There isn’t just one type of Bandido.
That much became clear over the past two weeks as 14 current and former members of the Bandido and Mascareros motorcycle gangs appeared in federal courtrooms in Houston, where judges decided whether they would be detained for the foreseeable future.
The detention hearings offered a glimpse into the mysterious and often cryptic world of criminal motorcycle gangs, which authorities say operate under a strict set of bylaws and follow a paramilitary structure that demands obedience to orders.
The lengthy hearings also confirmed that members of such gangs don’t all fit a single mold. At least four of the defendants have military backgrounds, including a former Marine who served overseas at least ten times, according to his attorney. While some have extensive criminal histories, others have maintained clean records. Additionally, one former Bandido has publicly expressed remorse for his affiliation with the group. All have pleaded not guilty.
Last month, federal authorities announced that the 14 men were responsible for a range of crimes, including murder, assault, robbery, and arson. Authorities said the crimes were committed over a three-year period as part of a violent turf war between the Bandidos and their rivals. Many of the charges fall under the seldom used Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which lawmakers passed in 1970 to combat organized crime.
Altogether, a superseding indictment details six separate incidents in which people associated with groups that the Bandidos view as rivals were threatened, robbed, assaulted or killed. The motorcycle club is perhaps best known in Texas for a 2015 shootout with rival Cossacks in Waco outside a Twin Peaks restaurant, which left nine people dead and 20 injured.
The sprawling case is expected to take months, possibly over a year, to resolve. Some defense attorneys have already expressed their intention to bring the allegations to trial. Below are the 14 men charged, listed in the order they appear in the superseding indictment, which is filed when prosecutors seek to introduce new charges or add defendants to an existing case. The first indictment was filed in October after two Bandidos were charged with attempted murder.
John Pfeffer
According to authorities, John Pfeffer is the president of the Bandidos’ “Welcome to Hell” chapter. Officials say the Katy-based chapter was founded in 2021 specifically to target its rivals, particularly the Brothers East motorcycle club (B*EAST). A former support group, Brothers East separated from the Bandidos, igniting what officials describe as an ongoing turf war.
Prior to becoming a Bandido, Pfeffer was involved with the Mascareros, a different support group. While with them, he served as a sergeant-at-arms, responsible for enforcing rules and maintaining discipline within a chapter. Law enforcement officials say that joining a support club is often the first step toward becoming a Bandido.
Pfeffer is one of six defendants charged with racketeering conspiracy under RICO. Under the law, prosecutors can target alleged leaders of a criminal enterprise for crimes committed by their associates, even if those leaders did not directly participate in the offenses.
According to the indictment, Pfeffer was personally involved in two incidents over the past five years, one of which led to the death of a Brothers East motorcyclist. On the night of Sept. 26, 2020, Adam Burns was fatally shot while being attacked by a group of six Bandidos, including Pfeffer, according to prosecutors. Authorities believe that Pfeffer’s co-defendant, Roy Gomez, was responsible for the shooting, although he is not currently charged with murder in this federal case.
Authorities say Pfeffer, 32, initiated the confrontation with Burns by punching him in the face. During the altercation outside the Hawg Stop Bar & Grill in northeast Harris County, Pfeffer was shot in the arm and subsequently treated at a hospital for his injuries. According to officials, Houston police found a pistol magazine among his belongings at the hospital.
The second incident in which Pfeffer is accused of directly participating occurred on Feb.23, 2023, at a bar called Bimboz near Tomball. Upset that members of the Greybeard Motorcycle Club had allegedly reached what officials described as a peace agreement with Brothers East, the Bandidos summoned 14 Greybeards to the bar.
According to officials, the Bandidos were holding a regional chapter meeting, also known as a “card game,” with about 70 Bandidos in attendance. In contrast to the Bandidos, the Greybeards are not recognized by federal and state authorities as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG).
While at the bar, authorities say Pfeffer questioned a Greybeard about his loyalty to the Bandidos before attacking him. The Greybeards later informed authorities that Pfeffer and others robbed them of their cuts, which are denim or leather jackets. According to officials, taking a jacket from a member of a motorcycle club is viewed as the ultimate sign of disrespect.
U.S. Magistrate Richard Bennett denied bail to Pfeffer last week, saying that no measures could ensure public safety if he were released on bond. According to his court-appointed attorney, Quintin Tate Williams, Pfeffer served in the Navy from 2011 to 2015, with his final duty assignment on the USS Princeton.
Michael H. Dunphy
According to authorities, Michael Dunphy is a former high-ranking Bandido who left the organization in 2023 after ten years. Before his departure, he served as a national sergeant at arms, making him the highest-ranking Bandido in the Houston area. In that role, he supervised 17 other Bandido chapters.
