An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas, charging 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. These fine folks are allegedly involved in a criminal enterprise that includes a little bit of everything—murder, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution, and witness intimidation.
The indictment accuses the defendants of engaging in a laundry list of illegal activities, including a conspiracy to commit racketeering (RICO) and carrying out violent crimes in furtherance of the gang, such as murder, attempted murder, and assault. The indictment alleges that the Bandidos are a self-proclaimed “outlaw” motorcycle gang, with a membership of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 in the U.S. Alone.
“Today’s indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets. Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, a violent turf war erupted in 2019 between the Bandidos and B*EAST, a rival outlaw motorcycle gang in the Houston area. As part of this conflict, the Bandidos’ national leadership allegedly issued a “smash on sight” order to carry out physical assaults, including murder, against B*EAST members. The turf war has led to gunfire exchanged on public roadways and in public venues with innocent civilians present, according to the charges.
| Name | Play name | Charges | Age | Home |
| John M. Pfeffer | Big John | Conspiracy to commit racketerring | 32 | Katy, Texas |
| Darvi Hinojosa | 10 Round | Conspiracy to commit racketeering | 35 | Katy, Texas |
| Bradley Rickenbacker | Dolla Bill | Conspiracy to commit racketeering | 37 | Katy, Texas |
| Michael H. Dunphy | Money Mike | Conspiracy to commit racketeering | 57 | Cleveland, Texas |
| Christopher Sanchez | Monster | Conspiracy to commit racketeering | 40 | Tomball, Texas |
| Brandon K. Hantz | Loco/Gun Drop | Conspiracy to commit racketeering | 33 | Crosby, Texas |
| David Vargas | Brake Check/First Time | Murder | 33 | Houston, Texas |
| Marky Baker | Pinche Geuro | Assault in aid of racketeering | 40 | Houston, Texas |
| Ronnie McCabe | Meathead | Assault in aid of racketeering | 56 | Houston, Texas |
| Jeremy Cox | JD | Assault in aid of racketeering | 37 | Houston, Texas |
| John Sblendorio | Tech9 | Conspiracy to commit murder | 54 | Houston, Texas |
| Sean G. Christison | Skinman | Possession with intent to distribute | 30 | Katy, Texas |
Pfeffer, Dunphy, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez are further charged with multiple counts of assault in aid of racketeering. Pfeffer, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez are also charged with using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, while Sanchez faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hantz is also charged with arson. If convicted, Pfeffer, Hinojosa, Rickenbacker, and Sanchez each face a maximum penalty of life in prison, while Dunphy and Hantz face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of their charges counts.
The indictment also charges David Vargas, also known as Brake Check and First Time, 33, of Houston, with murder in aid of racketeering; using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death; attempted murder in aid of racketeering; and using a firearm during and in relation to the attempted murders. All those charges relate to the killing of a rival and the shooting of two others. If convicted, Vargas faces a mandatory penalty of life in prison or the death penalty.
Further, Marky Baker, also known as Pinche Guero and Guero, 40; Ronnie McCabe, also known as Meathead, 56; and Jeremy Cox, also known as JD, 37, all of Houston; Roy Gomez, also known as Repo, 50, of Richmond, Texas; and Marcel Lett, 56, of Pearland, Texas, are charged along with Pfeffer and Rickenbacker with assault in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. These charges are in relation to an alleged assault and robbery that resulted in the death of a rival. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Hinojosa, along with John Sblendorio, also known as Tech9, 54, from Houston, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence connected to the shooting of a rival gang member. Additionally, Hinojosa faces charges for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and three counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, both Sblendorio and Hinojosa could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
In addition, Sean G. Christison, also known as Skinman, 30, of Katy, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
For all defendants, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States by employing a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Justice Department’s OCDETF webpage.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is the centerpiece of the Justice Department’s efforts to reduce violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program shown to effectively reduce violent crime. Through PSN, a wide range of stakeholders collaborate to identify the most urgent violent crime issues in the community and create comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN targets enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to achieve lasting crime reductions.
