E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club has been arrested, and another member has been charged, in connection with the assault and murder of a rival gang member in Ontario last month.
Clifford Michael Lavoy, also known as “Buckshot,” a 51-year-old from Montclair, California, was taken into custody on a federal criminal complaint. He faces charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering. Julian Pulido, a 35-year-old known as “Juls,” from Upland, California, is charged with murder in aid of racketeering under the same complaint.
"Lavoy was arrested this morning and made his initial appearance in United States District Court in Riverside this afternoon," the statement announced. A judge ordered him jailed without bond pending a May 6 arraignment in Riverside federal court.
Pulido remains in state custody, having been charged with murder in San Bernardino County Superior Court. He is expected to appear in federal court in Riverside in the next few weeks.
An affidavit filed with the complaint details the incident, which occurred during the early hours of March 4. Pulido and Lavoy allegedly attacked the victim, a member of the Vagos motorcycle gang identified in court documents as “V.S.,” at a bar in Ontario. The confrontation involved arguments over gang affiliations, leading to a violent assault. According to the affidavit, after the victim attempted to escape, Pulido allegedly shot him multiple times in the back, resulting in the victim's death on the scene.
Subsequently, Pulido led police on a nine-hour chase across five counties, ending with his arrest after a vehicle crash in Kern County. He was allegedly wearing Mongols-branded clothing at the time of the murder.
Lavoy was initially arrested in Whittier and released after booking.
According to the press release, "a criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
If convicted, Pulido could face a life sentence in federal prison. Lavoy would face a maximum sentence of 20 years if found guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in collaboration with the Ontario Police Department, with assistance from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Declan T. Conroy and Daniel H. Weiner.
This case is a part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels, and protect communities from violent crime, involving resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
