Latest news with #BandidosOutlawMotorcycleGang
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Survivor star Brandon Hantz arrested on arson and racketeering charges
A former Survivor player may be facing jail time. Brandon Hantz, who competed in both season 23 and season 26 of the popular CBS competition show, is one of 14 people out of a 3,500-person biker gang that was indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston, Texas on Wednesday. Hantz is allegedly a member of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and was charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering activity and arson related to an alleged turf war that began in 2019 with a rival biker gang. Hantz faces up to 40 years in prison as both charges carry possible sentences of around 20 years. On Thursday some of the indicted men will be making their first appearance in front of a judge, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. It is not known if Hantz will be among them. Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement on Wednesday: 'Today's indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.' 'The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets. Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities.' Throughout Hantz's time on Survivor, he was often associated with his uncle Russell Hantz who is regarded as one of the show's biggest villains. During his first season, he made it to day 36 out of 39 and was the 15th contestant voted off the island. However, during his second season on the show, he ended up making a dramatic exit after bursting out in a fit of rage and dumping his tribe's food supply of rice and beans. His tribe consequently decided to forfeit their immunity challenge to vote Hantz out at the next elimination. Hantz then had another outburst at the challenge, causing his unprecedented early elimination. Following his last episode, the reality TV star denied having 'mental problems' in an interview with People. 'No one out there was in danger; I wasn't going to hurt myself or anyone else,' he told the outlet back in 2013. 'But if you get personal with me, I will push back.' He continued: 'People say that it's hard to watch, but I'm proud of myself and how I left the game. I don't know why people want to assume that something's wrong. I don't have mental problems.' He compared his decision to dump his team's food to 'road rage' and clarified that it wasn't planned. 'I can see why they were upset about it. It wasn't premeditated,' he said.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Former Survivor star Brandon Hantz arrested on arson and racketeering charges
A former Survivor player may be facing jail time. Brandon Hantz, who competed in both season 23 and season 26 of the popular CBS competition show, is one of 14 people out of a 3,500-person biker gang that was indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston, Texas on Wednesday. Hantz is allegedly a member of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and was charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering activity and arson related to an alleged turf war that began in 2019 with a rival biker gang. Hantz faces up to 40 years in prison as both charges carry possible sentences of around 20 years. On Thursday some of the indicted men will be making their first appearance in front of a judge, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. It is not known if Hantz will be among them. Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement on Wednesday: 'Today's indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.' 'The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets. Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities.' Throughout Hantz's time on Survivor, he was often associated with his uncle Russell Hantz who is regarded as one of the show's biggest villains. During his first season, he made it to day 36 out of 39 and was the 15th contestant voted off the island. However, during his second season on the show, he ended up making a dramatic exit after bursting out in a fit of rage and dumping his tribe's food supply of rice and beans. His tribe consequently decided to forfeit their immunity challenge to vote Hantz out at the next elimination. Hantz then had another outburst at the challenge, causing his unprecedented early elimination. People. 'No one out there was in danger; I wasn't going to hurt myself or anyone else,' he told the outlet back in 2013. 'But if you get personal with me, I will push back.' He continued: 'People say that it's hard to watch, but I'm proud of myself and how I left the game. I don't know why people want to assume that something's wrong. I don't have mental problems.' He compared his decision to dump his team's food to 'road rage' and clarified that it wasn't planned. 'I can see why they were upset about it. It wasn't premeditated,' he said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Survivor' alum Brandon Hantz charged in indictment against Bandidos motorcycle gang
"Survivor" alum Brandon K. Hantz is facing racketeering and arson charges after being named in a federal indictment connected to a violent, transnational motorcycle gang in southern Texas. The former reality star was indicted in Houston along with 13 other current and former members of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and Mascareros Motorcycle Club, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, said Wednesday in a statement. The 22-count indictment, unsealed Feb. 11, alleges that the Bandidos, a self-identified 'outlaw' motorcycle organization, allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to commit racketeering activity and committed violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder and assault. Read more: How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Jeff Probst Hantz, 33, also known as Loco and Gun Drop, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering activity, as well as arson. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years on each count. The U.S. Attorney's Office said the indictment is "an important step in eliminating" the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. "The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets," Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in the news release. "Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities.' Read more: Outlaw biker clubs in Central California raided. Investigators seize 50 guns, explosive materials and drugs The indictment alleges a violent turf war erupted in 2019 between the Bandidos and B*EAST, a rival motorcycle gang, in the Houston area. Federal prosecutors allege that the Bandidos' national leadership allegedly put out a 'smash on site' order to commit physical assaults, including murder, against B*EAST members. The turf war, they said, resulted in gunfire exchanged on public roadways and in public establishments with civilians present. "Ensuring the safety of the public is SDTX's paramount concern,' U.S. Atty Nicholas J. Ganjei said. 'The indictment here not only alleges shocking crimes of violence, but also alleges that these offenses were committed openly and wantonly, where any innocent member of the public could have been hurt or killed.' Read more: These 'Survivor' icons made a career out of reality TV. Now they're back for more The Bandidos allegedly have approximately 1,500 to 2,000 members in the United States and an additional 1,000 to 1,500 members internationally, including in Mexico, according to the the U.S. Attorney's Office. Several of the individuals named in the indictment are expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo on Wednesday at 2 p.m. It is not yet clear if Hantz will be among them. Representatives for the DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation. Hantz, the nephew of notorious "Survivor" villain Russell Hantz, is from Crosby, Texas, and appeared in Season 23 of "Survivor: South Pacific" in 2011 and in Season 26 of "Survivor: Caramoan" in 2013. In the latter season, he infamously dumped his tribe's food reserves after an altercation with another cast member. According to TMZ, a family member said Hantz's home was raided Wednesday by the FBI and that he left the Bandidos last year. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyone's talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
