October 21, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Criminal activities included weapons delivery to Temecula and other offenses in Riverside County

LOS ANGELES – Sixty-one members of the violent Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang were arrested today after being named in an 86-count federal racketeering indictment that alleges the criminal enterprise was involved in a wide range of criminal activity, including murder, hate crimes against African-American, assaults, firearms violations and narcotics trafficking.

As part of the racketeering indictment that charges 79 defendants, 10 people linked to the gang were arrested previously on various firearms, narcotics and assault charges. A total of 71 defendants have now been taken into federal custody as a result of the three-year investigation.

According to pages 31 and 32 of the 177 page indictment, on August 18 2006 “defendants BUSS, SHAWLEY, and
CHEVILLE, and an un-indicted co-conspirator delivered an automatic, SKS assault rifle, bearing a 60-round magazine and a
12-gauge shotgun to an un-indicted co-conspirator at a Mongols event in Temecula, California.“. This was one of many crimes allegedly committed in Riverside County by members of the Mongols including - murder, weapons violations and drug dealing.

The racketeering indictment seeks the forfeiture of the trademarked “Mongols” name, which is part of the “patch” members wear on their motorcycle jackets.

“In addition to pursuing the criminal charges set forth in the indictment, for the first time ever, we are seeking to forfeit the intellectual property of a gang,” said United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien. “The name ‘Mongols,’ which is part of the gang’s ‘patch’ that members wear on their motorcycle jackets, was trademarked by the gang. The indictment alleges that this trademark is subject to forfeiture. We have filed papers seeking a court order that will prevent gang members from using or displaying the name ‘Mongols.’ If the court grants our request for this order, then if any law enforcement officer sees a Mongol wearing his patch, he will be authorized to stop that gang member and literally take the jacket right off his back.”

Those arrested today include the former Mongols National President Ruben “Doc” Cavazo, several chapter presidents, and various officials of local chapters. In addition to the arrests today, authorities seized dozens of motorcycles which allegedly are part of the gang’s criminal enterprise.

During the investigation into the Mongols, the ATF, joined by investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Montebello Police Department and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, seized 71 firearms, an explosive device and narcotics, including more than six pounds of methamphetamine.

A total of 162 search warrants were executed today in California, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Ohio. In addition to the motorcycles seized today, authorities recovered numerous firearms.

The Mongols are an outlaw motorcycle gang that was formed in Montebello, California in the 1970s. There are as many as 600 members nationwide, with approximately 400 based in Southern California. Many of the Mongols were recruited from some of the most violent Los Angeles-area street gangs, including the “Avenues” and “18th Street.”

The Mongols have been in an escalating battle with the Hells Angels motorcycle gang since 2002 when the two groups engaged in a massive riot at a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. The Mongols have also been involved in an ongoing and violent feud with the Mexican Mafia over Mongols drug trafficking activities in areas controlled by the Mexican Mafia.

According to the indictment, members of the Mongols typically engage in crimes that include acts of violence – ranging from battery to murder – drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, extortion, and, very frequently, violent attacks on African-Americans. Members also frequently conduct robberies, steal motorcycles, and engage in the theft of credit card account information to obtain funds for themselves and the organization. Members often commit their crimes and acts of violence with perceived impunity because they believe victims and witnesses are afraid to testify against them or to cooperate with law enforcement for fear of retaliation by the larger Mongols organization.

During the investigation, four male ATF agents worked undercover and successfully infiltrated the Mongols to become “full-patch” members. Four female ATF agents also went undercover to pose as their girlfriends. The undercover agents had to undergo rigorous scrutiny by the Mongols, including polygraph examinations, to be accepted as members of the Mongols. They also had to develop and maintain “biker personas” to prolong their undercover investigation.

