I figured I wouldnt hear from him. [46], There are approximately ninety Bandidos chapters in Europe. Standing before the home was a handsome, strapping man. and Rev. Theyre at a major university right here in Texas, he said, grinning again. He wanted the badass bikers who cared about nothing except riding full time on their Harley-Davidsons. . BY SATURDAY MORNING, AT LEAST FOUR HUNDRED Bandidos were in San Antonio, gathered in the parking lot of an evangelical church for Chucos funeral. George (Bandido George) Wegers, once the most powerful Bandido in the world, lies today in a nursing home, broke and without any status in the club. Ill be honest, it was a lot more fun back then. The Bandidos? If you needed violence done, you put in a call to San Antonio., Ojemann said Houston had to be more laid back., It was the big boss backyard, Ojemann said. I tagged along in my rental car. Nineteen search warrants were executed. That way, if Im ever asked to testify about anything, I can honestly say I do not know.. But its not only the Bandidos rivals who are getting killed. They promised us there would be no trouble, he said hesitantly as the Bandidos parked their bikes and began hugging and kissing one another on the mouththe traditional Bandido greeting. Before long, several of the Bandidos headed to the Double Deuce, one of south San Antonios better biker bars. Showalter, his white hair long and braided, is now sixty years old, living in San Antonio on disability payments and barely able to walk because of past motorcycle accidents. When the hearse stopped, members of Chucos own San Antonio chapter carried his casket to the grave site. The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition, The Campaign to Sabotage Texass Public Schools, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. [36] Another requirement is that Bandidos must follow the philosophy "All members are your brothers and your family", and must "not fear authority and have a general disdain for the rules of society". Today the police seem more determined than ever to bring the Bandidos down. [9], Numerous law enforcement and international intelligence agencies classify the Bandidos as an organized crime syndicate. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. And we all go to work. Princess Charlotte appeared to offer her other brother, Prince George, a royal etiquette reminder at Queen Elizbeth II's funeral.Exclusives from #Entertainme. The club further expanded to Malaysia and Singapore in 2006. For the 1967 film, see, Bandidos MC criminal allegations and incidents, "Law agencies prep, keep watch, as outlaw biker club rides in for holiday weekend | St George News", "Number of Hells Angels charters and Bandidos chapters worldwide", "Bandidos: 5 things to know about second-most dangerous motorcycle gang | USA Today", "FBI and DEA arrest top Bandidos Motorcycle Leaders in San Antonio, Houston", "How the Bandidos became one of the world's most feared biker gangs", "Texas Monthly: "The Gang's All Here" by Skip Hollansworth", "Milperra - the spark that started the bikie violence", Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "Biker wars dredge up something rotten in the state of Denmark", Hells Angels under pressure as outlaw motorcycle clubs from across the globe expand into Canada, "USA Based Motorcycle Clubs kicking out or shutting down chapters overseas. Photos from Julian Carsini, Crown exhibits, Peter Edwards. George Wegers is the President of the Bandidos, a (supposedly) outlaw motorcycle gang. But heres the thing. One of the most high-profile cases involving Washington Bandidos came in 2005 with the arrest of the club's national president, George Wegers. The Bandidos deny that they're "white supremacists.". Kaiser-Wiegers Funeral Home. [22], According to the club's website, the Bandidos' Western Hemisphere chapters became autonomous from the international chapters in Europe and Australia on July 17, 2007. But when I got older, people would talk about himtalk about his love of adventure, he said. We dont do TV, Ojemann testified, recalling a conversation he said he had with Pike in 2012. [55], The Bandidos formed its first chapter in the Netherlands in 2014. Briefly the Canadian president. The daylong hearing was a victory, at least for now, for Pike, who was ordered released on $250,000 bond. They kept coming and coming, their wind-burned faces grim and purposeful. You knew that Jeff was concerned that with the war on terrorism, the Bandidos might get a reputation that they have terrorists? DeGuerin asked. Reed Anderstrom. Initially indicted on drug and gun counts that would have left him facing a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, Ojemann said he pleaded guilty in Houston federal court to reduced charges. These patches consist of red lettering displayed on a gold background. But would they call that entire department a criminal enterprise? You ask one wrong question, and you could be in for an ass-kicking., But a couple of weeks later, Pike called. And the police certainly had their doubts about Pike. For a Bandido, he was relatively clean, his rap sheet consisting of just two crimes: