Outlaw motorcycle gang members arrested on racketeering and firearms charges.

HOUSTON, Texas — Twelve members of the Homietos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang are now in custody facing racketeering and firearms charges, following a violent assault on another motorcycle club in Houston, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The arrested individuals include 37-year-old Joseph Gomez, aka Tequila, of Sugarland, who was taken into custody on Friday, Sept. 22. Houston residents Joe Barrera, aka LJ, 35; Joe Rios, aka Jo Daddy, 47; Edgar Hinojosa, aka Charro Bean, 38; William Espinoza, 47; Mario Gomez, aka Gator, 50; Morgan Cooper, aka Coop, 49; and Moises Soriano, aka Oso, 41, were arrested on Sept. 21. Rudolph Lopez, aka Yao, 36, of Fort Worth, is also in custody.

Three other individuals, Ricardo Quinones, aka Scooter, 36, of Houston; Raymond Burnett, aka Ray Ray, 36, of Alvin; and Jesse Mulrein, aka Fort Worth G, 36, of Dallas, were previously in custody and are expected to make court appearances soon.

“These alleged gangs are built on a foundation of violence, with members and associates committing acts designed to protect the power and reputation of the organization,” said Hamdani. “Whether on the east side, Sunnyside or within the confines of a motorcycle club, we will pursue anyone who allegedly commits brutal and violent acts to maintain status in a gang.”

The charges stem from an incident on Sept. 19, 2020, when Homietos gang members allegedly assaulted members of the Tattoo Crue motorcycle club at a celebration at the Sterling Banquet Hall in Houston. The indictment alleges that the Homietos gang, which has chapters throughout Texas and other parts of the U.S., recruits predominantly convicted felons, many of whom are current or former Houstone Tango Blast gang members.

All twelve individuals are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to do so, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. They remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.