Feds Seize Gang's Identity

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 21, 2008 7:05 PM CDT
Feds Seize Gang's Identity
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, at podium, speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008, in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Ric Francis)

Federal agents punctuated a raid against a notorious California motorcycle gang today with an unusual twist—they took the group's logo. In addition to making dozens of arrests, the feds are trying to seize ownership of the Mongols' trademark name and insignia—a Genghis Kahn-like figure riding a chopper. If the plan works, police could stop anyone with a Mongols patch at any time to seize it, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Not only are we going after the Mongols' motorcycles, we're going after their very identity," said a US attorney. "We are using all the tools at our disposal to crush this violent gang." Four ATF agents infiltrated the gang last year, even taking a polygraph test. Today's indictment includes a litany of charges, including murder, racketeering, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses.
(More gangs stories.)

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