The Washoe County District Attorney's Office says the murder prosecution of Ernesto Gonzalez, that was set for a re-trial in August, has turned into federal racketeering indictments of 23 alleged Vagos Outlaw motorcycle gang members.
To see a previous story on this murder trial, click here.
The DA's Office says that they have been assisting Department of Justice prosecutors for over a year, ending with the 12-count indictment returned by the District of Nevada's federal grand jury on Tuesday.Â
As the case headed towards its new trial date, the DA's office began working with federal authorities on the possibility of a federal prosecution under the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) which is a federal law designed to target criminal organizations with enhanced penalties.Â
A federal indictment was unsealed on Friday charging 23 alleged members and associates of the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG), including some of its most senior leaders, in a conspiracy involving racketeering, murder, robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault, among other charges.Â
The 12-count indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to participate in the affairs of the Vagos OMG, a gang with approximately 87 or more chapters in at least seven countries, and on four continents. There are approximately 75 chapters in the U.S., including about 54 chapters in Nevada and California. The indictment says that the Vagos OMG is a highly organized criminal organization with a hierarchical chain of command. Among other crimes, the indictment charges eight Vagos OMG leaders and members, including Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, aka "Romeo," for the September 23, 2011 murder of a member of the rival Hells Angels gang at the Nugget Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada. To see that story, click here.
"The murder committed by Ernesto Gonzalez in the Nugget Casino was always a part of a larger criminal conspiracy, which has been made even more clear today," said District Attorney Hicks. "Prosecuting Gonzalez for his actions has been a priority for my office. As such, we welcomed the opportunity to work closely with federal authorities in this RICO investigation that not only seeks to hold Gonzales accountable but the entire involved Varos criminal enterprise."Â
While the indictment was returned by a grand jury in Las Vegas, earlier Friday, federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested individuals in Hawaii and across Southern California and Nevada, including in the Las Vegas metro area and in Reno.Â
Defendants charged are:
- Pastor Fausto Palafox, a/k/a "Ta Ta," 53, of Beaumont, Calif.
- Albert Lopez, a/k/a "Al," 39, of Canyon Country, Calif.
- Albert Benjamin Perez, a/k/a "Dragon Man," 57, of Santa Barbara, Calif.
- James Patrick Gillespie, a/k/a "Jimbo," 68, of Granada Hills, Calif.
- Andrew Eloy Lozano, a/k/a "Hulk," 42, of Fontana, Calif.
- Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, a/k/a "Romeo," of San Francisco
- Victor Adam Ramirez, a/k/a "Slick," 35, of Las Vegas
- James Walter Henderson, a/k/a "CJ," 64, of Henderson, Nev.
- Steven Earl Carr, a/k/a "Big Steve," 43, of Las Vegas
- Robert Allen Coleman, a/k/a "Mayhem," 59, of Las Vegas
- Jeremy John Halgat, a/k/a "Maniak," 39, of North Las Vegas, Nev.
- Paul Jeffrey Voll, a/k/a "Shyster," 52, of Pasadena, Calif.
- John Joseph Siemer, a/k/a "Rocky," 60, of Baldwin Park, Calif.
- Bradley Michael Campos, a/k/a "Candy Man," 50, of Alhambra, Calif.
- Cesar Vaquera Morales, a/k/a "C," 49, of San Jose, Calif.
- Diego Chavez Garcia, a/k/a "Boo," 34, of San Jose, Calif.
- Edward Claridan Chelby, a/k/a "Recon," 57, of Kailua, Hawaii
- Johnny Russell Neddenriep, a/k/a "Johnny Bolts," 51, of Reno, Nev.
- Darin Kieth Grieder, a/k/a "Midget," 48, of Sparks, Nev.
- Bert Wayne Davisson, a/k/a "Flash," 45, of Sparks, Nev.
- Mathew Keith Dunlap, a/k/a "Big Mat," 46, of Sparks, Nev.
- John Chrispin Juarez, a/k/a "Quicky," 69, of Moreno Valley, Calif.Â