Dunphy, 57, also faces a racketeering conspiracy charge due to his former leadership position. While in the role of national sergeant at arms, he allegedly instructed Houston-area Bandidos to “smash on sight” any Brothers East members they encountered sometime in 2020. Authorities contend that Bandidos may face repercussions from fellow members for failing to comply with an order issued by a superior.
Dunphy, whom authorities say was known as “Big John” within the Bandidos, is also accused of participating in the alleged assault and robbery of the 14 Greybeards at Bimboz in 2023. The indictment further claims he directed prospective Bandidos, who are essentially probationary members of the club, to “put on their gloves” and rough up any Greybeards who attempted to leave the bar. Authorities said that some of the Greybeards sustained broken bones and concussions as a result of the altercation.
Dunphy, a tattoo artist, was granted bail last month after U.S. Magistrate Yvonne Ho said she could not find “clear and convincing” evidence that he had issued a direct order to attack the Greybeards or that his departure from the Bandidos indicated he would rejoin or be involved with the organization. Dunphy is represented by Ali Fazel, a court-appointed attorney.
Darvi Hinojosa
Darvi Hinojosa was among the first defendants charged in the federal racketeering case, alongside John Sblendorio. Hinojosa, whom officials say goes by “10 Round” and served as the sergeant at arms for the “Welcome to Hell” chapter, is accused of participating in the alleged assault and robbery of the Greybeards. He is also charged with attempted murder.
On the night of June 2, 2023, authorities say Hinojosa helped orchestrate the near-fatal shooting of a Brothers East member. According to the indictment, Hinojosa received a call from a prospective Bandido who informed him that two BEAST members were at Winters Bar in Pasadena. Hinojosa then maintained contact with the prospect to receive updates on the movements of the BEAST members and called other Bandidos, including Sblendorio, as stated in the indictment.
After the two Brothers East members had left the bar, a white Ford F-150 pulled up beside one of them, according to authorities. While Sblendorio was driving, another Bandido opened fire, hitting the motorcyclist seven times, officials said. Authorities say the shooter was Stephen Alms, who pleaded guilty last year to racketeering conspiracy and felony possession of a firearm in a different federal case.
Hinojosa, 35, also faces charges of racketeering conspiracy due to his alleged leadership role, as well as charges of possessing and selling cocaine. He recently hired Charles Flood to represent him, replacing Joyce Raynor. Last year, he was denied bail by Ho.
John Sblendorio
John Sblendorio is accused of driving the truck that pulled up next to the Brothers East motorcyclist, who was shot seven times, allegedly by Alms. Authorities also consider him a high-ranking member of the Bandido gang. At the time of his arrest, Sblendorio was serving as the secretary of the Bandidos’ central chapter in Houston, according to officials.
It’s unclear how long the 54-year-old man has been a Bandido, but authorities say he was previously demoted to a prospective Bandido for reasons that remain unclear. Joshua Lyons, an investigator with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General and an FBI task force officer, said despite the demotion, Sblendorio chose to stay with the organization, demonstrating his commitment.
“We’ve had people say prospecting is hell on Earth,” Lyons said at Sblendorio’s detention hearing in October.
Like Hinojosa, Sblendorio — known as “Tech9 ”— hired his own attorney after initially being assigned one. Court records show that Jed Ross Silverman replaced Anthony Troiani in December.
Bradley Rickenbacker
Authorities consider Bradley Rickenbacker a high-ranking Bandido. According to Lyons, he most recently served as the secretary-treasurer of the “Welcome to Hell” chapter. Like Pfeffer, authorities say he is a former Mascarero who later became a Bandido.
Rickenbacker, 37, faces a racketeering conspiracy charge due to his alleged leadership role and is accused of being involved in the 2020 altercation that resulted in Adam Burns’s death and the 2023 alleged assault on the Greybeards.
During the 2020 incident at the Hawg Stop Bar & Grill, authorities claim that Rickenbacker prevented a Brothers East member from helping Burns when he was allegedly assaulted.
Meanwhile, in the days after the altercation with the Greybeards, authorities say the Bandidos circulated a picture showcasing the cuts they had stolen from the Greybeards. Lyons said a motorcycle seen in the picture belonged to Rickenbacker, who reportedly went by “Dolla Bill.”
According to his LinkedIn page, Rickenbacker – who was denied bail by Ho – served in the Navy from 2006 to 2012 and has mainly worked as an elevator repairman since then. His court-appointed attorney is Michael DeGuerin, the son of renowned criminal defense attorney Mike DeGuerin.
