The Mongols Motorcycle Club, also known as the Mongol Brotherhood or Mongol Nation, is an international outlaw motorcycle club. Originally formed in Montebello, California, in 1969, the club is headquartered in Southern California.Organized Crime in California – 2004 Annual Report to the Legislature - California Department of Justice Although the Mongols' main presence lies in California, they also have chapters nationwide in 19 states and internationally in 29 countries. Law enforcement officials estimate approximately 3,000 "full-patched" members are in the club. The Mongols are the 3rd -largest outlaw biker club in the world, after the Hells Angels and the Outlaws.Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Deputy John Williams, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (2008)
The Mongols are designated an organized crime group by the United States Department of Justice, the Australian Federal Police, and Europol.Mongols OMCG targeted as part of National Day of Action Australian Federal Police (4 December 2020) Fear of turf war between Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in Europe Europol (21 December 2012)
History The Mongols Motorcycle Club was formed in Montebello, California on December 5, 1969. The club had ten founding members, the majority of whom were Vietnam veterans.Al Aceves: Hard Core No More Rod Thomas, Christian Broadcasting Network Former gang members speak in Oroville about changing their lives Marin Independent Journal (August 16, 2010) The first national president of the Mongols, Louis Costello, named the club in honor of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire.Marks of Mayhem & Murder: When a Few Bad "Mongols" Spoil the Bunch, Should the Go Bunch, Should the Government Seize a Motorcycle Association Association's Registered Trademark? (January 1, 2009) The Mongols' original sergeant-at-arms, Alfonso "Big Al" Aceves, served three tours of duty in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. The club's founders were reportedly a group of Hispanic bikers from East Los Angeles who formed the Mongols as an alternative to the Hells Angels, which did not allow non-White members at the time.Judge refuses to strip Mongols biker club of trademarked logo Joel Ribin, Los Angeles Times (February 28, 2019) Rules that members of the Mongols bike gang have to follow Karen Corday, Grunge.com (May 19, 2022) The Mongols voted to become an "outlaw" club in 1974.Once-goodtime club turned to violence Daily Breeze (October 21, 2008) The Mongols' membership increased as the club began recruiting inmates, particularly from the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. Within ten years of its foundation, the club had established chapters in Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, San Diego and Bakersfield.Lift the curtain of secrecy surrounding Mongols motorcycle club and you discover the outlaw way, and much more David Whiting, The Mercury News (June 20, 2019)
The Mongols became involved in a long-term feud with the Hells Angels beginning in 1977.Tension between rival Hells Angels, Mongols biker gangs on the rise Denis C. Thereault, The Mercury News (September 19, 2008) Mongols vs. Hells Angels LA Weekly (January 13, 2011) The Hells Angels ceded control of much of Southern California to the Mongols during the 1980s on the condition that the Angels would in turn hold rights over Northern California.
In 2000, the Mongols had a membership of around 200, with 21 chapters across the United States.National gang sweep includes Oklahoma The Oklahoman (May 21, 2000) By 2019, the club had expanded across the U.S. and into a dozen countries internationally.Mongols MC El Paso chapter president accused in biker assault arrested in raid Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times (April 29, 2019)
Insignia
The Mongols' insignia depicts a caricature of a Mongol warrior – reported to be Genghis KhanThe Infamous ‘One Percenters’: A Review of the Criminality, Subculture, and Structure of Modern Biker Gangs Danielle Shields (2012) – sporting a topknot, bell-bottoms and sunglasses, and riding a motorcycle.42 Arrested in Motorcycle Gang Raids Mitchell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times (May 20, 2000) This image is trademarked and registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.United States of America v. Mongol Nation casetext.com (September 16, 2015) The Mongols' logo, along with additional patches, is worn on members' "colors". Other patches worn include those which indicate a member's rank within the club, the location of the chapter to which he belongs, club slogans, and "1%" emblems. Mongols patches utilize a black-and-white color scheme.The Mongol Motorcycle Gang and the Mexican Mafia Richard Valdemar, PoliceMag.com (January 21, 2008) The Mongols' back patches, or "rockers", are awarded to the club's members in three steps; firstly the bottom "rocker" which indicates the location of the chapter, followed by the club logo, and finally the top "rocker", reading the name of the club and indicating full membership. According to law enforcement, a skull and crossbones patch worn by a Mongol indicates that the member has killed on behalf of the club. Additionally, a tattoo reading "RFFN" (an acronym of "respect few, fear none") is allegedly only permitted to be worn by a Mongol who has committed an act of violence against a member of the Hells Angels.Expert links shooting suspects to Mongols motorcycle gang Times-Standard (December 17, 2008) Mongols members are also known to wear Las Vegas Raiders-branded clothing in order to circumvent bans on gang colors.Mongols OMCG members have started wearing NFL colours to get around tough bikie laws Alexandria Utting and Jacob Miley, Gold Coast Bulletin (27 November 2020)
The club's mottos include: "Live Mongol, die Mongol" ("LMDM"); "Mongols forever, forever Mongols ("MFFM"); and "Respect few, fear none" ("RFFN"). Other names for the club include the Mongol Nation and Mongol Brotherhood. The Mongols' fight song goes as follows:
Bans on club logos After a long legal battle with the Department of Justice and ATF over the Mongols' MC patch, the Mongols won the rights to continued use and ownership of their patch.
