Field Report: Bandidos MC

This past Saturday, Oct. 22, I was about halfway between San Antonio and Houston on I-10 east while en route to the latter city for a book signing when I saw a group of bikers coming up fast in the left lane. It was not until they were passing me that I realized they were part of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, one of our local Texas "one percenter" biker gangs. This caught my eye, as much as anything, because the Bandidos are one of the groups I cover in "Gangland Texas," one of the chapters in the "Mayhem" section of Texas Confidential.

There were about two dozen of them and they were moving at about 90 miles per hour and in close formation, two abreast and at tight intervals. Based on what I know of the Bandidos they were likely heavily armed and, if they were on a long run, strung out on methamphetamine or other stimulants. I can only assume that the police give them a wide berth and, if the only obviously illegal thing they are doing is travelling 20 miles over the speed limit simply leave them the hell alone. I can only imagine what would happen if a lone DPF trooper presumed to pull a group of them over. To call them either a club or a gang falls short of an accurate description and it would be much closer to the mark to characterize them as a paramilitary unit.

Established in San Leon, Texas, in 1966, the Bandidos is an outlaw motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate with an estimated 2,400 members in 90 chapters in the United States. It also has more than a hundred international chapters and numerous support clubs that it uses as fronts for both legal and illegal activities. Its symbol is an obese Mexican bandido brandishing a pistol and machete, and its slogan is “We are the people our parents warned us about.”

Historically, the Bandidos have been active in drug running, prostitution, enforcement, and contract killings, and are believed to have been involved in the attempted assassination of U.S. Attorney James Kerr in San Antonio (called for by drug kingpin Jimmy Chagra, who contracted the hit on federal judge John Wood III, which I cover in “The Crime of the Century,” a chapter in the “Murder” section of my book).

Founder Donald Eugene Chambers ended up serving 11 years in prison for his role in the 1972 murder in El Paso of two drug dealers who sold the Bandidos baking soda on the pretense that it was methamphetamine.

“First, the Bandidos and their old ladies tortured the brothers a few days,” journalist Gary Cartwright wrote in his book Dirty Dealing. “Then they hauled them to an isolated spot in the desert and made them dig a common grave,” where they executed them with a sawed-off shotgun and then buried them.

Violence remained an important part of the Bandidos’ way of life. On August 2004, gang member Richard Merla was convicted for stabbing to death International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Robert Quiroga.

“I don’t regret it,” Merla said. “I don’t have no remorse. I don’t feel sorry for him and his family. I don’t and I mean that.” This was a bit much even for the Bandidos, and they expelled Merla, who is currently serving his sentence at the Alfred Hughes unit in Gatesville and will likely be released in 2047.

In March 2006, the police in Austin announced that Bandidos were the primary suspects in the slaying of Anthony Benesh, a 44-year-old motorcyclist who had been trying to start a local Hells Angels chapter. He was assassinated with a high-powered rifle during the same weekend as the Bandidos were celebrating the fortieth anniversary of their founding.

Event Report: Lackland AFB Main Exchange (San Antonio, Texas)

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS -- Had a terrific book signing event at the Main Exchange here on Thursday, Oct. 20! I spent two hours here, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., chatting with customers, personalizing copies of the book for people who purchased them while I was there, and then signing the rest so that other customers can pick up an autographed copy.

Thanks to Manager Titus Stokes and his team for putting together this successful event (and for taking the pictures that appear with this report). I knew that the store management was top notch when I showed up and discovered a signing table loaded with about 100 copies of Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State and decorated with balloons -- yes, balloons, a first for me -- and a big poster of me in an especially adventurous pose.

Mr. Stokes expressed an interest in possibly having me come back to do another signing sometime in the foreseeable future and I told him I would be glad to do so and that perhaps sometime in December, when people are doing their Christmas shopping, would be ideal (I also added that I would be glad to do a presentation in addition to a signing if he had the resources to accommodate that). One way or the other, I had a great time at Lackland and am looking forward to the next opportunity to have an event there!

Breaking News: Lee Roy Suarez Arrested!

On Monday, Oct. 3, Mexico authorities arrested Lee Roy Suarez in the region of Monterrey, Mexico, more specifically the Agencia Federal De Investigacion of Mexico City, the Comal County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday, Oct. 4. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force sponsored by the U.S. Marshals Service has announced the arrest of Lee Roy Suarez (shown at right top and middle).

Suarez was wanted by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office for the homicide of Diego Saenz and aggravated assault of his brother, Vicente Saenz, on Nov. 20, 2004.

