Federal authorities arrested 13 men in July in connection with suspected illegal operations dating back to 1997 at Road Dog Cycle in Denair. Supporters say the charges are unfounded and that the men have been unfairly targeted. Investigators arrested two more men in November, and made substantial changes to the indictment. Here's a roundup of the charges:
Road Dog Cycle defendants charged with operating a chop shop; trafficking in motor vehicles or their parts; and criminal forfeiture:
Robert C. Holloway III, 61, of Turlock also faces charges related to racketeering; witness tampering; solicitation to commit a crime of violence; carjacking and aiding and abetting; making extortionate extensions of credit; collecting credit by extortionate means; and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He was in custody at the Fresno County jail until June, when he was transferred to a halfway house.
His son, Brent F. Holloway, 36, of Modesto also faces charges related to racketeering and collecting credit by extortionate means. He was released from custody on bond in August 2008.Former East Bay Dragons motorcycle club member Alfredo F. Rincon, 38, of Manteca also faces charges related to collecting credit by extortionate means. He was released on bond in July 2008.Ray M. Heffington, 40, of Chowchilla, the former Merced chapter president of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, was charged with conspiracy to operate a chop shop, conspiracy to traffic in stolen vehicle parts and operating a chop shop. He is in custody at the Fresno County jail. In June 2009, he pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in stolen vehicle parts. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14. Other Road Dog defendants:
Retired California Highway Patrol officer and former part-time Merced County sheriff's deputy Joseph S. Tyler, 65, of Merced faces charges related to operating a chop shop; conspiracy to obstruct justice; and criminal forfeiture. Tyler was a CHP officer for 30 years. He worked for the Sheriff's Department in Merced for 18 months and in fall 2007. Prosecutors say that, after it became clear investigators wanted to search Road Dog Cycle, Tyler checked in law enforcement databases on stolen motorcycle parts Robert Holloway had to help get rid of the parts or keep them away from law enforcement. He was released in July on his own recognizance.Former Alky Haulers motorcycle club chapter vice president Michael J. Orozco, 51, of Manteca, was charged with making extortionate extensions of credit; collecting credit by extortionate means; and criminal forfeiture. In June, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means. He is in custody at the Fresno County Jail. Orozco's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 24.Reynaldo W. Sotelo, 52, of Gilroy, former chief executive officer of Indian Motorcycles, was charged with conspiracy in connection with planning to send a motorcycle with false identification to Sweden; and criminal forfeiture. Sotelo pleaded guilty in July 2009 to conspiracy to traffic in motor vehicle parts. Sotelo's sentencing is scheduled for September. Sotelo's attorney said he expects his client to serve six months or less of home detention.Fredrick A. Noreberg, 37, of Sweden, the chapter president of the Red Devils motorcycle club in that country, faces charges of conspiracy in connection with planning to send a motorcycle with false identification to Sweden; and criminal forfeiture. Noreberg is wanted by law enforcement. People familiar with his case say he is in custody in a Swedish prison.
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