Bandidos MC member on trial for taking cut

Abilene, Texas, USA (January 28, 2020) BTN - The first of three Bandidos motorcycle club members arrested for allegedly violently robbing a rival club member who drove through their area while wearing a rivals club vest is on trial.

Daniel Machado is on trial in Abilene 42nd District Court for Aggravated Robbery and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity in connection to the incident that took place in July of 2018.

Two other suspects, Justin Aldava, and Jesse Trevino, are still waiting for their day in court.

Court documents state the victim was riding near the Bandidos Motorcycle clubhouse on the 1300 block of Butternut Street when he noticed three bikers – later identified as Machado, Alvada, and Trevino – leave the clubhouse and start to follow him.

He sped up, but the documents say the trio kept going, kicking him in the back when they reached him and eventually cutting him off and stopping his path, forcing him to turn into a small parking lot

Once in the parking lot, the victim drew a gun in self-defense, but the documents state the trio began shouting, “There are 30 more people coming to get you”, “You can’t disrespect the Bandidos”, “This is our turf”, and “We’re going to shut you up like we shut Dusty*** up.”

The victim then holstered his gun and attempted to flee, but the trio tackled him and began kicking, punching, and stomping him in the back, hips, knees, shoulders, and head, according to the documents.

They ripped the rival vest off him and took his cell phone and gun before ramming into him with a motorcycle then fleeing, the documents reveal.

When police arrived on scene, the documents state they saw the victim, “had some cuts, scrapes, and bruises all over his body and had fresh blood pouring from his face, hands, and elbows.”

***This comment could refer to the March 2017 murder of Dusty Childress, who was shot and killed while riding his motorcycle in Jones County. Known Bandidos Motorcycle club member Wesley Dale Mason has been charged with murder in connection to the crime.

SOURCE: Big Country

Prez of Grim Reapers MC trial starts

Evansville, Indiana, USA (January 27, 2020) BTN - The trial of Gary Forston starts in US Federal Court today. Forston was indicted on federal gun charges.

Back in November of 2019, Federal and local law enforcement agents served a search warrant at the Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club. Agents used heavy equipment to breakdown the building's door.

The warrant was served by the ATF's Special Response Team, which is often deployed for search warrants or high-risk situations, said an agency spokeswoman at the scene.

Related | Feds Raid Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club

An alphabet soup of agencies assisted the ATF in the raid, which took place around 6 a.m. at the club at 1104 E. Diamond Ave., including the FBI and DEA.

Investigators say two grams of meth were also found during the search in Forston’s vehicle.

That trial is set for today at 9:00 am.

Club member pleads not guilty in shooting

Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA (January 22, 2020) BTN — The suspect in the September 2019 shooting death of Eric Voshell was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty Friday in Superior Court to murder and assault charges.

Joseph Noe, 25, of Taunton, was arraigned in Bristol County Superior Court on charges of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Voshell and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury for allegedly causing non-fatal injuries to two other gunshot victims, according to court documents.

Police said Noe fired several rounds from his five-shot revolver during a fight between members of two competing motorcycle clubs about 10:15 p.m. Sept. 13 in the parking lot beside JC’s Cafe on Bedford Street.

Noe was allegedly seen on surveillance footage withdrawing his firearm and pointing it toward a crowd of people, “in essence, scaring them off,” Assistant District Attorney Michael Cahillane said at Noe’s initial arraignment in District Court.

Related | Bikers converge to pay tribute to killed MC member

Cahillane alleged Noe then ran toward Bedford Street and fired several shots, hitting three people including Oak Bluffs resident Voshell, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his head.

According to the prosecutor, Noe pistol-whipped someone, then lost control of his gun, and the firearm “was recovered on the ground, registered to [Noe].”

Noe, who police and prosecutors said is a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, fled in a vehicle with several other people, according to a police report prepared by Detective Luis Vertentes.

Police obtained a warrant for Noe’s arrest the day after the shooting, Saturday, and Noe turned himself in the following Monday.

State and local police executed a pair of search warrants at the two Fall River clubhouses of the Sidewinders, an affiliate of the Hells Angels, and the Outlaws days after the shooting.


Law enforcement intelligence cited in applications for the warrants said the Outlaws Motorcycle Club has been actively recruiting in Massachusetts in recent years and opened three new chapters in the state, where the Hells Angels traditionally had a stronghold.

Noe was indicted by a Bristol County grand jury Dec. 19, moving his case to Superior Court. He is due back in court March 6.

SOURCE: The Herald News

Case in limbo for Bandidos member licensed to carry gun

Milam County, Texas, USA (January 21, 2020) BTN — Milam County went forward with prosecuting Patrick Lewis Vaden, a member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in December, but Judge Steve Young ruled the case a mistrial after only two days. More than a month later, defense attorney Kurt Glass still doesn't know when or if his client will need to return to court.

Vaden was pulled over in Nov. 2018 for driving 67 mph in a 60 mph zone. He had a license to carry and had a gun when he was stopped.

The Milam County district attorney claimed Vaden is part of a criminal gang and is prosecuting him for unlawfully carrying a weapon. Glass claimed the valid LTC Vaden held is a defense against that charge.

Related | Bandidos member prosecuted for gun with license to carry

Before the trial, Glass said the prosecution filed a motion that Vaden’s License to carry could not be used as evidence in the trial. Glass said he didn’t bring the fact up to the jury, but protested the decision to County Judge Steve Young. Glass said Young eventually told him to get the opinion of a higher court.

“If I’m not able to bring up that he has a defense to the crime, that’s a violation of the 4th amendment,” Glass said. “He told us that we needed to appeal the question of whether or not Patrick Vaden having a license to carry should be admitted into this case.”

The only problem, Glass can't go to an appeals court until the case has a verdict, and the case does not.


Judge Steve Young declared a mistrial on the second day of the trial. Glass said he doesn't know if Judge Young still expects him to contact the higher court. In a criminal case, he can’t legally do that. 6 News Legal expert Liz Mitchell agreed.

"An appellate court isn't going to hear a case until there is a final judgment in the lower court," Mitchell said. "Guilty or not guilty. There has to be an outcome of this case because it is still pending at this time.

Glass also disagreed with the Judge's decision to rule the case a mistrial. "Once you've selected your six people, they are put down in the juror's box The defendant has the right to hear the case to its conclusion," Glass said.

After a mistrial, it is up to Milam County to set a new trial date or dismiss the case. Glass said they should do the latter. “He granted a mistrial. That triggers certain decisions that need to be made. I think that ended the case,” Glass said.

Mitchell told 6 News that judges typically will not want cases to linger after a mistrial, even though it is possible for them to linger for months.

"If it was a mistrial, the judge wants to move the docket," Mitchell said. "It doesn't look good for judges in re-election if they have cases that have been pending forever. Especially cases that resulted in a mistrial."

SOURCE: KCEN TV