David Vargas
David Vargas is facing charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Michael Zimbrich, identified by authorities as a Brothers East motorcyclist. The 26-year-old was shot and killed on an Interstate 10 feeder road near Jacinto City in Harris County on November 2, 2021.
Two other alleged Brothers East members, Demarius Moore and Kevin Cicero, were also injured in the shooting, which occurred shortly after the three motorcyclists left a Cajun and Creole restaurant called Blue Bayou Cafe on the East Freeway.
Vargas was arrested by Houston police and charged with murder by Harris County prosecutors shortly after the incident. However, the charge was dismissed last year due to a missing witness, according to court records. Authorities said in court this week that the missing witness was Kevin Cicero.
Bennett, the federal magistrate judge, denied Vargas bail last week despite arguments from his attorney, John Wakefield. He said that Vargas had never missed a court date or violated the conditions of his release while on bond for the state murder charge. Prosecutors countered that although Harris County prosecutors had never filed a motion to revoke his bond, Vargas was seen associating with the Bandidos, which directly violated his bond conditions.
Wakefield also argued that Vargas, who authorities say is known by the nicknames “Brake Check” and “First Time,” will be unable to receive necessary medical care while in pretrial detention. Wakefield stated that Vargas lost part of his right leg in a hit-and-run accident involving a motorcyclist and requires physical therapy that he cannot access while detained. Bennett requested that Wakefield provide documentation to support the claim.
According to Wakefield, the 33-year-old is an Army veteran who completed two tours in Afghanistan and was honorably discharged after being injured in an IED explosion. Wakefield also said Vargas is a recipient of the Bronze Star and has received one Purple Heart.
Roy Gomez
As previously mentioned, authorities hold Roy Gomez responsible for the fatal shooting of Adam Burns at the Hawg Stop Bar & Grill in September 2020. However, he has not been charged with murder in this federal racketeering case, and it remains uncertain whether he will be. Instead, Gomez faces assault and firearm charges related to the alleged assault on Burns, who, along with two other Brothers East members, was attending the bar’s annual beauty contest, “Miss Hawg Stop.”
Shortly after the incident, prosecutors in Harris County charged Gomez with murder. However, that charge was dismissed last week due to the federal indictment, according to court records.
In advocating for Gomez’s release until the federal case is resolved, court-appointed attorney David Adler said none of the shell casings found at the scene had Gomez’s fingerprints on them. He also argued that a firearm discovered at the location did not bear Gomez’s fingerprints.
Based on the collected shell casings, authorities believe three guns were fired that night. A complaint filed in the state’s case against Gomez indicates that Burns is believed to have fired four shots while being assaulted. According to the complaint, he was ultimately shot six times, including five times in the back.
Authorities say Gomez, a tow truck driver known by the nickname “Repo,” is a current member of the Bandidos and most recently held the position of sergeant-at-arms for the organization’s Central Houston chapter. Prior to that, officials say he held the position of road captain in the Fort Bend County chapter. Gomez is also reportedly associated with an “SS Crew,” named for the Nazi-style lightning bolts worn on their vests, and he has an “SS” tattoo, according to Lyons. Lyons described the crew as a group of enforcers involved in violent matters.
Gomez, 50, was denied bail by Ho last week after the federal magistrate judge determined that no condition or combination of conditions could reasonably ensure his court appearance or guarantee community safety, highlighting a criminal history that dates back to 2015. Gomez’s most recent conviction from 2016 shows that he served two days in the Harris County Jail for punching a man in the face.
When Gomez was initially arrested for Burns’s murder in 2020, Lyons said authorities found a sticky note with the names of three Brothers East members along with their license plates, though it remains unclear whether Burns’s name was included. Lyons mentioned that authorities suspect the Bandidos sometimes place hits on Brothers East members.
Christopher Sanchez
Christopher M. Sanchez, 40, faces charges related to the alleged assault on the Greybeards and for reportedly brandishing a gun at members of another motorcycle group and assaulting and robbing them.
On August 17, 2023, Sanchez and other Bandidos arrived at the Harley Davidson dealership on Interstate 45 South in The Woodlands, where two members of the Wheels of Soul motorcycle gang — considered an outlaw group by authorities — were already on the premises.
Lyons testified that Sanchez threatened the two motorcyclists with a gun, warning he would “blast” them if they didn’t leave. According to Lyons, Sanchez and several other unidentified Bandidos then assaulted the motorcyclists and stole their cuts.
