Christopher Bryan Ablett, 36, a reputed member of the Mongols motorcycle gang, is accused of killing 46-year-old Mark "Papa" Guardado outside a bar

Christopher Bryan Ablett, 36, a reputed member of the Mongols motorcycle gang, is accused of killing 46-year-old Mark "Papa" Guardado outside a bar in San Francisco's Mission District on Sept. 2, 2008.Federal murder charges have been filed against an alleged biker gang member accused of shooting to death the leader of the San Francisco chapter of the rival Hells Angels gang last year, making for a potential death penalty case.Ablett, of Modesto, was declared a fugitive shortly thereafter, and turned himself in to police in Oklahoma in October. He was later extradited back to San Francisco to stand trial on murder charges filed by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.Ablett was scheduled to begin a preliminary hearing in the state case this week, but a federal indictment handed down July 23 in San Francisco charged him with murder in the aid of racketeering and use of a firearm in a murder. Both charges are eligible for the death penalty.He is also charged with use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum punishment of life in prison.Ablett pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in federal court Wednesday and remains in federal custody.A detention hearing scheduled for today was postponed until Aug. 12, when Ablett will also be appointed a new attorney.
The Mongols gang operates across the United States and is believed to have 500 to 600 members in chapters throughout California, as well as in Oklahoma and several other states, Mexico and Canada, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.The indictment calls the gang "a criminal organization" engaging in murder, drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, money laundering and witness intimidation.State murder charges remain against Ablett, pending resolution of his federal case, according to the district attorney's office.

Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang member arrested

37-year-old man has become the latest alleged bikie charged in connection with a fatal brawl between rival gangs at Sydney airport. Leichhardt man presented himself at Glebe Police Station this morning and was taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged with riot and affray. Police allege he is a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang and that he was among those fighting with Hells Angels gang members at the airport's domestic terminal on March 22. Anthony Zervas, 29, was bashed and stabbed with scissors during the fight and died as a result. On Monday, the 37-year-old suspect was refused bail to appear in Newtown Local Court.

Hells Angel Ronaldo Lising had a substantial criminal record for assault and trafficking cocaine and crystal methamphetamine

The accused Ronaldo Lising, Randy Potts, John Virgil Punko and Jean Joseph Violette laughed and congratulated their lawyers after the verdict.Hells Angel Ronaldo Lising had a substantial criminal record for assault and trafficking cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, and was on bail when he was arrested on the two firearms offences now before the court.“Mr. Lising is a sophisticated criminal,” the prosecutor told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly.“He leads a criminal lifestyle,” Levitz added, reading out a wiretap statement in which Lising confided he was taking a risk, especially since he has children, but also had to weigh the rewards of his activities.The Crown asked the judge to impose a 30-month sentence, consecutive to the nine years and three months Lising is already serving.Four Hells Angels laughed and shook hands with their lawyers Monday after a jury acquitted them of committing crimes in association with, or for the benefit of, a criminal organization.While the jury returned nine guilty verdicts on a 28-charge indictment against the four members of the Hells Angels' East End chapter, the rejection of the criminal organization charge was a blow to the Crown.Had it succeeded, it would have been the first such conviction in B.C. against the Hells Angels, which has always maintained it is just a motorcycle club.
It was the second failed test case of the anti-gang law against the Hells Angels in B.C. arising from the same $10-million police investigation."It's unfortunate the jury wasn't able to conclude what judges in other parts of Canada found -- that the Hells Angels is a criminal organization," prosecutor Mark Levitz said outside court after the verdict.The jury did find the accused guilty of some extortion and weapons offences "and we're pleased to that extent," he said.The verdict, which followed three days of jury deliberations and a nine-month trial, was also a disappointment to police, who promised to pay $1 million to key witness Michael Plante, who worked as a police agent and infiltrated the East End chapter of the Hells Angels.

"We're grateful to live in a democracy and have a jury system," defence lawyer Bonnie Craig, one of three lawyers representing Potts,

said after the verdict.
Potts, Punko and Lising will remain in custody until sentencing July 22. Violette will remain on bail until he is sentenced Oct. 28 by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly.Potts was convicted of four offences: Having control of illegal grenades, possessing a loaded Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol, possessing an Intratec 9-mm semi-automatic pistol, a Ruger .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle and Voere bolt-action rifle and a .44 Ruger revolver.Lising was convicted of possessing two loaded prohibited firearms: A Rossi .357 Magnum revolver and a Walther PPK/S .380-calibre semi-automatic pistol.Violette was found guilty of the extortion of Glen Louie, a drug dealer who was beaten for using the Hells Angels name without permission. He was also convicted of the illegal possession of a loaded Beretta 20 semi-automatic pistol and a Ruger SP 101 revolver.Punko was convicted of counselling Plante to commit mischief by wilfully damaging property, and the unauthorized possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol.The two-year, $10-million police investigation that led to the just-concluded trial has also resulted in other criminal proceedings. The final one, a drug trial involving two Hells Angels members, begins Sept. 9.Last year, David Francis Giles, 58, a senior member of the East End chapter of the Hells Angels, was acquitted of cocaine trafficking in Kelowna but two co-accused were convicted.The Hells Angels now operate a clubhouse in the Okanagan city.

four Hells Angels currently on trial -- Ronaldo Lising, Randy Potts, John Punko and Jean Violette.

If any of the four Hells Angels currently on trial for criminal organization charges are convicted, it would be devastating for the biker gang, said the RCMP's top national security officer."It would be significant and it would be devastating for the B.C. Hells Angels," RCMP assistant commissioner Bob Paulson, who is charge of national security criminal investigations in Ottawa, said Friday."They are indeed a criminal organization and they need to be caught and punished for the bad things they do," he said.Four years ago, Paulson was the officer in charge of the police investigation in B.C. that led to the charges against the four Hells Angels currently on trial -- Ronaldo Lising, Randy Potts, John Punko and Jean Violette.