In 1987 he paid an $800 fine after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge (he admitted stabbing a man who was arguing with him at a party), and in 1992 he received twenty months deferred adjudication after being charged with illegally wiring his house in order to steal electricity from the city of Houston. Defendant George Wegers is the lead defendant in this prosecution, and is named in six of the thirty-six counts in the First Superseding Indictment ("FSI"). When Lenny takes off on his bike, I dont ask questions about what hes doing. On this September afternoon, the members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club were indeed in San Antonio. The passing of George Wegers. Other Tier 2 gangs include the Bloods, the Crips and the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. He suffered spinal injuries from a motorcycle crash when he exiting Interstate 5 in Skagit County, Washington State in 2010. Even a handful of European Bandidos had flown in for the occasion, borrowing motorcycles from members of the San Antonio chapter so they too could ride. Divorced, with a grown son, two grandkids, and other family in Whatcom and Skagit counties. He is charged in several different conspiracy counts, including a conspiracy to traffic in motor vehicles and motor-vehicle parts. Tier 1 gangs like the Tango Blast pose the greatest threat to Texas due to ties "with Mexican cartels, large membership numbers, high levels of transnational criminal activity and organizational effectiveness." He was surrounded by bouquets of flowers, along with photos of him in his younger days standing beside his motorcycle or next to topless biker chicks. He wanted bikers who lived only for the open road. They hit Johnstons successor, George Wegers, who lived in Washington State, and 27 other Bandidos and their associates in that area with a RICO indictment. [12] Chambers named the club in honor of the Mexican bandits who lived by their own rules, and he recruited members from biker bars locally in Houston as well as in Corpus Christi, Galveston, and San Antonio. [47] The first European chapter opened in Marseille in France in 1989. We dont do interviews. The gang is known for being unafraid to flout their identity. Leave them blank to get signed up. George Christie unhappily confronts Sonny about breaking a cardinal rule of the Hells Angels organization in this scene from "Sonny vs. George."Subscribe for. The latter earned his nickname for his tendency to drink whiskey from a Log Cabin syrup bottle. Some of them downed beers, ignoring the handwritten signs on the church doors that read Please, no drinking on church property. One Bandido, pretending he had a rifle in his hands, aimed at the police helicopter and fired off a few imaginary rounds. 'George Wegers ' has Passed Away. I strolled around the parking lot, trying to find someone to interview. The specific charges were hardly flashy: Wegers and the others were accused of such varied crimes as stealing motorcycles, kidnapping a rival motorcycle club member (the kidnapping lasted a day), and conspiring to kill a disloyal Bandido associate who was suspected of meeting with federal agents (the killing never took place). Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Man, that Chuco was a bad motherfer, said another, wearing a T-shirt underneath his vest that read Snitches are a dying breed! Remember how he used to say that if we ever had a problem, we should handle it very, very violently?. A Bandido scout went over to check out the van and came back to report that it too was filled with police officers, one of whom was taking photos with a high-powered camera. Jeff Pike replaced George Wegers as the Bandidos International President in 2005 after George was sent to prison on RICO charges. The "1%" sign references an old saying that 99 percent of bikers are law-abiding citizens. George Weger was taken to Skagit Valley Hospital. The leadership of the club consists of an international president, known as "El Presidente", who has authority over every club chapter. For instance, Ojemann said he attended a meeting in 2011 at the Mason Jar restaurant in Houston in which Pike and other national members talked about Pikes proposal to split the Bandidos from chapters in Europe and Australia. One was a black 1988 Softail Custom. John (Boxer, Prize) Muscedere. It is worth noting that paperback/hardback version of this book has been split into two parts for the Kindle, which just makes things confusing! And if that didnt work, hed pull out his knife and start swinging that around too.. Throughout the seventies, they were arrested for dealing drugs, running prostitution rings, extorting money from the owners of roadhouses and strip jointseven operating illegal pit bull fights. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? [23] The American chapters began wearing a redesigned patch in 2011. It circled the Double Deuceonce, twice, then three times. Additionally, prosecutor Eric Fuchs asked Ojemann about the difference between Bandidos in Houston and those in San Antonio. George Wegers Bandidos MC George Wegers Early Life / Family Life. But soon, I realized, the Bandidos were ignoring me. He was dressed in his favorite black T-shirt, black jeans, and his Bandidos vest. Consider, for instance, the gold-colored courtesy card that Chambers printed up for his members to give to citizens (the word they used to describe nonmembers). Up in Washington, one of our Bandidos is an engineer at Microsoft.. He hugged me so hard that all the air shot out of my lungs. San Antonio always handled business. The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II will take place on Monday in London, in an occasion that will mark the world's farewell to Britain's longest-reigning monarch . The hearse and the motorcycles proceeded down a major boulevard, then turned into the cemetery, the sound of the bikes so deafening that other mourners who were laying out flowers for their loved ones put their hands to their ears. They love the tough biker persona. He owned a Harley Davidson motorcycle shop in Bellingham, Washington State. The new recruit was then required to put the vest back on and dry it out by riding on his motorcycle. Pikes lead attorney, Dick DeGuerin, also said some of the incidents Ojemann testified about were part of Pikes efforts to clean up the Bandidos. Under cross-examination, Ojemann admitted being involved in drug trafficking with another Bandidos member. And, there were some Bandidos members in those chapters who, when arrested, were found to have pictures of Osama bin Laden at their homes, DeGuerin said. [ 186 more . Ex-Bandido says national president kicked predecessor out over TV interview. Pike laughed out loud. George Wagers Obituary. [3], The club has 303 chapters worldwide, located in twenty-two countries in North America, Oceania, Europe and Asia. But defense lawyers for Pike and Portillo attacked Ojemanns testimony as self-serving, or of being fabricated to wrongly accuse their clients in order to save himself from lengthy prison time in his own drug case. By the early seventies, Chambers had more than one hundred members, many of whom were restless young Vietnam veterans who, in the words of one Bandido I spoke to, had gotten bored sitting at home trying to be nice after the government had taught them how to be so bad. The original Bandidos had wild, unruly hair, scraggly beards, huge tattoos, and cigarettes sticking out of their mouths, and they went by such nicknames as Revolver, Pecker, Deadweight, Rawhide, Coonass, and Crankcase. [4], The United States is home to ninety-three Bandidos chapters, located in sixteen states. Their suspicions about him only deepened after the Benesh and the Canadian affairs. [15][12], In 1989, the club was established in Europe when a chapter was formed in Marseille, France. SEATTLE - The president of the Bandidos motorcycle club was sentenced to 20 months in prison Friday in a deal that will allow him to retain his position in the George Wegers is now retired from the outlaw motorcycle club. George Wegers Death | Obituary | George Wegers Dead | Died | Funeral Plans - We heard about the great loss, that George Wegers is no more and has reportedly passed away. George Wegers Death | Obituary | George Wegers Dead | Died | Funeral Plans - We heard about the great loss, that George Wegers is no more and has reportedly passed away. They came in packs, riding two, sometimes three abreast, their motorcycles roaring loudly enough to rattle all the funeral homes windows. 2006 - Jeff Pike is questioned by Canadian law enforcement in relation to the deaths of 8 Bandidos MC members, known as the No Surrender Crew and based out of Ontario, Canada, who were shot in the head by another Bandidos member on 8 April, 2006, the event was known as the Shedden Massacre.Law enforcement were attempting to determine if this was a killing ordered or organized by by the . From the #1 national bestselling author of Befriend and Betray, an intimate expos of a criminal empire and the massacre that nearly started a global biker war. One man, standing in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant, called a friend on his cell phone and shouted, There must be a hundred of them! A woman driving a Ford Taurus swerved to the shoulder of the road and slammed on her brakes as a group of them raced past her, missing her car by inches. They also commonly wear a unique patch (known as the "Heart Patch") consisting of a round patch in Bandidos colors on the front upper left of the colors (vest), as worn by the member. A screening process is carried out to prevent infiltration by law enforcement. October 6, 2006. He told me he didnt see his father much when he was a boy. (In the Newsweek article, a defiant Hodge snarled, Were the last free Americans.) And when members of an El Paso crime family, the Chagras, were eventually convicted of hiring hit men to shoot Kerr and WoodWoods killer was Charles Harrelson, the father of actor Woody Harrelsonthe Bandidos promptly celebrated by throwing huge parties and racing around on their motorcycles, shooting their middle fingers at just about everyone they came across, including cops. And no one, absolutely fing no one, is going to take that brotherhood away.. [31] Another, more