ATF Special Agent in Charge John Torres said: “Today, the leadership of the Mongols, one of the most violent outlaw motorcycle gangs, was taken down. For three years, four brave and dedicated ATF undercover agents put their lives on the line to infiltrate the Mongols. They made great personal sacrifices to protect our community and we are all extremely grateful.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca stated: “This is another example of a unified law enforcement effort that has brought down members of a notorious outlaw gang. This investigation has made our streets safer”.


Captain Al Salinas, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Organized Crime Bureau, commented: “Today, members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, along with the Henderson and North Las Vegas Police Departments, in conjunction with federal agents executed numerous arrest and search warrants throughout the Vegas Valley. These warrants were the culmination of an investigation which began more than three years ago into outlaw motorcycle gang criminal activity which impacted the Vegas community. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep our neighborhoods safe.”

Those arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court. Most of the defendants were arrested in the Los Angeles area, meaning that they will be brought to federal court in downtown Los Angeles to appear before one of four United States Magistrate Judges who will determine if bond should be set for a particular defendant.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The investigation into the Mongols motorcycle gang was conducted by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the Montebello Police Department; and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. In addition to the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, federal prosecutors in Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver and Reno have worked on the case.

The following agencies participated in this morning’s takedown, providing valuable resources to conclude this investigation: California Highway Patrol, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Whittier Police Department, the West Covina Police Department, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Glendale Police Department, the Bell Gardens Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Irwindale Police Department, the Baldwin Park Police Department, the Azusa Police Department, the Pomona Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Posted in Homeland, Crime, Las Vegas, San Bernadino, San Diego, Denver, Menifee, Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, News | Print | No Comments »

October 21, 2008 by Matt Pierce.

Really, I believe that Proposition 8 should not be an issue. I’ve heard every argument for the proposition, and to be frank, every single one of them is deceitful and hollow. I even received a few phone calls on this issue right before I got my voter info packet. After reading the packet, I found that everything I had been told in the phone call the day before to be complete lies and it made me want to throw up. I personally see no valid reason that this should be passed. But, I have managed to find some true American reasons as to why this should pass.

*please note sarcasm to last part of each sentence*

01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, processed cheese and air conditioning.

02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.


06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms.
Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans

Think before you vote.

Posted in Politics, Commentary | Print | No Comments »

October 21, 2008 by PT Rothschild.

PLUS: BANDS THAT PLAY WILL GET SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FROM MR. PETE’S BREAKFAST BURRITO EXTRAVAGANZA, ALSO APPEARING ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT FOR HUNGRY PATRONS! COME MEET MR. PETE IN PERSON!

Posted in Family Attractions, Food, Music, News | Print | No Comments »

October 21, 2008 by PT Rothschild.

A DIRE PREDICTION OF FOMAA COMES TO PASS

Temecula, CA – As the title says, Mr. Pete’s Breakfast Burrito Extravaganza, the latest legendary eatery of Temecula, has left the ‘building’ along with Linens ‘N’ Things. The slow economy which translates to fewer shoppers was the reason and not some council ‘conspiracy’. The slow turnout at the Farmers Market on Wednesday, finally took its toll though there were some Wednesdays where the crowd came and all the mom & pop vendors made a buck or two. Most Wednesdays Mr. Pete’s outsold the other merchandise vendors and all the food vendors, except the Kettle Corn folks, on occasion.

What many people didn’t realize, though Al Abbott and Rita V. Hernandez – challengers in the upcoming city council election – did take note, was that Mr. Pete’s was a scene spot. Besides the scores of attractive though alternatively dressed youth that showed up there on a weekly basis for their ‘Mr. Pete’s’ habit, a number of on-site vendors, shop employees from the mall, parents, and even the occasional reporter or publisher also cruised in to wolf down one of the mouth-watering, totally tasty, completely filling breakfast burritos, sample what was on the ‘secret menu’ that day or to taste test the latest fried desert creations of Chef Paul, which were often free to patrons. In the scene you often get more than you bargained for, that’s why it’s the ‘scene’ and not just some other location. The scene also offers a glimpse of things to come, such as fashion, dance moves, genres of music, etc. but sometimes it also gives a dire prediction, as in the case of the next story.


