Last year three members of the 69ers Motorcycle Club gang were implicated in the execution of a rival gang leader in the middle of rush hour traffic in Pasco County.
Now those three and two other 69ers members have been indicted on federal charges that include racketeering, drug trafficking, firearms violations, conspiracy and murder, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.
They ran a criminal organization that sold cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine and protected its "power, territory and profits" through "intimidation, threats of violence, assaults and murder," according to the unsealed indictment.
These five gang members were indicted:
• Christopher Brian "Durty" Cosimano, 30, of Gibsonton.
• Allan Burt "Big Bee" Guinto, 27, of Brandon.
• Michael Dominick "Pumpkin" Mencher, 51, of Tarpon Springs.
• Erick Richard "Big E" Robinson, 45, of Zephyrhills.
• Cody James "Little Savage" Wesling, 27, of Riverview.
Cosimano, Guinto and Mencher all face state charges of first-degree murder and are being held in the Pasco County jail without bail.
They're accused of taking part in the Dec. 21, 2017 execution of Paul Anderson, 44, president of the Cross Bayou chapter of the Outlaws.
TAMPA BAY TIMES COVERAGE: MOTORCYCLE GANGS
Sheriff: Three arrested in execution of motorcycle gang leader (Dec. 22, 2017)
Sheriff: Three arrested in execution of motorcycle gang leader (Dec. 22, 2017)
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office described how the three took part in Anderson's murder: Guinto tracked the rival gang member through traffic. Cosimano and Mencher then pulled up to the intersection on motorcycles.
Cosimano, president of a local branch of the 69ers, walked up to the window of the truck, knocked to get the driver's attention and then fatally shot Anderson, according to the Sheriff's Office.
All three were arrested the next day, rounded up by law enforcement agencies across the bay area.
Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said at the time of the shooting that tensions between the rival Outlaws and 69ers had become inflamed.
The federal indictment also said Cosimano is accused of shooting and wounding another Outlaws leader, James Costa, on July 25. Costa was the president of the St. Petersburg chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, the indictment said, but no other details about that shooting were disclosed.
The other two alleged gang members, Robinson and Wesling, were arrested on Thursday and booked into the Hillsborough County jail.
If convicted of all charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Cosimano, Guinto, Mencher and Wesling could each be sentenced to life in prison. Robinson faces a maximum of up to 20 years in federal prison.