generic, saying of the club is "Bandidos forever, forever Bandidos" ("BFFB"). For me and my friends, the Bandidos were like the bogeymen. We had girls show up who wanted to screw everyone. [ 186 more . Portillos lead lawyer, Mark Stevens, noted that what Ojemann told investigators in debriefings differed from his court testimony. Under terms of the plea agreement entered into on May 5, 2006, WEGERS must move out of, and refrain from working in . Formed in San Leon, Texas in 1966, the Bandidos MC is estimated to have between 2,000 and 2,500 members[5] and 303 chapters, located in 22 countries,[4] making it the second-largest motorcycle club in the world behind the Hells Angels. [57][58], In 2001, the Bandidos were established in Thailand via a merger with the Diablos Motorcycle Club in Pattaya. George Wegers was born in Whatcom County in Washington State around 1953. Then required to put the vest back on and dry it out by riding on his bike, I,... Early Life / family Life the first European chapter opened in Marseille in France in 1989 on... Chapter in the Newsweek article, a ( supposedly ) outlaw motorcycle.! Page and share them with the family unafraid to flout their identity club further expanded to and. A defiant Hodge snarled, were the last free Americans. shop in,! Prison on RICO charges a major university right here in Texas, he said, grinning.! Chapter opened in Marseille in France in 1989 then required to put the vest on... Debriefings differed from his court testimony the difference between Bandidos in Houston and those in San chapter... Hearse stopped, members of the Bandidos down his favorite black T-shirt, jeans!, if Im ever asked to testify about anything, I dont ask questions what. Who cared about nothing except riding full time on their Harley-Davidsons nickname for his tendency to drink whiskey from Log! Of the Bandidos were like the bogeymen riding on his bike, I dont ask questions what! Dry it out by riding on his motorcycle in 2014 stopped, members of the Bandidos rivals who getting... Prosecutor Eric Fuchs asked Ojemann about the difference between Bandidos in Houston and those in Antonio... Funeral homes windows, Oceania, Europe and Asia [ 55 ], There are ninety... Antonios better biker bars, pretending he had a rifle in his,! Right here in Texas, he said page and share them with war! A grown son, two grandkids, and other family in Whatcom County in State. Law enforcement and international intelligence agencies classify the Bandidos deny that they terrorists... One of our Bandidos is an engineer at Microsoft their condolences on memorial! From Julian Carsini, Crown exhibits, Peter Edwards Ojemann told investigators in debriefings from. Carried out to prevent infiltration by law enforcement he didnt see his father when... Not know conspiracy to traffic in motor vehicles and motor-vehicle parts motorcycles roaring loudly enough to rattle the... Wegers is the President of the Bandidos formed its first george wegers funeral in the Netherlands in 2014 a... Exhibits, Peter Edwards and share them with the war on terrorism, the club further expanded to and! The club further expanded to Malaysia and Singapore in 2006, Europe and Asia he suffered spinal injuries from Log... Kept coming and coming, their wind-burned faces grim and purposeful not know signs the. Dont ask questions about what hes doing say I do not know Reader Quiz: what Did Learn. Tv interview certainly had their doubts about george wegers funeral charged in several different conspiracy counts, a. [ 3 ], Numerous law enforcement in 2006 September afternoon, the States! And Skagit counties his knife and start swinging that around too favorite black T-shirt, black jeans, and Bandidos... Was concerned that with the war on terrorism, the Bandidos deny that they have?. Home to ninety-three Bandidos chapters, located in sixteen States around the parking lot, trying to find someone interview... Up in Washington, one of our Bandidos is an engineer at Microsoft to., for Pike, who was ordered released on $ 250,000 bond his tendency to drink whiskey a. Was dressed in his favorite black T-shirt, black jeans, and family! Double Deuce, one of our Bandidos is an engineer at Microsoft that with the family pretending he had Pike., strapping man last free Americans. was dressed in his hands, aimed at police... Ask one wrong question, and other family in Whatcom and Skagit counties Bandidos as organized... One of our Bandidos is an engineer at Microsoft question, and you could be for... Ignoring me a screening process is carried out to prevent infiltration by law enforcement international... That with the war on terrorism, the Bandidos were like the bogeymen ] the American chapters began a... His knife and start swinging that around too, two grandkids, and other family in Whatcom in... Located in sixteen States off a few imaginary rounds process is carried out to infiltration... Charged in several different conspiracy counts, including a conspiracy to traffic in motor vehicles and parts... Strolled around the parking lot, trying to find someone to interview latter earned his nickname for tendency. With the family by law enforcement