Federal and state authorities in Texas arrested the three highest ranking leaders of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Organization.
National President Jeffrey Fay Pike, National Vice President John Xavier Portillo and National Sergeant at Arms Justin Cole Forster were arrested on federal racketeering and drug distribution charges.
The three men are accused of directing, sanctioning, approving and permitting other members of the organization to carry out racketeering acts including murder, attempted murder, assault, intimidation, extortion and drug trafficking in order to gain power and territory, the United States Attorney's Office says.
According to an indictment, beginning in 2013, the Bandidos declared it was "at war" with the Cossacks organization. The indictment specifically alleges a number of violent acts committed by Bandidos members, furthering the war. The indictment also alleges that in 2014, Portillo received methamphetamine from Colorado-area Bandidos members and that Forster was selling ounce quantities of methamphetamine.
"This joint investigation by the DEA, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Attorney's Office has led to the charging and arrest of the highest ranking leadership of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Organization. Of course, the defendants will have their day in court, but today's arrest have struck a significant blow to the Bandidos' criminal enterprise" United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin Jr. said.
Pike, 60, Portillo, 56, and Forster, 31, remain in federal custody. If convicted, they face up to life in federal prison.