It’s no secret that the Mongols MC is a one-percenter motorcycle club
that runs illegal activities. One of the reasons the members are able
to do this is because of the name and the fear that comes with it.
Members earn this patch after years and have the right to wear it around everywhere they go. And now Federal prosecutors are out to steal this from the members. The “Devils Diciples” are also being targeted in this action from the feds.
Taking the right to use their name would mean that the members wouldn’t even be able to wear their cuts anymore. If a police officer watches anybody wearing it, they can literally take the member’s jacket off.
If the feds succeed, this will obviously have a severe negative impact on the morale of the members and the business of the club. While, as many as 77 members from the Mongols were convicted a few years ago, it is important to note that a lot of the clubs members don’t officially have any criminal record.
In such a case, taking this name away may be a violation of their first amendment. Perhaps that’s why the feds original case, filed before a U.S. District Court was dismissed. They’ve subsequently appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. If they succeed, the Justice Department will get control of all the trademarks associated with these clubs.
Members earn this patch after years and have the right to wear it around everywhere they go. And now Federal prosecutors are out to steal this from the members. The “Devils Diciples” are also being targeted in this action from the feds.
Taking the right to use their name would mean that the members wouldn’t even be able to wear their cuts anymore. If a police officer watches anybody wearing it, they can literally take the member’s jacket off.
If the feds succeed, this will obviously have a severe negative impact on the morale of the members and the business of the club. While, as many as 77 members from the Mongols were convicted a few years ago, it is important to note that a lot of the clubs members don’t officially have any criminal record.
In such a case, taking this name away may be a violation of their first amendment. Perhaps that’s why the feds original case, filed before a U.S. District Court was dismissed. They’ve subsequently appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. If they succeed, the Justice Department will get control of all the trademarks associated with these clubs.
In 2008, then-U.S. Attorney Thomas O’Brien apparently broke new ground when he unveiled in Los Angeles a wide-ranging indictment of 79 Mongols for a variety of offenses. As part of his campaign, O’Brien sought the Mongols’ trademarks.
“If the court grants our request . . . then if any law enforcement officer sees a Mongol wearing his patch, he will be authorized to stop that gang member and literally take the jacket right off his back,” O’Brien said at the time.
