Veteran San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy arrested on gun charges, ties to Mongols gang – Orange County Register

Since January, San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators have been secretly surveilling Deputy Christopher Bingham, a firearms expert and former gun store owner suspected of having ties to the notorious Mongolian motorcycle gang.

Their surveillance led to the arrest Thursday, April 4, of a 45-year-old Twentynine Palms resident, who was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, with bail set at $500,000. He was accused of stealing a shotgun from the department, participating in a criminal street gang and possessing a machine gun, a short-barreled rifle, silencers and the stolen shotgun.

Bingham, an 18-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, is scheduled to be arraigned via video on Monday, April 8.

“The actions of this MP are alarming and inexcusable; not only does he tarnish his badge, but he also undermines the integrity and credibility of the entire department,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “Criminal behavior will not be tolerated and we have placed him on compulsory leave with immediate effect.”

Bingham’s fall occurred March 23, when a detective following the deputy saw him riding a Harley-Davidson with another man near Onaga Trail and Elk Trail in Yucca Valley, according to a source close to the investigation. Bingham’s companion wore a black leather vest with Mongolian gang patches.

The detective followed Bingham and the other man onto the westbound 10 Freeway and alerted the California Highway Patrol. A CHP officer stopped Bingham and the other man for speeding as they approached Highland Springs Road in Beaumont. Both men told the officer they were carrying knives, the source said.

While searching the two men, the officer found an unregistered Glock 9mm handgun on Bingham, who identified himself as “law enforcement.” The sheriff’s detective then arrested Bingham at the scene and took him to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Center in Banning, where Bingham was incarcerated on suspicion of being a gang member carrying a gun loaded.

At the prison, the source said, Bingham was searched again. He wore a T-shirt that read: “(Expletive) 81!” The number “81” is the nickname of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle club, a longtime rival of the Mongols. Also featured on the T-shirt were the initials “SYLM,” which means “Support your local Mongolians.” Bingham also wore a ring — with the black letter “M” on it — that hung from a chain around her neck, according to the source.

Bingham was later released.

Later that day, investigators searched Bingham’s home on Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms, finding approximately 160 firearms, including a modified fully automatic assault rifle with an attached grenade launcher, the Remington 870 shotgun stolen, a custom AR-15 assault rifle with a 12-inch barrel, silencers and Mongolian paraphernalia.

District Attorney Jason Anderson could not say Friday whether Bingham was suspected of trafficking weapons for the Mongols, nor could he confirm Bingham’s alleged affiliation with the outlaw motorcycle gang. Anderson was able to confirm one thing with certainty, however.

“It seems to involve the Mongols, without a doubt,” Anderson said.

Bingham has worked at the sheriff’s department since September 2005 and earned $288,012 in salary and benefits in 2022, according to Transparent California, a public salary database.

According to published reports, Bingham testified in a 2019 double murder trial in which he sold a .45 caliber handgun to the defendant before the murders. During the trial, Bingham was identified as the owner of the O’Three Tactical gun store in Twentynine Palms, which closed in June 2021 after six years in business.

In a Facebook post, the owner said: “After being unable to maintain any inventory and hemorrhaging (sic) my own personal finances over the past year trying to keep our doors open, O’Three Tactical will be closing definitely its doors. »

The message continues: “Please don’t start (sic) calling my home phone or showing up at my front door. »