Former Member Of Bandido Motorcycle Gang Speaks Out About Waco Shooting

Police now say the mayhem in Waco, Texas that left nine dead was a fight between two rival motorcycle gangs: the Cossacks and the Bandidos. A former Oklahoma Bandido says the motorcycle gang is currently operating in Oklahoma. 

Edward Winterhalder says he was the one who brought the Bandidos into Oklahoma and was member from 1997 until 2003 before moving to Michigan. He was also a close associate of the club since the early 80s. He has since written 10 books about motorcycle clubs and the biker culture.

He estimates there are currently about 20 members of the Bandidos in Oklahoma in 3 or 4 chapters along with numerous support clubs.

“A majority of the guys, 60 to 90%, are regular working guys,” said Winterhalder. “They have families, jobs, kids. They go to work every day, the only thing they are guilty of is having a little too much fun on the weekends.”

He says only a minority of the members support themselves with through crime.

“There's no reason to be scared at all. They're just very secretive people and they like to keep to themselves that's all.”

But others say there is a reason for concern. The FBI lists the Bandidos as an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG).

On their website, the FBI says, "The Bandidos are involved in transporting and distributing cocaine and marijuana and are involved in the production, transportation and distribution of methamphetamine."

Of the 8 OMG's the FBI has listed, Winterhalder says at least four have chapters in Oklahoma.