A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Mongols Motorcycle Club members must forfeit all clothing and motorcycles that bear the organization's logo, as requested in a restraining order sought by the U.S. attorney's office.
In the Los Angeles District Court ruling, a federal judge said club members may not sell, distribute or wear the Mongols insignia and cannot take any action that would prevent the government from seizing it if the defendants named in a federal indictment are convicted.
The federal grand jury racketeering indictment, released Tuesday, accuses 79 club members of charges including murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking and money laundering.
The indictment also charges six Inland Mongols members with attempted murder in connection with a 2005 shooting at a Christmas toy drive in Norco.
The Mongols members are accused of injuring three people, including a Norco firefighter, when they are suspected of opening fire on Hells Angels members at the Maverick Steakhouse.
The Mongols were being kept at various federal detention centers, separate from inmates loyal to the Mexican Mafia, said Anthony Burke, a supervisory inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service in Los Angeles. Such segregation is common practice.
U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien said this is the first time the government has gone after a group's trademarked logo. The legal order applies to the defendants and their family members and associates.
The motorcycle club has 500 to 600 member and chapters in seven states and four countries.
Officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said Wednesday that they would not begin to notify law enforcement about enforcing the ruling until they were given a directive and clarification from the U.S. attorney's office. U.S. attorney's officials are developing orders to be used in the field.
"We need to be able to interpret the ruling and direct law enforcement what to do when they encounter that vest," ATF Special Agent Michael Hoffman said. "That patch was trademarked by the Mongols organization. The significance is that it's used as a form of intimidation and they use it as an identity."
The patch, which depicts a muscular, ponytailed man riding a chopper, is earned by members who prove themselves to the club. The club trademarked the patch in 2005.
The restraining order dictates that defendants currently charged in the case, along with their family members or associates, must surrender all clothing, vehicles, motorcycles, books, posters or merchandise with the logo when presented with the legal order. Authorities will issue a federal receipt for the property.
Local authorities did not make any arrests or file any charges after the Norco shooting. Tuesday's indictment was the first time any suspects were charged in the case.
After the shooting, Maverick owner Rob Koziel said bikers associated with the Mongols had been asked not to come to the restaurant because of ongoing tension between them and the Hells Angels.
"They've caused so much heartache," he said Wednesday. "I'm glad to see that law enforcement has finally taken a strong position against outlaw motorcycle groups."
original article
pe.com
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