Authorities say Vicente was able to identify Lee Roy Suarez and his two friends who started the fight. The others, Christopher Andrew Ortiz and Adrian Guerrero, were quickly taken into custody and charged. Both were convicted, sentenced, and sent to prison. Up until this date, Suarez had remained a fugitive from justice.

The Comal County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Suarez was aired several times on the nationally syndicated television show, America’s Most Wanted. The countless man-hours finally paid off when members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force along with Mexican authorities, Agencia Federal De Investigacion of Mexico City, were able to track Suarez to San Nicholas, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Investigative efforts revealed that soon after the homicide, Suarez fled to Mexico, assumed another identity, was arrested on at least one occasion by Mexican authorities, but was released before his true identity could be determined.

Still, U.S. authorities continued to pursue Suarez. Suarez was again tracked to Mexico, this time to the region of Monterrey, Mexico. The U.S. Marshals contacted the Agencia Federal De Investigacion. Mexico authorities worked tirelessly throughout this investigation and based upon information shared by U.S. authorities were finally able to locate and apprehend Suarez, who now awaits extradition back to Texas.

"We commend and thank the Mexico authorities, more specifically the Agencia Federal De Investigacion of Mexico City," said Robert R. Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas (shown at right). "The cooperative efforts between our two countries clearly demonstrates our resolve to doggedly pursue dangerous criminal and bring them to justice. Furthermore, we hope this arrest brings some closure to the Saenz family and the Comal County community."

Agency members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force participating in this arrest are as follows: Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, San Antonio Independent School District – Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General, Texas State Attorney General’s Office – Sex Offender Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Breaking News: Inferno Erupts in Waxahachie!

WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS -- An immense industrial inferno broken out at around 10 a.m. CST at the Magnablend Inc. petrochemical plant in this town south of Dallas, threatening a nearby elementary school. The plant is located not far from highway I-35E.

At this writing the fire continues to grow and is spreading unchecked, running out from the plant along roads, railway tracks and around a string of tanker cars, and even along the surface of a stream. The flames are so intense that they have destroyed one of the firetrucks brought in by emergency personnel to battle the blaze.

A massive column of black, choking smoke can be seen for miles of the conflagration.

"This smoke is so thick, that the radar believes it's raining, that's how much stuff is in the air," said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. "This is dangerous, toxic smoke.

Donald Golden, the environmental health and safety manager for the plant, said that all the site's workers had been evacuated and were accounted for and safe. When pressed by CNN for information about what toxins might be contained in the billowing smoke his call was disconnected.

Waxahachie, a community of somewhat more than 21,000 people, is home to more than a half dozen major industrial plants in addition to Magnablend.

"Magnablend is a custom chemical blending, manufacturing and packaging company committed to customer service excellence," the company says on its website.

"Magnablend manufactures products based on each customer's own formulations and specifications, but can assist in the development of new formulations as well. We can assist in the formulation, laboratory, pilot and commercialization phase of any chemical blending project ... Magnablend manufactures custom chemicals for a variety of industries, including: oil field, agriculture, pet food and feed supplements, water treatment, construction and industrial cleaning."

"Magnablend's strategically located facilities allow us to manufacture, blend and package custom liquid or powder chemicals per your specifications quickly and efficiently. Magnablend's strict quality control systems, specialty equipment and processes, custom packaging and labeling, and variety of shipping and receiving methods ensure we will meet and exceed all of your custom chemical needs."

Magnablend has additional facilities in Alice, Texas; Everson, Pennsylvania; Williston, North Dakota; and Caspar, Wyoming.

Video: Magnablend Waxahachie Texas Fire fighting Fail

Event Report: Book Signing, Barnes & Noble Market Heights

HARKER HEIGHTS, TEXAS -- Had a great book signing for Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in the Market Heights shopping plaza near Fort Hood! Thanks to Community Relations Manager Fabbie Santiago not just for setting it up but also for making sure several of my other books were on hand, including Life in Civil War America, Fire & Ice, Ghosthunting Virginia, and Shipwrecks and Lost Treasure: Great Lakes.

One of the highpoints of this event was the opportunity to meet three other Texas authors who were also doing signings at the store, Shawn Henning (Michael Jackson: We Love You More), Peter Lawrence Jackson Jr. (Free the Poet), and H.G. Manning (Southern Legacy, Unwavering Duty). Great chatting with all three of them and very much hope we cross paths again at future events!

Another highpoint was seeing Tanja Cook, an old friend from Munich who lives in the area and took the time to come by and visit for awhile with me and my wife Diane.