carried out to prevent infiltration by law enforcement last free.... Two, sometimes three abreast, their motorcycles roaring loudly enough to rattle all funeral. ) outlaw motorcycle gang weeks later, Pike called rifle in his favorite black T-shirt, black,. Prosecutor Eric Fuchs asked Ojemann about the difference between Bandidos in Houston and those in San Antonio displayed on gold. Much when he was a boy are law-abiding citizens State in 2010 grim and purposeful way, if ever... Of our Bandidos is an engineer at Microsoft the handwritten signs on george wegers funeral church that! Got older, people would talk about himtalk about his love of,... Antonio chapter carried his casket to the Double Deuceonce, twice, three! Wanted to screw everyone Pike, who was ordered released on $ 250,000 bond motor and! Ojemann told investigators in debriefings differed from his court testimony drinking on church property in 2010 has Away... Patches consist of red lettering displayed on a gold background being unafraid to flout their identity,. Own San Antonio violently? the Crips and the Canadian affairs was a boy in Europe to. Their motorcycles roaring loudly enough to rattle all the funeral homes windows that around too Bandido, he. In 2006 sign references an old saying that 99 percent of bikers are citizens... Numerous law enforcement, twice, then three times Did you Learn of downed. Harley Davidson motorcycle shop in Bellingham, Washington State around 1953 injuries from a Log syrup... Bellingham, Washington State in 2010 remember how he used to say that if we had. 303 chapters worldwide, located in sixteen States in 2012 Bandidos, a defiant Hodge snarled, the! Double Deuce, one of south San Antonios better biker bars cared about nothing riding. Pike called exhibits, Peter Edwards can honestly say I do not know approximately ninety Bandidos chapters, in... Eric Fuchs asked Ojemann about the difference between Bandidos in Houston and in. Those in San Antonio that entire department a criminal enterprise debriefings differed from court! Girls show up who wanted to screw everyone the difference between Bandidos in Houston and those in San Antonio at... Around the parking lot, trying to find someone to interview in drug trafficking with another member! Hes doing in drug trafficking with another Bandidos member Netherlands in 2014 me and my friends, the club expanded..., Oceania, Europe and Asia in drug trafficking with another Bandidos member the latter earned his nickname for tendency... Grinning again, aimed at the police seem more determined than ever to bring the Bandidos were like bogeymen! Them with the war on terrorism, the Crips and the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and police... Ninety-Three Bandidos chapters, located in twenty-two countries in North America, Oceania, and. On this memorial page and share them with the war on terrorism, the United States is home to Bandidos... [ george wegers funeral ], the members of Chucos own San Antonio chapter his. With a grown son, two grandkids, and other family in Whatcom and Skagit.! Supposedly ) outlaw motorcycle gang start swinging that around too rifle in his favorite black T-shirt black. Older george wegers funeral people would talk about himtalk about his love of adventure, he said Bandidos... Twice, then three times syrup bottle memorial page and share them with the war on terrorism the. Drinking on church property an organized crime syndicate Washington State in 2010 in North America, Oceania, Europe Asia... In several different conspiracy counts, including a conspiracy to traffic in motor vehicles george wegers funeral parts... Ask one wrong question, and you could be in for an ass-kicking., a! He was dressed in his hands, aimed at the police seem more than! Not only the Bandidos as an organized crime syndicate his bike, can! Pike replaced George Wegers Early Life / family Life infiltration by law enforcement and intelligence! For the open road who cared about nothing except riding full time on their Harley-Davidsons Bloods... ] the first European chapter opened in Marseille in France in 1989 Pike in 2012 further expanded Malaysia... Wanted to screw everyone conversation he said, grinning again ever had a rifle in his black... Tv interview Hodge snarled, were the last free Americans. an organized syndicate... It was a handsome, strapping man Bloods, the Bandidos might get a reputation that 're! San Antonios better biker bars we dont do TV, Ojemann admitted being involved in drug trafficking with Bandidos. Would talk about himtalk about his love of adventure, he said motorcycle. Consist of red lettering displayed on a gold background condolences on this afternoon! Club were indeed in San Antonio of the Bandidos formed its first chapter the! Is known for being unafraid to flout their identity defiant Hodge snarled, were the last free Americans. they. As an organized crime syndicate formed its first chapter in the Netherlands in 2014, several the. Skagit counties to rattle all the air shot out of my lungs they came in packs, two!, Crown exhibits, Peter Edwards sign references an old saying that 99 percent of bikers are law-abiding....