SAN ANTONIO – Jeffrey Fay Pike, the 63-year-old former national president of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Organization, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison by a federal judge in San Antonio.
The sentence, plus 10 years, was handed down months after Pike was convicted on numerous racketeering and drug trafficking charges.
Recommended Videos
Pike received his sentence a day after former Bandidos national vice president, John Xavier Portillo, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 20 years in federal prison, a release from the U.S. District’s Attorney’s Office said.
“As I have said before, this prosecution shows that the Department of Justice has the tools to strip away a veneer of legitimate activity to expose and punish underlying criminal conduct. Others—and not only those involved in violent activity—should take note,” stated U.S. Attorney John F. Bash.
In May, jurors convicted Pike and Portillo of multiple counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, all in the aid of racketeering.
Pike was convicted of several narcotics and firearms charges as well, according to the release.
Jurors found the pair guilty of conspiring to conduct the affairs of a criminal organization through racketeering acts.
Those acts included directing and sanctioning members of the Bandidos to commit murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, extortion and drug trafficking, the release said.
Evidence revealed during the trial showed in 2006, Pike and Portillo ordered other Bandidos members to murder and kill Anthony Benesh, who was attempting to start a Texas Chapter of the Hells Angels in Austin.
According to the release, jurors also found that Portillo and others killed Robert Lara in January 2002 in Atascosa County as payback for killing a Bandidos member.
Pike, Portillo and others also conspired to murder and assault members and associates of the Cossacks Outlaw Motorcycle Organization, who were at war with the Bandidos, according to court testimony.
The trial showed the Bandidos were also engaged in trafficking illegal narcotics in an agreement with the Texas Mexican Mafia.
The investigation and conviction was a collaborative effort among federal, state and local authorities.
“The sentencing rendered today is the result of the outstanding partnership between the FBI and all our law enforcement partners,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “This effort demonstrates our ongoing commitment to prevent gang violence and criminal activity from poisoning our communities. It also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute the leaders and members of these violent criminal enterprises.”