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Posted on 06/09/2005 9:59:21 PM PDT by Horatio Gates
BELLINGHAM - Police and federal agents began rounding up members of the Bandidos biker gang across the Northwest on Thursday, after a grand jury returned a 19-count indictment accusing them of crimes ranging from racketeering and witness tampering to dealing drugs and stolen Harley Davidson motorcycles.
At least a dozen had been arrested by Thursday afternoon, including the organization's international president. About 300 investigators working the case in Washington, Montana and South Dakota had arrest warrants for 20 more members, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives said in a news release. They also served 21 search warrants, including one at a Harley Davidson dealership in Bellingham.
The investigation centered on that city in Whatcom County, which is in the northwestern corner of Washington along the Canadian border. The Bandidos have operated there for two decades, officials said.
"The international leadership of the Bandido organization has been operating in Whatcom County with perceived impunity for many years," Sheriff Bill Elfo said. "Hopefully this case will serve to dismantle the Bandido motorcycle organization in our area and will have a significant impact upon methamphetamine distribution, thefts, burglaries, crimes of violence and other nefarious activities that plague our community."
The federal indictment named 22 gang members and said they engaged in a pattern of threatening behavior to protect their turf and criminal enterprises. Several bikers from the Bandidos' Missoula, Mont., chapter were charged with kidnapping an individual identified as SS in May 2003. Britt Anderson, a member in Western Washington, allegedly tried to improve his standing in the gang by assaulting a man identified as GB with a knife.
Last December, the gang's national sergeant-at-arms, Hugh Gale Henschel of Bellingham, approached that victim and said, "It would be your best interest to drop the charges against Britt," the indictment reads.
Two months later, a gang member allegedly told GB's wife that if the charges weren't dropped, "you won't wake up some morning," and the next morning four live bullets were found on the roof of her husband's car.
Ten counts of the indictment relate to alleged dealing in marijuana and methamphetamine by Glenn William Merritt, president of the Bellingham chapter and a trusted lieutenant of Bellingham resident George Wegers, the organization's international president. Merritt, Henschel and Wegers were among those arrested Thursday and were scheduled to make their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday, said magistrate support clerk Heather Arent-Zachary.
Merritt and others were also accused of trafficking in stolen motor vehicles, including pickup trucks, a 1947 Harley Davidson Knucklehead motorcycle, a '98 Harley Bagger and a '92 Harley Fatboy.
The Bandidos have about 170 chapters in 14 countries, including 90 in the U.S. and 14 in Washington state, the indictment says. Membership is estimated at 2,400 bikers, all of whom must ride Harleys.
The investigation began in 2002, the ATF said.
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You might be interested in this.
I was in the emergency room in 1978 when Mr. Lightsey, the head of the Banditos, was assasinated. Shot multiple times through the chest. John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. These look like degenerate bikers, but believe me, they are consummate businessmen, with a vengance. They are not unreasonable, they expect success, they do not tolerate dishonesty, they expect loyalty, they do not comprehend governmental inexpediency... they are efficient. If it weren't for larceny in their hearts, they would be Republican. Banditos, come on back to the fold! Christ is the answer... he forgives (as for the moment, I do not).
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It the: "It's business, not personal" concept. Professionaly speaking, I've had contacts with various members and things went pretty smooth. Not that I'd turn my back on them. I've not seen Bandido's for a few years in my neck of the woods and was wondering where they've been. Gypsy Jokers are about the only ones I see flying colors these days.
What has the ATF to do with any of these things?
So what's that? 15 investigators to produce each warrant? 300 investigators for 20 warrants? They are clearly not hurting for manpower.
WOW!
I haven't heard anything about this gang since I was in H.S. in Lubbock, Texas in '79/'80...
A.A.C.
They need to slip some of those investigators down our way in Texas and maybe do some work along the mexican border.
I actually ran into some of these guys in La Conner a few months ago. Didn't seem to be causing any trouble.
The ATF has been to Texas.
Not a darn thing as you well know. Happy to see someone caught it. Must be a good news campaign after everyone has forgotten the last news story of the atf.
These are not nice people. We've had a shooting war going on here in the northeast for years between HA and others.
Is that experience talking????? ;-(
You know, I was wondering about that too but it was conveniently not mentioned in the article. I thought DEA would be on top pf this. Then again, when does the MSM get it right either?
Over a period of a few years that doesn't surprise me. On the surface it seems high but when it comes down to executing the search warrants that averages out to 15 agents per warrant which is probably just about what you want (depending on what your up against.) Cataloging evidence can be manpower intensive too.
I noticed that too. When I saw the article said it was an ATF operation, I expected to see charges of gun running.
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