Defendants in Mongols case begin to cop pleas
First Doc flipped, then the rest of the gang began pleading out -- 60 of 79 charged in the October 2008 Federal racketeering case have plead. Of those 10 took 20 years.
Here's a snippet from Maritza Velazquez's story:
Sixty of 79 Mongols Motorcycle Club members arrested in a federal sweep have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.About 10 of those who entered guilty pleas have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, and the rest are expected to be sentenced later this year, spokesman Thom Mrozek said.
The trial for the remaining 19 defendants is set for April 13, Mrozek said. It's likely the trial will be delayed because the judge assigned to the case is expected to retire in March, Mrozek said.
"The wheels of justice turn slowly, but they turn true," said John A. Torres, special agent in charge for the Los Angeles Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "We'll wait as long as it takes to bring this case to a successful conclusion."
In October 2008, 61 people from Southern California were arrested in a federal sweep targeting members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club.
According to a federal indictment made public at the time, the suspects, including purported ringleader Ruben "Doc" Cavasos, of West Covina, faced charges ranging from murder and drug trafficking to robbery and witness intimidation.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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