Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert at George Washington University, said that if a federal agent was seeking confidential information about a criminal defense, that would be an extraordinary transgression.. Mr. Santillan provided records from the cases to show he had been convicted of offenses including driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and disturbing the peace, and that he had been arrested, fined and put on probation. He's accused of being a confidential informant and working with the government during the Mongols' trial after his wife, Annie, shared a June 2021 recorded phone conversation with other members of the biker gang calling him a rat. ", "So, he gave me a heads up and that was it. told the court that she had checked an agency database containing information on confidential informants dating back to 2002, and that Mr. Santillan did not come up as one. Annie Santillan says she surreptitiously recorded the call because David's mistress had been harassing her. Black Dragon's Sunday Night Round Table discusses Insane Throttle's live interview with former Mongol's MC Nation's International President Lil' Dave. In their petition, the Mongols argue that Mr. Santillan could have been pressured to leak strategy and other information to the government as a result of lenient treatment the defense claimed he received during his brushes with the law. Judge Rejects Claim That Mongols Biker Club Leader Was a Rat, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/07/us/mongols-informant.html. One thing is for certain, you dont ever let people know your club affiliation over the internet. The biker group hopes to set aside a $500,000 racketeering conviction, alleging that its former president cooperated with the government during a trial. Two years after a federal jury deemed the notorious Mongols Motorcycle Club a criminal organization, attorneys for the club are asking a judge for a new trial accusing its former president of. He's accused of being a confidential informant and working with the government during the Mongols' trial after his wife,. The unusual legal imbroglio provides a rare glimpse into the hidden and volatile politics of the outlaw motorcycle club and the degree to which law enforcement and its targets may engage in limited cooperation when it is seen as mutually beneficial. All rights reserved. There's a new twist in a federal case already marked by murder and mayhem. Prosecutors convinced a jury in California that these crimes were not just the result of individual bikers behaving badly, but the work of an organized criminal enterprise that had participated in a campaign of mayhem. The big Mongol was the first to learn how much Jesse loved to fight, as the gear cut open a savage gash in the big man's face, eyebrow to chin. For more than two decades, federal law enforcement authorities pursued the Mongols, a notorious motorcycle club whose members had a long history of murder, assault, drug dealing and robbery. And he was tireless, Mr. DAlesio said. The explosive allegations come after a secretly recorded video. Insane Throttle Support Club Become a memberNow, Insane Throttle/Motorcycle Madhouse Radio YouTube and AudioDisclaimer, Meet the Insane Throttle Contributing Columnist James Hollywood Macecari, Motorcycle Clubs Riding Clubs and Associations Near Me Index &Listings, Our Policies here at Insane Throttle Publications. Prosecutors convinced a jury in California that these crimes were not just the result of individual bikers behaving badly, but the work of an organized criminal enterprise that had participated in a campaign of mayhem. Such an order would allow anyone to use the image. Desperate ideas explained, Memphis Police Department officers were impeding care of Tyre Nichols, EMT says | CNN, Marine Corps eliminating its elite scout sniper platoons. "All I wanted to do was to tarnish his image," says Annie Santillan. He and his wife, Annie, were estranged after he had an affair. Mr. Dulaney said that Mr. Santillan instituted new policies, like no more club-driven drug business, and made it mandatory that members had to have a motorcycle and things like a valid drivers license and registration and a job.. Mr. Santillan walking into a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, Calif., during the 2018 racketeering trial against the Mongols. Former Mongols Biker Club Leader Denies He Was Ever a Rat The Mongols Motorcycle Club allege that their former president David Santillan was a confidential informant during their RICO. The California motorcycle group had claimed that its former president, David Santillan, was a government informant. A petition for a new trial and reversal of the half-million-dollar fine, which is scheduled for an initial hearing on Monday in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif., claims that Mr. Santillan, 52, covertly cooperated for years with a special agent from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2018, the government scored a victory of sorts. 