Three
leaders in the Bandidos motorcycle club headed to prison
DENVER, CO ( November 22, 2016) —Three
leaders of the Bandidos motorcycle club face prison time after pleading guilty
to selling methamphetamine and loaded firearms to other states, the Colorado
Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday.
Philip Duran, 42, aka “Bandido Fee”;
Michael Mensen, 46, aka “Bandido Tick”; and Lorenzo Sojo, 41, pleaded guilty to
violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act — Pattern of Racketeering
and felony drug charges, the attorney general’s office said in a news release.
Sojo, president of the Bandidos
Denver Westside Chapter, was sentenced to 20 years in the Colorado Department
of Corrections. Mensen, a Bandidos national sergeant at arms, was sentenced to
24 years in prison, according to the news release.
From left, Philip Duran, Michael
Mensen and Lorenzo Sojo
Provided
by Colorado Attorney General
Duran, who also served as a national
sergeant at arms, cut his ankle bracelet and fled just before his sentencing
hearing. He is considered armed and dangerous, the attorney general said.
A warrant has been issued for
Duran’s arrest, and Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward. Police say he
should be considered armed and dangerous.
It’s unclear exactly how Duran
managed to escape custody at the courthouse. National Sergeant at Arms is among
the highest rankings one can receive in a motorcycle club. Those in that
position are often tasked with keeping members in line during meetings and
activities, but also keeping their members safe from outside threats and law
enforcement.
An investigation into the Bandidos
criminal activity began in September 2014 when the Attorney General’s
Office and the Metro Gang Task Force began surveillance of high-ranking members
suspected of large-scale drug distribution. Investigators used a wire tap as
part of the surveillance.
Colorado Bandidos Motorcycle Club Members
The three Bandidos conspired to
distribute narcotics and collect the proceeds from mid-level drug dealers, the
news release said. They also imported several pounds of methamphetamine from
California and attempted to send loaded firearms to Las Vegas through various
shipping services, the attorney general said.
They used banks and other money transfer
services to launder their drug proceeds.
SOURCE: The Denver Post