10 arrested locally after motorcycle gang investigation

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DENVER - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) served arrest warrants in a multi-state illegal gun investigation that included 10 arrests in the metro area Tuesday morning.

The arrests are part of an investigation into the Mongols Motorcycle Gang.

The Colorado investigation discovered suspects violated federal gun and drug laws, according to the ATF. In other states, members of the motorcycle gang are accused in a federal racketeering indictment of murder and attempted murder.

Six search warrants were also served in the Denver area, according to U.S. Attorney Troy Eid.

9Wants to Know was there as investigators searched a house and a truck in Englewood and a business near Platte River Drive and Evans Avenue.

Amongst the six locations searched, federal agents confiscated a shotgun, a stolen .25 caliber pistol, a Colt .38 revolver, and a Taurus .380 pistol and ammunition, according to Eid's office.

In a federal court indictment, ATF agents say leaders of the Mongols group threatened another group member in Colorado by putting a large knife in plain view while questioning him about conversations with police.

The indictment states, "When the witness asked what the knife was for and whether they were going to cut him, [a gang leader] replied that they would have if he had talked to the police."

Those charged in the Colorado indictment unsealed Tuesday include: Benjamine Maestas, Leonard Martinez, Anthony Shippley, Ruben Bravo, John Bertolucci, Ernest Salas, Edward Montano, Cary Weinman, Adrian Sisneros, Michael Hee and Wayne Ordakowski.

"These types of investigations are part of the ATF's overall enforcement strategy, to target the most violent offenders within our communities," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Richard Chase.

Federal agents started serving search warrants and making arrests in the Denver area at 6 a.m.

Eid's office says the Mongols are known to be an outlaw motorcycle gang from California. He says there are as many as 600 members nationwide.

"Many of the Mongols were allegedly recruited from some of the most violent street gangs," according to Eid.

The Metro Gang Task Force partnered with the ATF on the Denver-area investigation and arrests.

The Associated Press reports in all, agents served 110 federal arrest warrants in Colorado, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Ohio.

"We think the Mongols were involved in a lot of different crimes and see an end to that with the arrests today," said ATF spokesman Mike Hoffman.

He said four ATF members were fully-inducted members of the motorcycle gang during the investigation, according to the Associated Press.

Among those arrested was the Mongols' former national president Ruben Cavazos, according to the Associated Press.

If you have more information on this story, e-mail investigative reporter Jace Larson at jace.larson@9news.com.