02:34 LIL Dave is all over the main stream, 04:10 Why did lil dave not want ciccone on the stand, 06:45 Our invitation for Ciccone to come on the show, 15:14 Mongol Lawyer thinks LIL DAVE WAS COMPROMISED AFRAID AND TURNED ON HIS CLUB. Hes in a tough position right now because of the wife. In other words, Ms. Santillan wrote in the text, he is a rat. In the video, played several times during the hearings, Ms. Santillan is talking to her husband on speakerphone when he informs her that Mr. Ciccone will be retiring. It wasnt the entire Mongols Nation that threw him under the bus but a few that fed creators who thought these people were representing the clubs voice. "This was a lifestyle, a culture, and a way of life. The #1 Biker News Website Since 2011-Covering up to minute biker news including Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Biker News Worldwide. So, she sent the recording along with a text message to two other members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club. Prosecutors convinced a jury in California that these crimes were not just the result of individual bikers behaving badly, but the work of an organized criminal enterprise that had participated in a campaign of mayhem. Then the conversation, which she was. David Santillan, the president of the Mongols, was ousted by the group after a video surfaced that implied he was being protected by a federal agent. The A.T.F. agent over the years because it helped avert trouble. She later recanted the assertion. and other law enforcement agencies have long gone after biker organizations by co-opting members as informants and infiltrating the groups with their own undercover agents. "You're my everything, you're my ride or die, you're my everything. The Mongols are now claiming that throughout their attempt to defend the club in the long-running criminal case, their own leader was secretly talking to the government. In other words, she wrote, he is a rat.. Thats what I meant by protect in the video.. Eyewitness News asked Santillan what he meant in the video about ATF agent Ciccone "protecting him." In one of them, according to their court papers, Mr. Santillan crashed his Mercedes in 2017 while driving impaired, damaging numerous cars parked on the street. Michael Tyrone Delaney for The New York Times. David Santillan was the president of the Mongols motorcycle club for nearly 13 years, until he was voted out of the club in July of 2021. Mr. Santillan said it was ridiculous to think that Mr. Ciccone smoothed things over for him. Mr. Santillan holding a photo of himself with fellow Mongols members. It became clear that Dave had betrayed the club, his oath and everything we hold sacred, the club said in a statement. The group has about 1,200 members in the United States, most of them Hispanic, and numerous chapters around the world. But the group that was once the most powerful biker organization in the West other than its archrivals, the Hells Angels, is returning to court next week, hoping to set aside the racketeering and conspiracy convictions based on what it says is new evidence about its previous leader, David Santillan. The present nationwide leaders of the Mongols stated they have been satisfied that the membership's former president, who managed the Mongols' protection workforce, had acted improperly. MONGOLS MC National President lil Dave the coward mongo mongol 328 subscribers Subscribe 706 231K views 4 years ago UPDATE: The only reason that Lil' Dave is still the President of. The Mongols have been fixtures on the biker scene since 1969, when the club was founded in Montebello, Calif. These registrations are something that need to be examined by the circuit, maybe the Supreme Court.. In other words, she wrote, he is a rat.. Annie tells Eyewitness News that her husband was "spinning out of control" and continued to cheat on her after the phone call. Its a new age now, TIk Toc, FB,IG they are all doing it and worse of all creators on YouTube. The Mongols Motorcycle Club was convicted in late 2018 of racketeering and conspiracy. Ethan Tate, Meghann M. Cuniff and Lauren Herstik contributed reporting. There could be a particular concern that the defense lawyer was unwittingly receiving directions from someone aligned with the government, he said. Anyone can read what you share. Mr. Santillan said he talked with the A.T.F. The current national leaders of the Mongols said they were convinced that the clubs former president, who controlled the Mongols defense team, had acted improperly. "He's retiring, he's retiring. The ultimate implications for society are paramount here, he said. Insane Throttle Support Club Become a memberNow, Insane Throttle/Motorcycle Madhouse Radio YouTube and AudioDisclaimer, Meet the Insane Throttle Contributing Columnist James Hollywood Macecari, Motorcycle Clubs Riding Clubs and Associations Near Me Index &Listings, Our Policies here at Insane Throttle Publications. Communications with Mr. Santillan, Mr. Ciccone said, were limited to such matters as ensuring public safety at Mongols events. T wo years after a federal jury deemed the notorious Mongols Motorcycle Club a criminal organization, attorneys for the club are asking a judge for a new trial accusing its former president of . He cant protect me, he told me, so we have to have an exit strategy, he told me, an apparently agitated Mr. Santillan said to her. In one of them, according to their court papers, Mr. Santillan crashed his Mercedes in 2017 while driving impaired, damaging numerous cars parked on the street. David Santillan was the president of the Mongols motorcycle club for. The current national leaders of the Mongols said they were convinced that the clubs former president, who controlled the Mongols defense team, had acted improperly. Clubs used to represent more than territory, it was about freedom and doing what you wanted. Now it's at a point where guns, instead of fist are used to settle things. "The relationship was just cordial, respectful relationship just to keep the peace between us and the club," Santillan