The lengthy and complex federal prosecution in Nevada targeting current and former members of the Vagos Biker Gang has come to an end. These individuals, hailing from California and other states, were accused of operating an international criminal enterprise and the murder of a Hells Angels leader during a casino shootout in 2011.
U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro in Las Vegas granted a government request on Monday to dismiss all charges against the remaining 11 defendants. This decision effectively concludes the federal racketeering case that began in September 2016. The case’s foundation was significantly weakened after the Nevada Supreme Court overturned the state court conviction of a Vagos member who admitted to being the shooter in the 2011 incident.
Defense attorney Kathleen Bliss commented on the prosecution’s case, stating, “Witnesses recanted, and their racketeering theory was flawed.” She further criticized the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and federal prosecutors, adding, “Yet they pressed on and gambled with the lives of these men.”
The trial involved eight men and was marked by complications from its inception with jury selection in July. A pivotal moment occurred in September when the prosecution’s key witness admitted to fabricating a crucial part of his testimony – the existence of a kill order that led to the fatal casino shooting in Sparks.
In February, the jury acquitted all defendants on all charges. Among those acquitted were Pastor Fausto Palafox, the former international president of the Vagos Motorcycle Club, which originated in San Bernardino in the 1960s, and Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, who acknowledged being the Vagos gunman.
Joshua Tomsheck, the lawyer representing defendant Paul Voll, who was part of a second group awaiting trial, declared, “This case was precipitated on lies.” Tomsheck hailed the outcome as a complete vindication for his client and the other defendants.
Attorney Chris Rasmussen highlighted the ordeal of his client, John Siemer, who spent three years in federal custody after pleading not guilty, only to never face trial. Rasmussen described the dismissal as “a momentous ending to a long saga” for Siemer and the other accused Vagos biker gang members.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich stated that his office decided to drop the case “in the interest of justice,” suggesting a recognition of the case’s inherent weaknesses following the witness’s recantation and the initial acquittals.
The charges against the defendants carried severe potential penalties. Conviction under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) could have resulted in life imprisonment. The indictment alleged a conspiracy dating back to 2005, involving drug trafficking and violent crimes, including murders, robberies, extortion, and kidnappings across multiple states: California, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah, and Nevada.
However, not all legal issues are resolved for everyone involved. Jeremy Halgat, another defendant linked to the Vagos biker gang case, is still scheduled for trial in June on separate drug and weapon charges dating back to 2013. His attorney, Richard Tanasi, declined to comment on the recent developments.
Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks retains the option to prosecute Gonzalez again in state court. However, such an attempt would likely face significant legal challenges based on double-jeopardy grounds following Gonzalez’s federal acquittal. Gonzalez’s attorney, Michael Kennedy, defended his client’s actions, asserting that Gonzalez “saved lives by stopping two Hells Angels from shooting others.” Kennedy argued, “Shooting to stop two active shooters is not murder, and the Vagos MC is a motorcycle club and not a RICO enterprise,” underscoring the defense’s consistent position throughout the legal proceedings.
The individuals who had charges dismissed on Monday include Johnny Russell Neddenriep, Bert Wayne Davisson, Mathew Keith Dunlap, Andrew Eloy Lozano, Victor Adam Ramirez, James Walter Henderson, Robert Alan Coleman, Voll, Siemer, Edward Claridan Chelby, and John Chrispin Juarez. These individuals, when initially indicted in 2017, were identified as residents of various locations, including Reno, Sparks, Fontana, Las Vegas, Henderson, Pasadena, Baldwin Park, Kailua, and Moreno Valley.
Further details from the initial indictment revealed that Pastor Fausto Palafox was identified as residing in Beaumont, Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez from San Francisco, and Jeremy Halgat from North Las Vegas. Defendants previously acquitted in February included Albert Lopez, Albert Perez, James Gillespie, Bradley Campos, Cesar Morales, and Diego Garcia, representing locations like Canyon Country, Santa Barbara, Granada Hills, Alhambra, and San Jose.
Los Angeles Daily News contributed to this story.
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