A member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club has been apprehended, and another is facing charges, both linked to the murder of a rival gang member at a bar in San Bernardino County last month.
Clifford Michael Lavoy, aged 51 and known by the alias "Buckshot," was taken into custody on a federal complaint that accuses him of assault leading to serious injury related to racketeering. Meanwhile, Julian Pulido, aged 35 and referred to as "Juls," is charged under the same complaint with murder in aid of racketeering.
Lavoy was arrested in the morning and made his initial court appearance in Riverside, where a magistrate judge ordered him held without bond and set an arraignment date for May 6. Pulido remains in state custody with murder charges filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court and is anticipated to appear in federal court soon.
As per the filed affidavit, Pulido and Lavoy launched a violent attack during the early hours of March 4 against a rival gang member from the Vagos, known in court documents as "V.S." This incident occurred inside an Ontario bar where the duo confronted the victim over displaying his Vagos affiliation and demanded respect as Mongols members.
The situation escalated to a physical assault, with Lavoy and Pulido punching, choking, and inflicting severe injuries on the victim's head, face, and neck. As the victim attempted to flee, Pulido allegedly shot him multiple times, resulting in his death at the scene.
Following the incident, Pulido led authorities on a lengthy pursuit across multiple counties before being apprehended after crashing his vehicle. Law enforcement found him wearing Mongols-branded attire, matching what he wore on the night of the murder.
Lavoy's arrest occurred in Whittier, where he was initially booked and subsequently released.
As emphasized, a criminal complaint includes accusations that require proof and the presumption of innocence remains until verdicts are reached in court. Should Pulido be convicted, a life sentence in federal prison would be mandatory, whereas Lavoy faces up to a 20-year sentence.
The investigation is managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives alongside the Ontario Police Department, with substantial input from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecution of this case involves Assistant United States Attorneys Declan T. Conroy and Daniel H. Weiner from the Transnational Organized Crime Section.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations, aligning with efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.