Dirty Dan Metcalf, founder of what the FBI called the fastest growing organized
crime/terrorist group in the US, alleged that his group acted as the
distribution network for CIA drug ops out of Mexico. Dan died rather
mysteriously while in federal "protection".The main distribution point during
Mr. Metcalf's time was Commerce City, CO. It's hard telling how many
distribution points now exist with this gang constructed, CIA protected racket,
but local, state and federal law enforcement agencies seem loathe to do to them
what they did to the gang targetted in the action recently in LA.
Guess they don't like the competition.
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Mongols motorcycle gang arrested in federal sweep
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By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins,
Associated Press Writer
–
1 min ago
AP – Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, at podium, speaks during a
news conference Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, …
Slideshow:
Mongol Motorcycle Gang
Play Video
Video:
At Least 31 Arrested In Motorcycle Gang Bust
CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – Dozens of burly, tattoo-covered members
of the Mongol motorcycle gang
were arrested Tuesday by federal agents in six states following a
three-year investigation in which undercover agents infiltrated the
group.
At least 38 members of the Southern California-based
Mongol Motorcycle Club
were arrested under a federal racketeering indictment that included
charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, as well as gun and drug
violations, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
spokesman Mike Hoffman.
During some arrests, sharpshooters stood guard on
surrounding rooftops as motorcycles were lined up and confiscated.
"It's going to be a large hit to their organization..
We are arresting many of their top members," Hoffman said.
Among those arrested were the gang's former national
president, Ruben Cavazos.
Federal and local agents had 110 federal arrest
warrants and 160 search warrants that were being served across Southern
California and in Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Ohio. The sweep,
dubbed Operation Black Rain, was to continue throughout the day Tuesday, agents
said.
Hoffman said the Mongols had been recruiting members of
Los Angeles street gangs to assist in their operations.
The Mongols are primarily Latino and formed because the
Hells Angels refused to allow Hispanic members.
Four
ATF agents infiltrated the gang and were accepted as full members, a
difficult process that requires winning the trust of the gang's top
leaders over a period of months, Hoffman said.
The
agents were required to live away from their families in homes set up
to make it look like they lived a Mongols lifestyle, Hoffman said. Four
undercover women ATF agents also were involved in the operation,
pretending to be biker girlfriends and attending parties with the
agents; women are not allowed to become full members of the gang.
"If
you go to a party all the time and you don't ever bring a girl around,
it's kind of weird," Hoffman said. "Someone might get suspicious."
To be accepted in the gang, the ATF agents had to run
errands and were subject to a background check by private detectives.
Outside Cavazos' home in West Covina, about 18 miles
east of Los Angeles, a red, custom-modified Harley-Davidson motorbike sat
outside. No occupants were home but several police and ATF agents were seen
going through items in the house.
Cavazos wrote a memoir titled "Honor Few, Fear None:
The Life and Times of a Mongol," published by HarperCollins in June.
HarperCollins
publicist Sarah Burningham in New York City said she only handles
book-related issues for Cavazos, but would forward an e-mail from The
Associated Press requesting comment.
At least 22 motorcycles were on display outside the Los
Angeles Police Department's main building Tuesday morning.
All were modified, chrome-covered Harleys with custom artwork. One had
a fiberglass skull on the clutch, another's kick stand had been
modified to make it look like bird talons. Several bore Mongols
insignia.
Las Vegas police reported
serving several warrants at homes in southern Nevada, where five men
were in federal custody pending an appearance before a federal
magistrate, said Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's
office in Las Vegas.
In 2002, a Mongols member got two to five years in
Nevada state prison for his part in a deadly casino brawl with rival Hells
Angels during a biker rally. Three people died in the fight.
___
Associated Press Writers Solvej Schou
and Greg Risling, AP Photographer Ric Francis and AP videographer John
Mone contributed to this report. AP Writer Ken Ritter in Las Vegas also
contributed.
