A newly unsealed indictment in the Southern District of Texas charges 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang with crimes including murder, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution, and witness intimidation in the Houston area, officials announced Wednesday.
The defendants face charges related to a racketeering conspiracy (RICO) and violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and assault.
An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Prosecutors allege the Bandidos, a gang with thousands of members in the U.S. and abroad, engaged in a brutal turf war with rival gang BEAST since 2019. Bandidos leadership allegedly ordered attacks, including murder, on BEAST members, leading to shootouts in public areas, officials stated.
Among those charged, John M. Pfeffer (Big John), Darvi Hinojosa (10 Round), Bradley Rickenbacker (Dolla Bill), Michael H. Dunphy (Money Mike), Christopher Sanchez (Monster), and Brandon K. Hantz (Loco/Gun Drop) face conspiracy to commit racketeering charges.
Additional charges include assault, firearm violations, and arson. If convicted, Pfeffer, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez face life in prison, while Dunphy and Hantz face up to 20 years per count.
David Vargas (Brake Check) is charged with murder and attempted murder in aid of racketeering, along with firearms offenses, in connection with the killing of a rival and the shooting of two others. He faces a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty.
Additional defendants, including Marky Baker (Pinche Guero), Ronnie McCabe (Meathead), Jeremy Cox (JD), Roy Gomez (Repo), and Marcel Lett, are charged with assault and firearm offenses linked to a fatal robbery. John Sblendorio (Tech9) and Hinojosa face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and cocaine distribution. Sean G. Christison (Skinman) is charged with drug trafficking and firearm possession.