Lyons said the incident was notable because Harley-Davidson dealerships are viewed as neutral territory, and members of one-percenter clubs typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The term “One Percent” originates from a statement made by a former president of the American Motorcyclist Association, who remarked that 99% of motorcyclists are law-abiding, whereas the remaining 1% are outlaws.
Sanchez is also facing a racketeering conspiracy charge because of his alleged leadership role within the Bandidos. Authorities say he joined the group in 2002 and most recently served as the vice president of its Splendora chapter.
James Ray Alston, whom Sanchez hired as his attorney shortly after his arrest last month, provided Ho with what he described as more than two dozen character letters attesting to Sanchez’s reputation in the Conroe area. In addition to owning a tattoo shop called Monster’s Ink in the city, Alston said Sanchez is involved with at least three nonprofit organizations, including Cleaning Up Conroe.
However, Judge Ho ruled that Sanchez, whose nickname is reportedly “Monster,” should remain in detention until the federal case is resolved. She noted that while state law permitted Sanchez to possess a firearm in his home because five years had elapsed since his felony conviction, firearms found in his home during his arrest last month violated federal law prohibiting felons from possessing firearms. She also said that authorities had observed Sanchez with what appeared to be a firearm on his waist outside his tattoo shop in 2022.
State records show that Sanchez has at least two felony convictions in Harris County. In 2004, he was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend and holding a knife to her throat, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence. In 2020, Sanchez was arrested for assaulting his ex-wife’s brother; however, the felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal.
Marky Baker
Marky Baker, 40, is facing charges related to the 2020 altercation at the Hawg Stop Bar & Grill that led to the death of Adam Burns. According to authorities, Baker was among the Bandidos who responded to a call for reinforcements after his co-defendant, Ronnie McCabe, made at least seven calls about Burns and the two other motorcyclists.
At the time of the alleged assault, Baker served as the president of the Bandidos’ Baytown chapter, known as the Slaughterhouse chapter, and was initially the highest-ranking Bandido present at the bar. In that role, he interacted with Burns, who was the highest-ranking member of Brothers East, according to officials.
The two men reached what Lyons described as an understanding, and the two groups agreed to remain separate. However, as Lyons testified last week, circumstances changed when more Bandidos, including Pfeffer, arrived about an hour later.
Lyons testified that Pfeffer spoke with Burns and then punched him in the face. Other Bandidos, including Baker, surrounded the motorcyclist, kicking and beating him. However, Baker’s court-appointed attorney, James Stafford, contends that Baker rushed over to the altercation in an effort to break it up.
Despite this argument, Ho denied bail for Baker, referencing a criminal history dating back to 2002 and an admission from Baker’s wife that he had hidden his methamphetamine use from her.
Court records indicate that Baker has at least two felony convictions in Harris County, including possession of drugs and unlawfully carrying a firearm. In 2006, he was arrested in Harris County for murder related to the shooting of a man outside a club, but the charge was dismissed after he was convicted in a separate case for assaulting a public servant.
According to Lyons, Baker was allegedly expelled from the Bandidos in 2021 for stealing from the organization. Since 2016, he has been involved in two motorcycle accidents, one of which resulted in a 32-day coma and necessitated extensive physical therapy, Baker’s wife testified. While with the Bandidos, Baker was reportedly nicknamed “Guero,” according to officials.
Ronnie McCabe
Ronnie McCabe, also known as “Meathead,” is accused of being involved in the assault on Burns and the two other alleged Brothers East members, specifically by making at least seven phone calls to fellow Bandidos. Lyons, the federal task force officer, further claimed that McCabe chased one of the motorcyclists into the Hawg Stop Bar & Grill but came outside when he couldn’t locate him and participated in the assault on the third Brothers East member.
In a separate incident for which he faces no charges, McCabe is alleged to have displayed a holstered firearm at motorcyclists he viewed as rivals at a Love’s gas station in May 2024. Lyons described the situation as a “stare down” and stated that it resulted in shots being fired, although he did not specify who was believed to have pulled a gun.
Ho, the federal magistrate judge, mentioned the incident in her ruling denying bail for McCabe, who, according to Lyons, did not open his door when law enforcement officials arrived at his home to arrest him. The police ultimately had to break down the door to take the 56-year-old into custody, as testified by Lyons.
According to Lyons, McCabe, a pilot car driver, is believed to still be a Bandido. He recently held the position of sergeant at arms for the organization’s Cloverleaf chapter. His court-appointed attorney is Brian Marc Roberts.
