March 18, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment involving the Homietos outlaw motorcycle gang, a criminal enterprise that allegedly controlled territory throughout the Houston area, that includes a Vidor man.
All 17 alleged gang members and associates are charged with racketeering conspiracy. Several also face allegations of racketeering murder, attempted murder, and assault; and/or firearms offenses.
Ralph Eugene Kellum aka “REK,” 42, of Vidor, was set to make his initial appearance March 19 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan, while Romeo Jose Ferrer aka “Primo,” 36, of Kingsville, was expected to appear in Corpus Christi. Mark Anthony Magallan aka “Loco,” 51, of Houston, also had a detention hearing before Bryan on March 19.
The remaining individuals have already made appearances in federal court in Houston or are expected to in the near future.
According to the charges, Homietos OMG was an organization engaged in crimes such as murder, robbery, narcotics distribution, and witness intimidation. The gang allegedly formed in 2015 in the Houston area as an extension of the Tango Blast prison gang, then expanded beyond Houston and Texas. The group recruited members and associates, enforced rules, rewarded violence, and used intimidation, threats, and assaults to protect and enhance its power, territory, reputation, and profits, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also alleged the suspects created a “Mexican Terror” patch to reward violence on behalf of the enterprise.
The superseding indictment, returned under seal March 11, cites overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including directives to engage in violence against rivals. Some of the allegations include a February 2020 shooting of a rival outlaw motorcycle gang member in Harris County, a September 2020 assault and robbery involving members of another motorcycle club at a Homietos anniversary party in Houston, an April 2022 shooting at suspected rivals along Interstate 45 near Madisonville and multiple April 14, 2023, shootings that allegedly resulted in the deaths of three rival gang members.
Ferrer, Magallan and Kellum, along with Joe Frank Barrera aka “LJ,” 37, of Houston, and Bryce Clay Hazleton Cook aka “Cowboy,” 28, of Angleton, are all charged with engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity that included violent retaliation against members of rival gangs.
Ferrer, Magallan and Kellum additionally allegedly committed racketeering murder. In the on April 14, 2023, assault, Homietos members traveling in a convoy on an interstate highway reportedly encountered members of the rival Bandidos motorcycle gang, according to the charges. Magallan allegedly shot and killed a Bandido member. The charges further allege that, shortly thereafter, Ferrer and Kellum shot and killed two other Bandidos and wounded a third.
Others charged in relation to the overall conspiracy with various offenses to include racketeering attempted murder, racketeering assault and/or using a firearm during violent crimes are Raymond William Burnett aka “Ray Ray,” 38, of Alvin; Morgan Shane Cooper aka “Coop,” 51, William Espinoza, 49, Mario Humberto Gomez aka “Gator,” 52, Edgar Mauricio Hinojosa aka “Charro Bean,” 40, Ricardo Quinones aka “Scooter,” 40, and Moises Soriano aka “Oso,” 42, all of Houston; Rudolph Christopher Lopez aka “Yao,” 40, of Fort Worth; Jesse James Mulrein aka “Fort Worth G,” 38, of Dallas; Joe Rios aka “Jo Daddy,” 50, of Baytown; Mahir Alihodzic aka “Geno,” 40, of Kansas City, Kansas; and Christopher Daniel Holt aka “Butt Head, 32,” of Harrah, Oklahoma.
If convicted of the racketeering conspiracy, each faces up to life imprisonment. The murder in aid of racketeering charges are punishable by a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of death. Those charged with assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to assault in aid of racketeering, and attempted murder in aid of racketeering could receive up to 20, 3, and 10 years’ imprisonment, respectively, upon conviction. The other related firearms and other offenses carry penalties ranging from 10 years to life in federal prison. Each count also carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.