Back in the day, again when there was a scene here, a group of ‘scene-sters’ pivotal to the scene came together and formed a non-profit called Freedom of Music and Art, or FOMAA. It was formed for the primary purpose to stymie the heavy-handed new ‘noise’ ordinance that was being drafted up by the Temecula City Council and Planning Commission. The ordinance as it stood gave all power to naysayers and no defense to bands and artists who also need their space to practice and create. One of the arguments used for changing the wording was that even a custom made, custom decorated motorcycle could be cited as ‘noise’.

Well, the bands won, led by the board of FOMAA, but now, in this weeks Valley News (issue 42, vol. 8, 10/17-10/23) in a story by Peter Surowski and Ashley Cook titled ‘Bikers steering clear of Temecula – Increased ticketing angers motorcycle riders in Old Town, that dire prediction by FOMAA has come to pass. Ron Muir, a business owner and motorcycle enthusiast, was ticketed by T-Town police shortly after he made known the complaints he had heard to the VN via email.

“They say, ‘No, you’re breaking the noise ordinance.’ They don’t have any decibel meters, “ he said of the ticketing officers. The City redirected two units from other areas to Old Town where they wrote 60 tickets in just three Fall weekends. Even the Chief of Police for Temecula said ‘That’s a lot. Temporary increased enforcement falls short of a crackdown,’ he added.

Several business owners had a differing view however.

“It sounds to me like (the local police) are cracking down on bikers,” said Ken Rauton, owner of the Swing Inn. In the middle of the (last) month all his clients started complaining about getting tickets. “You hear a siren going and they got a bike. You hear another siren and they got another bike.”

Mike Shelhart, a Murrieta business owner who has also heard a number of complaints also recalled seeing the police load a number of motorcycles onto a flatbed truck in the parking lot of The Stampede (in Old Town) also last month. Muir went to a City Council meeting to express his concerns last Tuesday by saying, “A lot (of motorcyclists) are afraid to come down here (to Temecula)…they think they’re not welcome.”

Mike Naggar rebuffed his comments with, “People need to comply with the law. Everyone is welcome who complies with the law.”

Though Old Town still appears to be a popular watering hole for motorcycle riders, the increased enforcement could change all that, especially when messages go out on the national www.hdforums.com that warn Harley riders to steer clear of T-Town. “Boycott Temecula, California” reads one such tome.

(* - see the upcoming story, ‘The gods of Temecula’)

Posted in Crime, Politics, Commentary, Music, News | Print | No Comments »

October 21, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

One of 26 Wanted Fugitives Caught During the Week at Busy Area Ports

San Ysidro, Calif. - An 18-year-old man wanted for homicide and gang affiliation by the Merced County, Calif. sheriff’s office was apprehended Saturday evening at the San Ysidro port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced today.

Jose Luis Hernandez, a U.S. citizen who resides in Soledad, was detained by CBP officers after he entered the port on foot from Mexico at about 9:30 p.m. After Hernandez presented his valid California identification card, a CBP officer queried law enforcement databases and developed information regarding the traveler’s outstanding felony warrant.

Hernandez was detained at the port until detectives from Merced County arrived the following morning at 10 a.m. to take him into custody.


Hernandez was among 26 wanted fugitives apprehended over the past week at the San Ysidro and nearby Otay Mesa passenger ports, officials said. About 65 percent of those detained were U.S. citizens. The felony violations included assault, larceny, burglary, theft, military desertion, dangerous drugs and weapons offenses.

CBP officers also presented for prosecution during the week 14 alien smuggling cases involving 16 individuals, detained five previously deported criminal aliens attempting to illegally enter the U.S., and seized 39 narcotics loads totaling 2,816 pounds.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Posted in San Diego, Crime, News | Print | No Comments »