Biker gang sues Laughlin casino

Jace Radke

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 | 11:30 a.m.

Nine members of the Mongols motorcycle gang are suing Harrah's Entertainment Inc., alleging that the company's hotel-casino in Laughlin did not provide adequate security for them when they were attacked by members of the Hells Angels during a 2002 brawl at a motorcycle rally.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages against the hotel for injuries suffered during a melee in the casino and for causing the bikers to suffer "anguish, despair and emotional distress."

According to the complaint filed in federal court on Wednesday, the nine plaintiffs were in a bar in the casino of Harrah's Laughlin when about 70 Hells Angels entered the building and attacked on the morning of April 27, 2002.

Three bikers -- two Hells Angels and one member of the Mongols -- were killed in the melee during the annual Laughlin River Run, a biker rally held in the Colorado River resort town about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. Dozens were injured in the attack that sent hotel guests running for cover.

The lawsuit alleges that hotel security knew that the Hells Angels would be at the rally and should have known that there was a high probability that the Hells Angels would attempt to do harm to members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club.

"Harrah's employees witnessed numerous Hells Angels coming through the doors with guns, knives and various other weapons in hand ready for use," the suit states. "Plaintiffs did not observe hotel security personnel ... attempt to stop the Hells Angels or ask that the weapons carried by the Hells Angels be left outside or to completely disarm the Hells Angels."

A Harrah's spokesman said the company has a policy of not commenting on litigation. Calls to the California attorneys representing the Mongols were not immediately returned.

The plaintiffs in the case -- Alex Alcantar, Davey Camargo, Benjamin Leyva, Enrique Munoz, Roger Pinney, Walter Ramirez, Jesus Rodriguez, Raymond Santos, Benjamin Silva -- are all residents of Los Angeles County, Calif.

The suit further alleges that Harrah's was negligent and also fraudulent in conveying to the plaintiffs that "they would protect them and maintain their safety while at the 2002 Laughlin River Run."

Metro Police have only made one arrest in connection with the clash at Harrah's. Calvin Brett Schaefer was arrested by Metro in April 2002, but he was later released and charges against him were dropped in July 2002.

Investigators with Metro Police and the Clark County District Attorney's Office are continuing to review videotape of the brawl and gun battle, and are sorting through a list of potential defendants in the case.

Schaefer, a member of the Hells Angels, has since been arrested in Arizona as part of a two-year undercover federal investigation into gun and drug trafficking as well as murder-for-hire. Thirty-six arrest warrants resulted from the investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Schaefer was charged with two counts of possessing a firearm and two counts of possession of methamphetamine.