Cops nail Mongol biker in Frisco Hells Angels slaying

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Frank Girardot

This from the San Francisco Chronicle (thanks to a NorCal Crime Scene reader)

A suspect in the slaying of the leader of the San Francisco Hells Angels chapter is now facing federal murder and weapons charges, court records show.

Christopher Ablett, 36, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco to charges of murder in aid of racketeering and two gun-possession charges in the September slaying of Mark “Papa” Guardado, the head of the Hells Angels’ “Frisco” chapter.

Authorities believe Ablett shot Guardado, 46, after what police describe as a “wrestling match” outside a Mission District bar the night of Sept. 2. Witnesses told police that the killer rode away on a motorcycle; police later searched the home in Modesto where Ablett lived with his parents and his two children and seized a 2005 Harley-Davidson.

Police say Ablett is a member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, a rival group to the Hells Angels.

Ablett killed Guardado “for the purpose of gaining entrance to and maintaining and increasing his position in the Mongols, an enterprise engaged in racketeering,” according to an indictment handed down July 23 by a federal grand jury in San Francisco and unsealed Wednesday.

Mongols sentenced in No Cal shooting

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Frank Girardot

Four members of the Mongols motorcycle gang were sentenced for their roles in an attack on a Hells Angel in November. The attack occurred in Humbolt County. All the Mongols pleaded guilty.

Here’s the story from the Eureka Times-Standard:

Four men arrested in connection to the non-fatal shooting of a suspected Hells Angels member in November were sentenced in Humboldt County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon to terms ranging from three years in prison to 180 days in jail.

All four men, three of whom were found to be card carrying members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement offered during their preliminary hearing, after evidence surfaced that the victim — Robert Thompson — may have fired first.

Deputy District Attorney Ben McLaughlin said although there are no current plans to charge Thompson as a felon in possession of a firearm, the matter is still under investigation.

The accused gunman in the case, 28-year-old Mongols gang member Eric Gunner Lundin, was sentenced by Judge Dale Reinholtsen to three years in prison for felony charges of assault with a firearm and participating in a criminal street gang.

Lundin’s attorney, Glenn Brown, said his client will likely serve “a little over two years.”

Dustin Liebes, a 36-year-old who the prosecution named as the president of the area Mongols chapter, was sentenced to one year in jail with five years probation. Shasta County resident Eric Garcia, 28, was also given a one year jail sentence with five years probation. Both men had pleaded guilty to participation in a criminal street gang, and both were granted 110 days time served.

“There are a lot of Hells Angels dying at the hands of Mongols”

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Frank Girardot

The Eureka Times-Standard is reporting that a Montebello police detective was brought to court in Eureka this week to testify at a preliminary hearing for a man accused of attempted murder following a dispute between the Mongols Motorcycle Club and the Hell’s Angels.

Here’s the story:

Continue reading ““There are a lot of Hells Angels dying at the hands of Mongols”” »

Danish millionaire turns himself in to LAPD

Posted on December 8, 2008 by Frank Girardot

This story turned up in the Los Angeles Times and on the AP wire over the weekend apparently this guy has ties to the Hells Angels in Denmark.

LOS ANGELES – A Danish executive wanted in his home country in connection with an $85 million corporate-fraud scandal surrendered to police and was awaiting return to Denmark, authorities said.

Stein Bagger, chief executive of Copenhagen-based software company IT Factory, walked into a downtown Los Angeles police station Saturday and told officers he was an international fugitive.

Wounded biker confirmed as one-time murder suspect

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Frank Girardot

The Merced Sun-Star confirmed Monday that a man shot outside a Eureka bar was a one-time double murder suspect. (H/T Mike Alerich)

Robert Thompson was shot several times outside The Shanty Bar in Eureka Saturday night. A member of the Hell’s Angels, Thompson’s shooting is suspected of being linked to ongoing tension between the Angels and the Montebello-based Mongols.

Here’s a snippet of the Merced story:

Robert Daniel Thompson, the man acquitted of murder charges in the 1986 unsolved homicides of two Atwater girls, is in the hospital after being shot Friday in Eureka.

The 43-year-old Hells Angel was listed in serious, but stable, condition at UC Davis Medical Center on Sunday, according to hospital staff.

Although details about the incident are sketchy, the Eureka Times-Standard reported Thompson was shot several times outside of a bar called “The Shanty,” found lying in an intersection, bleeding from gunshot wounds.

Biker gang clash in No Cal leaves one man seriously injured *

Posted on November 9, 2008 by Frank Girardot

Thanks to a nice email tip, my attention was drawn to the Eureka Times-Standard, which details a bar shooting in Old Town Eureka that left a man wounded. Eureka’s police chief told the paper that the shooting stemmed from a clash between Hells Angels and Mongols bikers.

(My question is, how did they know they were Mongols since the Mongols are forbidden from wearing their logo?)