Brandon Hantz
A two-time Survivor contestant, Brandon Hantz, faces charges related to his alleged assault on the Greybeards in 2023, as well as an arson incident in Montgomery County. Authorities claim he guarded the entrance of Bimboz to prevent Greybeards from leaving and set fire to the County Line Ice House in retaliation for the bar hosting what officials described as a “fight night” for the Brothers East.
Witnesses and confidential informants helped law enforcement uncover Hantz’s involvement in both incidents. They also utilized cell phone location data obtained from nearby towers.
During cross-examination, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chantelle Ward, who has served as an FBI task force officer for three years, acknowledged that authorities have no evidence to suggest that the Greybeards attempted to pass by Hantz or that he instigated any confrontation. She also noted that video surveillance footage from the night the County Line Ice House was set ablaze does not show the occupants of a truck suspected of starting the fire.
Of the 14 men indicted in this case, Hantz likely spent the least time with the Bandidos — only about a year or two. His wife testified that he had previously been involved with a motorcycle ministry, which she described as regularly attending church and providing moral support at funerals for families of deceased motorcyclists.
Erika Hantz testified that her 33-year-old husband was initially attracted to the Bandidos because of their perceived camaraderie. However, about a year after joining, he became disillusioned with the organization and left on bad terms in July, according to Ward.
Attorney Scott Gommels, hired by Brandon Hantz sometime last year, testified in court that a “green light” had been placed on Hantz and that multiple death threats have been made against him and his family. A green light is issued to former Bandidos when they leave the organization under unfavorable conditions, according to Ward.
Hantz’s use of social media likely exacerbated the death threats, Gommels suggested. He has participated in several interviews and created numerous TikTok videos to discuss his time with the Bandidos, expressing regret for joining the organization.
Hantz, identified by authorities as “Gun Drop” and “Loco,” was apparently aware that state and federal officials were investigating him. Erika Hantz testified that if not for the impending threat of an indictment, she, her husband, and their four children would have left the state.
Judge Ho noted Erika Hantz’s testimony in her ruling allowing the former Bandido to be released on an unsecured $50,000 bond without GPS monitoring. “That strongly negates that you would pose a risk of nonappearance,” she stated regarding the decision not to flee.
Erika Hantz was accompanied in court last month by a dozen family members and friends of her husband, half of whom were from their church. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Black, who is prosecuting the case alongside Kelly Zenon-Matos, argued that Brandon Hantz was skilled at concealing his activities during his time with the Bandidos.
However, Judge Ho remarked that Hantz, who does not appear to have a criminal record, seemed to have “admirable and deep support” within his community and had taken steps to improve his situation.
Sean Christison
Little is known about Sean Christison, who authorities refer to as “Skinman.” Compared to his co-defendants, he faces the least serious charges: selling cocaine and possessing a .380 caliber handgun while doing so.
According to court records, Christison, 30, did not have a detention hearing or one held publicly. He hired Christopher Downey for representation and was released by Bennett on an unsecured bond of $50,000, along with GPS monitoring and home confinement. Downey did not respond to a request for an interview regarding his client, who seems to have no criminal history.
Marcel Lett
Marcel Lett, a former Marine and junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instructor at a high school in the Fort Bend County Independent School District, was released last month on an unsecured $75,000 bond with GPS monitoring.
Lett, 56, faces charges arising from the 2020 altercation at Hawg Stop, specifically for kicking Adam Burns while he was on the ground. His court-appointed attorney, Richard Kuniansky, does not condone Lett’s actions but argues that the federal assault charges are excessive for the offense.
“Should he have done that? No,” Kuniansky said regarding Lett’s role in kicking Burns. “But that’s a Class A misdemeanor in state court. They’re charging him with felonies that could put him in jail for decades.”
Prosecutors contend that a Bandido who avoids violence faces repercussions, arguing that the Bandidos viewed themselves as being at war with the Brothers East during the altercation.
According to Lyons, Lett has had a complicated relationship with the Bandidos as a Black man. Lyons testified that Black people are not allowed to join the organization. Lett was reportedly involved in the 2020 altercation as a Mascarero, a support group for the Bandidos. As a Marine, Lett deployed overseas ten times and spent 23 years with the Corps, according to Kuniansky.
Jeremy Cox
Like Christison, not much is known about Jeremy Cox, mainly because he did not have a public detention hearing, according to court records. Released on a $50,000 unsecured bond by U.S. Magistrate Dena Palermo, the 37-year-old is accused of being involved in the alleged assault and death of Adam Burns at the Hawg Stop Bar & Grill in 2020. He has retained Mark Bennett to represent him.
Monroe Trombly is a public safety reporter for the Landing covering federal courts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston. Find him @monroetrombly on X, or reach him directly at monroe@houstonlanding.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