In a 2015 racketeering case in Los Angeles, the Federal government tried and failed to use civil forfeiture laws to seize all rights to the Mongols emblems and patches in order to forbid members from wearing them. On September 16, 2015, Federal District Judge David O. Carter dismissed the case.
In January 2019, a California jury had ruled that federal prosecutors could strip the motorcycle club of its brand. An attempt to do so was rebuffed by the Central District of California Court, concluding that the seizure of the trademark violated the First Amendment right to free expression and the Eighth Amendment protection from excessive punishment.
On 24 April 2020, a law came into effect in New Zealand banning Mongols members from wearing club insignia inside government buildings, including courts, Work and Income offices, libraries, schools, public hospitals, some sports grounds and public swimming pools.Mongols gang patch banned from being worn at government buildings Melanie Earley, Stuff (24 April 2020) Minister of Police Stuart Nash stated: "Gang insignia is intended to intimidate the public and other gangs. It is designed to claim ownership of a physical space and to encourage the recruitment of gang prospects. We will not allow the Mongols MC to advertise its presence in this way".Mongols bikies gang banned from wearing patches in Government buildings Ben Leahy, The New Zealand Herald (24 April 2020)
Membership and organization
Only men are permitted to join the Mongols. In the United States, the club permits Hispanic, Asian Americans, Native American and White males as members. African Americans are excluded from joining.The Evolution and Influence of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs in the American West Anthony M. Saia, University of Idaho (May 2015) In Australia, members are predominantly of Anglo-Celtic, Greek, Maori, and Middle Eastern descent.Wie zijn de Mongols? de Volkskrant (8 April 2016) Bikie gangs involve crime and fierce brotherhood for inductees. But what happens if you want to get out? Mahmood Fazal, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (18 December 2020) The Mongols in Germany recruit primarily from the Arab and Kurdish communities in the country.Bremen verbietet Mongols Der Spiegel (21 May 2011) Prospective members are required to own a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and must serve a probationary period as a "prospect" before being initiated into the club. Mongols members are required to pay a monthly fee and attend chapter meetings. The club's bylaws are contained in a 70-page constitution, which also features a list of ten commandments. The Mongols' constitution forbids drug use and dictates that any member convicted of a serious crime faces immediate expulsion from the club.Inside the bikie clubhouse that's a smoke-free zone with exercise and anti-ageing machines Yoni Bashan, The Daily Telegraph (19 October 2013)
The Mongols organization is headed by a "mother chapter", which is composed of national officers and led by a national president. The "mother chapter" exercises authority over all Mongols chapters and members, and is responsible for collecting and reviewing applications, collecting fees and resolving disputes within the club. The Mongols' international headquarters is located in Southern California,Mongols motorcycle club can keep logo, appeals court rules Pasadena Star-News (January 6, 2023) formerly based in MontebelloOutlaw Motorcycle Gangs Deputy John Williams, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (2008) and Commerce, and currently in West Covina. Each club chapter pays financial tribute to the "mother chapter" and is governed by an officer corps, consisting of a president, vice president, sergeant-at-arms and a secretary/treasurer. According to prosecutors, the dues collected by the "mother chapter" are used to fund and promote the club and to pay for the legal expenses of members. The club denies, however, that it covers any members' legal fees. The Mongols have an estimated membership of between 4,000 and 5,000 internationally, with chapters in 29 countries; Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United States.
The Mongols oversee the Raiders MC, an affiliated official support club.Mongols starting to flex their muscles in Victoria Nino Bucci and Rania Spooner, The Age (4 August 2014) How an outlaw motorcycle gang took root in Clarksville Stephanie Ingersoll, The Leaf-Chronicle (January 30, 2018) Mongols biker gang member killed Pinellas associate believed to be informant, sheriff says Natalie Weber, Tampa Bay Times (August 29, 2022)
Criminal allegations and incidents
The Mongols are considered by law enforcement agencies in the United States to be among the "big five" motorcycle gangs, along with the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Pagans.Outlaw Bikers Surge Again ABC News (January 7, 2006) In Australia, the Mongols are included among the "big six", with the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the Comanchero, the Finks and the Rebels.By their colours: Outlaw motorcycle gang identification guide Australian Broadcasting Corporation (October 4, 2013) Victoria bikies: all you need to know about Big Six outlaw gangs Anthony Dowsley, Herald Sun (July 7, 2022)
Mongols members have a long history in the illegal drugs trade (especially methamphetamine), money laundering, robbery, extortion, firearms violations, murder, and assault, among other crimes. Current club president David Santillan denies that the club as a whole is a criminal enterprise, and attorneys for the club claim that it has changed its code of conduct to exclude drug abusers and criminals.