Anyway here’s a link to the story and an excerpt or two:

A Merced man was seriously wounded after he was shot outside The Shanty in Eureka late Friday night, and four men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder shortly afterward.

Robert Daniel Thompson, 43, of Merced was found lying in the intersection of Third and C streets, bleeding from several gunshot wounds, when police arrived at about 11:10 p.m. About five minutes later, officers stopped a vehicle at Watson and D streets and arrested four men believed to be involved in the shooting.

<snip>

Eureka Police Chief Garr Nielsen said earlier Saturday that the shooting may have stemmed from the longtime battle between the Hell’s Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs, but detectives have not been able to confirm that.

*Who doesn’t love Google magic?

Turns out the victim in this case might be a Hell’s Angel who is a registered sex offender and a onetime suspect in a 20-year-old double homicide.

Here’s a couple of links of interest:

Murder suspect built life on coast

Robert Daniel Thompson

Motorcycle clubs take over Palm Springs for American Heat

Posted on October 11, 2008 by Frank Girardot

Less than a week after what may have been a shooting between rival motorcycle gangs on area freeways, thousands of bikers are descending on Palm Springs this morning as part of the American Heat rally. The shooting resulted in the death of Manuel Martin, of Venice.

Here’s what FOX 11 is reporting about the rally:

No problems were reported this afternoon during the first hours of a motorcycle rally in downtown Palm Springs that is expected to draw 10,000 cyclists, a police lieutenant said.

“It looks like a good start and we have had no problems reported so far,” said Palm Springs police Lt. John Booth.

Hundreds of booths have been set up on Palm Canyon Drive — the city’s main drag — for the 2008 American Heat Motorcycle Weekend, which began at 2 p.m.

Palm Canyon Drive, from Alejo to Baristo roads, will remain shut down until 9 p.m. Sunday, said city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.

The event will feature stunt shows, live entertainment and motorcycle vendors.

Police Chief David Dominguez told the Desert Sun he does not expect any violence during the event, despite past conflicts in California among rival motorcycle gangs.

Outlaw motorcycle gangs not ruled out in shooting death

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Frank Girardot

This is the latest in the strange and terrible saga of Manuel Martin’s’ death at the intersection of the 2 and the 210 freeways was the result of an ongoing feud between the Hell’s Angels and Mongols motorcycle clubs. Here’s Nathan McIntire’s update:

GLENDALE – Police are searching for a dark-colored car that may have been involved in the shooting death of a motorcyclist on the Glendale (2) Freeway.

An autopsy was performed on the victim Thursday, but the results were not available, authorities said.
Manuel Vincent Martin, 30, suffered a bullet wound in the chest but had no other major visible injuries, according to Los Angeles County Department of Coroner spokesman Craig Harvey.
Police confirmed Thursday that another motorcyclist riding with Martin was wearing a Mongols Motorcycle Club T-shirt. The Mongols, a biker gang that originated in Montebello in the 1970s, has been warring with the Hell’s Angels.
Gang involvement is being investigated as a possible motive in the slaying, according to Glendale Police Department Sgt. Tom Lorenz.
Several people showed up to the crime scene following the shooting, Lorenz said.
“The apparel that they were wearing indicated an association with the Mongols,” he said. “There was one individual with a Mongol tatoo.”
“The Police Department has not ruled out any outlaw biker activity that may have caused this event,” he added.

American Heat

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Frank Girardot

In wake of increased violence between outlaw motorcycle gangs, Palm Desert is prepping for a weekend orgy of motorcyclists to descend on the Riverside County Community, according to the Desert Sun:

Palm Springs Police Chief David Dominguez told merchants this week that while there have been recent incidents around the state between rival motorcycle gangs, he does not expect violence during this weekend’s event.

“They (the motorcycle groups) have let us know they are coming and they just want to have fun,” Dominguez said.

Earlier this year, Dominguez warned the City Council that he was concerned about rising incidents among the Mongols, Vagos and Hells Angels motorcycle gangs.

He said this week that there is always a chance that something could happen, but his department will be prepared.

There will be a heavy presence of uniformed officers throughout the weekend, as well as volunteer and off-duty law enforcement officers who will be in town showing off their own bikes, Dominguez said. Burke said he will also have security on hand to ensure a family-friendly event.

“I think we will be fine,” Dominguez said.

A fallen biker

Posted on October 8, 2008 by Frank Girardot

Here’s a photo of Manuel Martin supplied by the DMV. Martin was apparently shot and killed at the 210 2 connector on the Glendale La Canada border early Wednesday morning, officials said. He was 30.

Police are working two theories in regard to the incident. The first is that Martin may have been killed as a result of road rage. The second involves a fellow motorcyclist’sapparentaffiliationwiththeMongols outlaw motorcycle gang and an ongoing feud between the Hell’s Angels andMongols. Police don’t know (or wont’ say) if Martin was a Mongol.

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