Two Bandidos Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Connection with the Murder of Hells Angel Anthony Benesh in 2006

Topics:  Bandidos, Hells Angels

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
22 September 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In San Antonio today, two high-ranking leaders of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Organization (OMO) pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the murder of Hells Angel Anthony Benesh in 2006 announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw; Austin Police Chief Brian Manley; and, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

Appearing before United States District Judge Henry J. Bemporad, 47–year-old Bandidos National Sergeant at Arms Johnny Romo (aka “Downtown Johnny”) of San Antonio and 45-year-old Bandidos San Antonio Centro Chapter member Robert Romo of San Antonio pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in Aid of Racketeering and one count of Aiding and Abetting Using and Discharging a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, specifically Murder.

Court records allege that Benesh was attempting to start a Texas Chapter of the Hell’s Angels OMO in Austin, Texas in 2006. Members of the Bandidos OMO warned Benesh to cease his activities and recruitment, which Benesh ignored. Johnny Romo, Robert Romo and others then murdered Benesh on March 18, 2006, outside an Austin restaurant to protect the power, reputation and territory of the Bandidos enterprise.

Because of their guilty pleas, the defendants face life in federal prison. Johnny Romo and Robert Romo remain in federal custody. Sentencings are scheduled for May 14, 2018, and May 21, 2018, respectively, before Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra in San Antonio.

The FBI, DEA and Texas DPS together with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Austin Police Department, New Braunfels Police Department, Seguin Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, Atascosa County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office are conducting this ongoing investigation.