Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A significant legal action has been initiated in the Southern District of Texas against 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and Mascareros Motorcycle Club. The indictment, unsealed recently, charges these individuals with various offenses including racketeering, assault, and murder. This follows an extensive operation targeting what authorities describe as a violent criminal enterprise operating in the Houston area.
The charges stem from alleged involvement in a criminal conspiracy to commit racketeering activities, along with committing violent crimes such as murder and assault. According to the indictment, the Bandidos are identified as an "outlaw" motorcycle organization with substantial membership both domestically and internationally.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei emphasized public safety concerns, stating: “The indictment here not only alleges shocking crimes of violence but also alleges that these offenses were committed openly and wantonly, where any innocent member of the public could have been hurt or killed.” Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division added: “Today’s indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.”
The legal document outlines a violent turf war that allegedly began in 2019 between the Bandidos and a rival gang known as B*EAST in Houston. It claims that this conflict involved orders for physical assaults on rivals which led to exchanges of gunfire in public areas.
Among those charged are John M. Pfeffer (aka Big John), Darvi Hinojosa (aka 10 Round), Bradley Rickenbacker (aka Dolla Bill), Michael H. Dunphy (aka Money Mike), Christopher Sanchez (aka Monster), Brandon K. Hantz (aka Loco and Gun Drop), David Vargas (aka Brake Check and First Time), Marky Baker (aka Pinche Guero and Guero), Ronnie McCabe (aka Meathead), Jeremy Cox (aka JD), Roy Gomez (aka Repo), Marcel Lett, John Sblendorio (aka Tech9) and Sean G. Christison (aka Skinman). The charges range from conspiracy to commit racketeering activity to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
These defendants face severe penalties if convicted, including potential life imprisonment or even the death penalty for certain charges related to murder in aid of racketeering.
The investigation was conducted by several law enforcement agencies under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods Program aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black and Kelly Zenón-Matos are leading the prosecution alongside Trial Attorneys Grace H. Bowen and Christopher Taylor from the Department of Justice's Criminal Division.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
