In a recent development, two more alleged members of the Mongols motorcycle club have been arrested in Florida, elevating the number of suspects to four in relation to the execution-style killing of a fellow biker who they thought was an informant.
The individuals taken into custody are Vincent Romanino, 42, and Joshualee Garcia, 33. Both face accusations of being accessories to first-degree felony murder. While Romanino is currently detained at the Faulkenburg Road Jail, Garcia is at the Pasco County Jail.
The victim, Dominick Paternoster, 46, belonged to the Raiders, a group linked to the Mongols. He was fatally shot in his home in Palm Harbor, near Tampa, earlier this year.
Details of the heinous crime were shared in a news conference where Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri remarked about the nature of the murder, stating that Paternoster was shot multiple times. A previous indictment in August 2022 identified another suspect, Paul Mogilevsky, 48, who was charged with first-degree murder. A fourth person, Dylan Pascale, 36, faces similar charges, according to the deputies.
The impending trial concerning this case, as mentioned by Paul Mogilevsky’s attorney, Roger Futerman, is anticipated to take place in 2024, spanning about three weeks. Despite the gravity of the charges, Mogilevsky has pled not guilty and has not put forth any offers.
The broader context of this incident sheds light on the dubious activities of some motorcycle clubs, notably the Mongols. Sheriff Gualtieri, discredited the idea that these groups merely function as motorcycle clubs. In his words, they aren’t “clubs” but rather organized criminals involved in a range of illicit activities, from drug trafficking to human trafficking and more. He further pointed out that many members of these gangs are mature adults, and their criminal associations extend far beyond youthful recklessness.
A crucial piece of evidence in the investigation came from Dylan Pascale, who provided an account of the events on the evening of the murder. He claimed that he and another person had escorted Paternoster back to his home from Tampa, leaving him asleep in a recliner. However, officials discovered discrepancies in his version when they found spent shell casings next to the victim, which had traces of Pascale’s DNA. This, coupled with the evidence, suggests that several people were involved in the crime and that more than one firearm was used.
Established in California, the Mongols motorcycle club has a presence across the nation. Sheriff Gualtieri described it as a criminal racketeering organization, representing organized crime in its purest form. The club members engage in various criminal activities, and a distinctive feature of them is their motorcycle jackets, often adorned with what they refer to as “colors.” These “colors” aren’t merely decorative but symbolize a significant rite of passage and initiation in the club.