said. Mongols National president lil Dave SNITCHES on own club, says "I have 1 year to plan exit strategy" @bimmerracer2010 Subscribe 774 Dislike 375 Share Would You Fly To Paris For A Baguette?. agent. David Santillan, the president of the Mongols, was ousted by the group after a video surfaced that implied he was being protected by a federal agent.CreditMichael Tyrone Delaney for The New York Times. Self-Improvement. The judge will most likely consider a series of procedural matters on Monday, lawyers said, with additional hearings expected before any final ruling. Mr. Santillan said it was ridiculous to think that Mr. Ciccone smoothed things over for him. This is the final statement on this because honestly it's mundane and boring. The club was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine in what prosecutors hoped would be a down payment on putting it out of business. Mongols Motorcycle Club Says Its Leader LIL DAVE Was an Informant For more than two decades, federal law enforcement authorities pursued the Mongols, a notorious motorcycle club whose members had a long history of murder, assault, drug dealing and robbery. The video was recorded in June of last year, when, Ms. Santillan said, she felt scorned because her husband had been unfaithful and after she had obtained a restraining order against him for what she claimed was physical abuse. Testimony will reconvene on Friday, July 22, at 7:30 a.m. LA County sheriff's recruits graduate months after Whittier crash, Highways into the San Bernardino Mountains are closed to drivers, LA County passes motion requiring retrofit of some buildings by 2033. But then he began to talk about now-retired ATF agent John Ciccone, the lead agent on the racketeering case. agent who infiltrated three biker clubs. A petition for a new trial and reversal of the half-million-dollar fine, which is scheduled for an initial hearing on Monday in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif., claims that Mr. Santillan, 52, covertly cooperated for years with a special agent from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Mongols are relying on an explosive video shared by Mr. Santillans wife, Annie Santillan, who, during a stretch when she was angry with her husband over his infidelity, had her daughter record a conversation in which he appeared to refer to protection he had received from the A.T.F. New features, smoother menu and backgrounds- PLUS!! In the video, Ms. Santillan was talking to her husband on speakerphone when he told her that Mr. Ciccone was retiring. Now the Mongols want a new trial and say their former president, David Santillan, was a confidential informant for the ATF. There could be a particular concern that the defense lawyer was unwittingly receiving directions from someone aligned with the government, he said. Former Mongols President David Santillan continued to testify. The judge will most likely consider a series of procedural matters on Monday, lawyers said, with additional hearings expected before any final ruling. He said their communication was for public safety and showed the Mongols that there is ATF presence at their events. However, Annie testified this week, saying she only did it to get back at her husband for cheating. A jury sided with the prosecution in 2019 and ordered the group to give up the emblem, but Judge David O. Carter rejected the verdict as an infringement on the clubs constitutional rights. You can now listen to full episodes of the podcast right from the app. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. That quest to seize the Mongols patch was part of a criminal case brought by the U.S. Attorneys Office in 2013 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. After testifying briefly in court Monday, Annie told Eyewitness News that her husband has never been a confidential informant and that she only sent the text message because she wanted to destroy him in the eyes of the Mongols. He was ready, he said, to get treatment for his drug and alcohol addictions. Both Mr. Santillan, a Mongols member for almost 25 years who was voted out of the club in July, and the agent, John Ciccone, who retired in December after 32 years at the A.T.F., deny that Mr. Santillan was acting as an informant during the trial, though Mr. Ciccones sworn declaration does not address whether Mr. Santillan had acted as a confidential informant in the past. Both Mr. Ciccone and the U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment on the motion beyond the government response filed in court, which said the petition for a new trial was replete with false and unsupported allegations and speculation.. In my opinion, the only reason the government brought this RICO case was to take another run at the patch, having failed each time in the past, said George L. Steele, a lawyer for the Mongols who is handling a separate appeal in the case. In the case that led to the racketeering conviction against the Mongols, Mr. Ciccone had acted as the case agent. That quest to seize the Mongols patch was part of a criminal case brought by the U.S. Attorneys Office in 2013 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. After this mistake I realized I went against everything i believed in regarding both sides of the story and said enough of this drama bullshit . Ruben Cavazos (born December 28, 1956) is an American criminal, and former International President of the Mongols Motorcycle Club.His autobiography, Honor Few, Fear None: The Life & Times of a Mongol, was published by HarperCollins in 2008.