Bandidos MC Leaders arrested

Arrest made here after new indictments returned against top Bandidos

WACO, TX (March 2, 2017) – Authorities arrested four top officials of the Bandidos motorcycle club Thursday, one of them in Central Texas, after a federal jury in San Antonio returned a second superseding indictment against the highest-ranking leaders of the club, adding four new defendants and additional murder-related charges, federal prosecutors said.

Thursday morning, authorities arrested the following:

Bandidos National Sergeant at Arms Johnny Romo, 47, of San Antonio; 

Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter member Robert Romo, 45, of San Antonio; 

Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter Sergeant at Arms Jesse James Benavidez, 40, of San Antonio, 

and Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter member Norberto Serna, Jr., 35,  of San Antonio for their roles in the 2006 murder of Anthony Benesh.

Johnny Romo was arrested in Waco and the other three were arrested in San Antonio.

They remained in custody Thursday night pending detention hearings next week before United States Magistrate Judge John Primomo in San Antonio.

An unknown Bandidos MC Member

The 12-count indictment, unsealed late Thursday afternoon in San Antonio, charges all four with one count of discharging a firearm during a murder in aid of racketeering.

Johnny Romo and Robert Romo are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering, prosecutors said.

Benesh was attempting to start a Texas Chapter of the Hell’s Angels in 2006 in Austin, but was warned by members of the Bandidos to abandon the effort, the indictment says.

Benesh ignored the warning.

The indictment charges that the four murdered him on March 18, 2006, outside an Austin restaurant “to protect the power, reputation and territory of the Bandidos enterprise.”

The new indictment includes previous federal charges filed against Bandidos National President Jeffrey Fay Pike, 61, of Conroe, and National Vice President John Xavier Portillo, 57, of San Antonio.

Portillo also faces a new charge of discharging a firearm during a murder in aid of racketeering for his role in the retaliation murder of Robert Lara in January 2002 in Atascosa County for killing one of their own, prosecutors said.

Javier Negrete, a member of the same Bandidos chapter as Portillo, was killed in October 2001 outside a San Antonio bar.

Pike and Portillo are charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt or RICO) statute; one count of conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering or VICAR, and one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.

Portillo is also charged with: one count of VICAR (murder); two counts of aiding and abetting VICAR (assault with a deadly weapon); one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and, one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

The two are accused of sanctioning and directing members of the Bandidos to carry out such acts as murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, intimidation, extortion and drug trafficking, prosecutors said.

Jury selection is currently scheduled for August 7, 2017.

SOURCE: KWTX

Outlaws MC rolls into Kingston

Biker club rolls into town – Outlaws MC open new clubhouse

KINGSTON, ONTARIO, CANADA (January 17, 2017) – For years, Kingston has marketed itself as a place to do business. 

Centrally located between Montreal and Toronto with border crossings close by. But it seems that marketing ploy has also caught the attention of a famous biker club.

The Outlaws — the world’s third largest motorcycle club — have set up a clubhouse in this non-descript building — across from the Kingston Centre. The only signage is this Harley Davidson logo and a warning not to take photography of any kind.

According to a former cop and expert on biker clubs, a chapter usually starts with 6 members on probation — before being elevated to full ‘patch’ status after a year.

The Outlaws aren’t hiding the fact they are opening a chapter in the Limestone City — it’s even listed on their website. Outlaws MC Canada

Morganne Campbell:

“I spoke with one club supporter and business owners who operate near the new clubhouse and they say the Outlaws have been good neighbors so far.

In fact, they haven’t had any issues since they moved into this clubhouse.

Now the Outlaws refer to themselves as a brotherhood and not a criminal organisation.”

A point highlighted on their website.

”We have families, jobs, and responsibilities just like everyone else and although the media like to portray us as being criminals, the truth is we share a common goal of enjoying life to the fullest.” Outlaws MC Canada

CKWS news reached out to the Outlaws to speak about their intentions locally.

“We respectfully decline your offer as Outlaws MC Canada does not do interviews. But thank-you and have a nice day.”

Outlaws MC Canada

A former cop and biker club expert who didn’t want to appear on camera says the arrival of the Outlaws in Kingston is a troubling scenario…. because the club could rapidly expand membership.

The last time biker clubs tried to make in-roads in Kingston was over a decade ago — but they left after covert police operations led to arrests … and the seizure of drugs, money and weapons.

So far, there’s no indication the bikers have done anything wrong… and there’s no risk to public safety. But police also made it clear — they’re watching.

SOURCE: CKWS

Former Hells Angel MC leader set free

Former HAMC leader named the ‘Teflon Biker’ after case fizzles

LONDON, ONTARIO (January 16, 2017) – A high-profile, multi-million-dollar gambling bust three years ago has sent one Londoner to jail and two more to trial, but allowed the former head of the city’s Hells Angels to keep his clean record.

The quiet withdrawal of charges against Robert Barletta last fall, the same day his trial began, adds to his reputation as the “Teflon biker” but raises many questions, biker analyst Yves Lavigne said.

“It’s highly suspect that a case in which police spent so many resources would end with the Crown withdrawing charges,” he said.

No one could blame those in Ontario’s underworld for thinking either the police messed up or Barletta played some get-out-of-jail-free card, Lavigne said.

“How can the cops bring to court the former president of the London chapter of the Hells Angels without having done their job properly? It’s incredible to me the former president would be free.”

Barletta, as usual, isn’t talking either directly, or via his lawyer, Richard Posner of Toronto.

About 400 police officers raided a Markham Super Bowl party in February 2013, busting up a multimillion-dollar online gaming site called Platinum Sports book.

Initial arrests were followed by raids a month later in 10 locations, including London, after which several London men faced charges.

The trial for Barletta and Andrew Bielli, also linked to the Hells Angels, began Sept. 12, 2016, in Toronto. Both pleaded not guilty to bookmaking for the benefit of a criminal organization and possessing proceeds of crime.

They then walked to another court to see Gordon Baird, 59, admit he was administrator of the illegal sports ring that grossed more than $103 million in 2009-13. With no criminal record and because he pleaded guilty to bookmaking as participation in a criminal organization, Baird received an 18-month conditional sentence, to be served in his home, and a $400,000 fine.

 Asked by the judge if was pressured by anyone to take the plea, Baird said, “No, sir.”

According to a clerk with the Superior Court of Justice, charges against Barletta were withdrawn the same day.

On Jan. 5, Bielli pleaded guilty to possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000 and was sentenced to 15 months in custody, the clerk said, in response to recent Free Press questions about the status of the trials. Two other London men, David Hair and Christopher Rutledge, have trial dates set for January 2018.

There were no records in the computer system for two more London men charged in 2013, Jeffrey Fuchs and Hiesam Kadri, the clerk said. Still facing trial is William (Billy) Miller, former president of the London chapter of Hells Angels, now living in Toronto.

Barletta has long balanced leadership in the Hells Angels with a squeaky clean record. He was a founding member of the London chapter when it was established in 2003 and ran a strip club that became the target of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

A protracted legal battle ended with Barletta losing his liquor license, despite not having a criminal record, because of his association with the Hells Angels.

SOURCE: IFPress

Old Snag's Tank

Close up of Old Snag's Gas Tank