20-02-2025
- Los Angeles Times
‘Survivor' alum Brandon Hantz charged in indictment against Bandidos motorcycle gang
'Survivor' alum Brandon K. Hantz is facing racketeering and arson charges after being named in a federal indictment connected to a violent, transnational motorcycle gang in southern Texas. The former reality star was indicted in Houston along with 13 other current and former members of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and Mascareros Motorcycle Club, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas, said Wednesday in a statement. The 22-count indictment, unsealed Feb. 11, alleges that the Bandidos, a self-identified 'outlaw' motorcycle organization, allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to commit racketeering activity and committed violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder and assault. Hantz, 33, also known as Loco and Gun Drop, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering activity, as well as arson. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years on each count. The U.S. Attorney's Office said the indictment is 'an important step in eliminating' the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. 'The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets,' Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in the news release. 'Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities.' The indictment alleges a violent turf war erupted in 2019 between the Bandidos and B*EAST, a rival motorcycle gang, in the Houston area. Federal prosecutors allege that the Bandidos' national leadership allegedly put out a 'smash on site' order to commit physical assaults, including murder, against B*EAST members. The turf war, they said, resulted in gunfire exchanged on public roadways and in public establishments with civilians present. 'Ensuring the safety of the public is SDTX's paramount concern,' U.S. Atty Nicholas J. Ganjei said. 'The indictment here not only alleges shocking crimes of violence, but also alleges that these offenses were committed openly and wantonly, where any innocent member of the public could have been hurt or killed.' The Bandidos allegedly have approximately 1,500 to 2,000 members in the United States and an additional 1,000 to 1,500 members internationally, including in Mexico, according to the the U.S. Attorney's Office. Several of the individuals named in the indictment are expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo on Wednesday at 2 p.m. It is not yet clear if Hantz will be among them. Representatives for the DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation. Hantz, the nephew of notorious 'Survivor' villain Russell Hantz, is from Crosby, Texas, and appeared in Season 23 of 'Survivor: South Pacific' in 2011 and in Season 26 of 'Survivor: Caramoan' in 2013. In the latter season, he infamously dumped his tribe's food reserves after an altercation with another cast member. According to TMZ, a family member said Hantz's home was raided Wednesday by the FBI and that he left the Bandidos last year.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Survivor' alum Brandon Hantz arrested on arson and racketeering charges as part of biker gang
Brandon Hantz, the two-time Survivor contestant known for making a dramatic departure during his second stint on the reality TV series, has been arrested on charges of arson and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity as part of a sweeping case against an allegedly violent biker gang operating in the Houston metropolitan area. The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas announced Wednesday that 14 members and associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, including Hantz, 33, have been indicted in connection with an allegedly violent 2019 turf war with the rival gang B*EAST. Some Bandidos members have been charged with crimes including murder, attempted murder, and assault. Several of the accused are expected to make their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo on Thursday afternoon. Related: Survivor host Jeff Probst says strangers on the street are pitching him season 50 ideas Contact information for Hantz's legal representation was not immediately available. Hantz, who is allegedly also known as Loco and Gun Drop, faces up to 20 years in prison per charge if convicted. Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement Wednesday, "Today's indictment is an important step in eliminating the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang." Bacon added, "The Bandidos declare war on rivals — and they wage that war on our streets. Criminal behavior like this has no place in America, and the Department of Justice is fully committed to bringing peace back to our communities." Hantz is the nephew of notorious Survivor villain Russell Hantz and first competed on the show in the 23rd season, South Pacific, in 2011. He was the 15th contestant voted out, ultimately leaving the game on day 36. Hantz returned to Survivor for its 26th season, Caramoan, in 2012. He made an infamous exit to end his second appearance, pouring out his tribe's food supply during an outburst that led to the tribe intentionally forfeiting an Immunity Challenge to vote him out a pregame interview anticipating his Caramoan appearance, Hantz told Entertainment Weekly why he thought he would win the season. "I am going to win this time around because I capitalize on every mistake I make in my life in general, so that's just how it's gonna happen," he said. "I did one thing wrong: I allowed myself to beat me. I beat myself, man. I beat myself in the game of Survivor and that's what people saw. They saw a convicted man. They saw a person that could not even forgive himself for some of the things he did in the past." Hantz was ultimately voted out fifth, and was eliminated on day 13 of competition. Related: Survivor star Jonny Fairplay's grandmother dies 22 years after he lied about her death on show Survivor host Jeff Probst told EW he had been "concerned" that the confrontation leading to Hantz's elimination might turn into a physical altercation with his rival, Phillip Sheppard. "It was clear that he was very upset. That's why I asked him to come to me, so I could separate him from the rest of the contestants," Probst explained. "Then later when I saw him getting more agitated I put my hands on his shoulders in an attempt to help him relax. It was probably also a bit of a head start on controlling him if a physical confrontation were to ensue. Because something like this had never happened before there was no plan in place. I was assessing moment to moment, making decisions based on what was playing out in front of me." Probst also said that he was "whispering instructions" to the crew so that security would "be ready to assist" if the situation escalated. Related: Survivor winner Rachel LaMont to cohost On Fire With Jeff Probst podcast (exclusive) "It was clear that Brandon wanted out of the game," Probst recalled. "I was very proud of Brandon for making the choice to stay next to me and not turn this into a physical altercation. I was equally proud of Phillip and the other contestants for their restraint. It was obviously a historic moment from a show point of view, but the overriding concern was the mental and physical health of the contestants." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
