Alleged San Jose Vagos Leader Among 23 Indicted In Multi-State Federal Investigation

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – A man alleged to be the leader of the San Jose Chapter of the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, as well as two other San Jose residents, were among 22 people arrested following what federal authorities told Patch was a "a long-term criminal probe."

A 45-page federal indictment was unsealed Friday afternoon, accusing those indicted of a conspiracy involving racketeering, murder, robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault, among other charges, according to federal authorities. Warrants related to the case were served not only in San Jose but in Las Vegas, Reno, Beaumont, Pasadena, Moreno Valley, Fontana, Hollister, Granada Hills, Alhambra, Canyon Country and Oahu, Hawaii.

Arrested from the Bay Area were: Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, aka “Romeo,” of San Francisco, whom authorities allege is the "sergeant-at-arms" of the San Jose Vagos Chapter; Cesar Vaquera Morales, aka “C,” 49, of San Jose; and Diego Chavez Garcia, aka “Boo,” 34, of San Jose.

The indictment alleges that the Vagos OMG is a highly organized criminal organization which adheres to a hierarchical chain of command, and whose members conspired to enrich the gang; to preserve, protect and enhance the power of the gang; and to keep victims in fear of the gang through acts and threats of violence.

Among other alleged crimes, a 12-count superseding indictment charges eight Vagos OMG leaders and members, including alleged San Jose Chapter leader Gonzalez, on suspicion of the Sept. 23, 2011 murder of a member of the rival Hells Angels gang at the Nugget Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada.

“The murder committed by Ernesto Gonzalez in the Nugget Casino was always a part of a larger criminal conspiracy, which has been made even more clear today,” said Washoe County Nevada District Attorney Christopher Hicks. “Prosecuting Gonzalez for his actions has been a priority for my office. As such, we welcomed the opportunity to work closely with federal authorities in this RICO investigation that not only seeks to hold Gonzales accountable but the entire involved Vagos criminal enterprise.”

In an email Friday to Patch, Department of Homeland Security Spokeswoman Lori Haley confirmed: "Special agents and tactical personnel with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and officers from a number of other state and local agencies executed federal search and arrest warrants at multiple locations throughout the Los Angeles area and in other jurisdictions this morning in conjunction with a long-term criminal probe."

"It’s a significant investigation," she added.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, the 23 defendants charged for their alleged roles in the federal racketeering conspiracy and violent crimes in aid of racketeering offenses are: Pastor Fausto Palafox, a/k/a “Ta Ta,” 53, of Beaumont, Calif.; Albert Lopez, a/k/a “Al,” 39, of Canyon Country, Calif.; Albert Benjamin Perez, a/k/a “Dragon Man,” 57, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; James Patrick Gillespie, a/k/a “Jimbo,” 68, of Granada Hills, Calif.; Andrew Eloy Lozano, a/k/a “Hulk,” 42, of Fontana, Calif.; Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, a/k/a “Romeo,” of San Francisco; Victor Adam Ramirez, a/k/a “Slick,” 35, of Las Vegas; James Walter Henderson, a/k/a “CJ,” 64, of Henderson, Nev.; Steven Earl Carr, a/k/a “Big Steve,” 43, of Las Vegas; Robert Allen Coleman, a/k/a “Mayhem,” 59, of Las Vegas; Jeremy John Halgat, a/k/a “Maniak,” 39, of North Las Vegas, Nev.; Paul Jeffrey Voll, a/k/a “Shyster,” 52, of Pasadena, Calif.; John Joseph Siemer, a/k/a “Rocky,” 60, of Baldwin Park, Calif.; Bradley Michael Campos, a/k/a “Candy Man,” 50, of Alhambra, Calif.; Cesar Vaquera Morales, a/k/a “C,” 49, of San Jose, Calif.; Diego Chavez Garcia, a/k/a “Boo,” 34, of San Jose, Calif.; Edward Claridan Chelby, a/k/a “Recon,” 57, of Kailua, Hawaii; Johnny Russell Neddenriep, a/k/a “Johnny Bolts,” 51, of Reno, Nev.; Darin Kieth Grieder, a/k/a “Midget,” 48, of Sparks, Nev.; Bert Wayne Davisson, a/k/a “Flash,” 45, of Sparks, Nev.; Mathew Keith Dunlap, a/k/a “Big Mat,” 46, of Sparks, Nev., and John Chrispin Juarez, a/k/a “Quicky,” 69, of Moreno Valley, Calif.

Patch editor Renee Schiavone contributed to this report.

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