorio, allegedly shot a member of the B*EAST group seven times in an attempt to kill him.
Arrests
Ten men charged in the indictment had been arrested as of Wednesday, Ganjei said.
Consequences of the Indictment
“The Bandidos are a particularly violent organization even by outlaw motorcycle gang standards and they’re also especially large,” Ganjei said. “Although the Bandidos began in Texas they’ve spread worldwide with chapters not only throughout Texas, but around the world in Europe, in Asia and starting now in Mexico.”
Conclusion
The charges in the indictment fall under the “Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act,” a 1970 provision aimed at eliminating organized crime organizations operating in interstate commerce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act?
A: The Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act is a 1970 provision aimed at eliminating organized crime organizations operating in interstate commerce.
Q: How many people are charged in the indictment?
A: 14 people are charged in the indictment.
Q: What are the charges outlined in the indictment?
A: The charges outlined in the indictment include racketeering, assault, robbery, arson, and murder.
Q: What is the motive behind the violent turf war?
A: The motive behind the violent turf war is not specified in the indictment, but it is alleged to have been sparked by a rivalry between the two motorcycle gangs.
Q: What is the outcome of the investigation?
A: The outcome of the investigation is the filing of a 22-count indictment against 14 members of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and Mascareros Motorcycle Club.
