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and a portion that said “Cossacks MC, Lubbock of the Cossacks continuously and regularly
County, Mid-Cities, Texas.” Corporal Macias engaged in assaults, threats of violence,
believed, based on his training and experience, intimidation, and illegal firearms possession.
that the Cossacks were a criminal street gang. Deputy Cisneros testified that he was familiar
Appellant was ultimately charged with with local criminal activity involving the
unlawfully carrying a weapon (UCW) as a Cossacks. In one incident, on April 15th, 2018,
member of a criminal street gang, a Class A several members of a motorcycle club were
misdemeanor. assaulted. One victim said that the suspects
were wearing Cossack Motorcycle Club cuts
At trial, the State presented testimony from and Kinfolk Motorcycle Club cuts. A second
Deputy Joshua Cisneros of the Lubbock County incident occurred in a parking lot and involved
Sheriff’s Office in the street crimes unit. As part members of the Villistas, Bandidos, and
of the Texas Antigang Center, Deputy Cisneros Cossacks motorcycle clubs. In this incident, a
worked to disrupt the activity of criminal street ranking member of the Bandidos Motorcycle
gangs. Deputy Cisneros testified that law Club was reportedly knocked out, carried into
enforcement uses a statewide database known a van, and taken from the scene. Deputy
as TxGANG to identify and keep track of gang Cisneros acknowledged that there had been no
members. He explained that certain arrests from either incident. He also testified
factors, which are set forth in the Texas Code of that he knew of no criminal charges filed
Criminal Procedure, are used to determine against Cossacks in the area.
whether someone is a gang member. Two of
these factors, namely a judicial finding and Deputy Cisneros expressed the opinion that
self-identification during a judicial proceeding, Appellant was a member of the Cossacks
are standalone criteria, meaning an individual Motorcycle Club because he gave a nonjud
can be entered into the TxGANG system upon cial self-admission to Corporal Macias, he had
a showing of either one. already been entered into TxGANG as a
Cossacks member by two different agencies at
Deputy Cisneros then testified specifically the time of the traffic stop, and he was wearing
about the Cossack Motorcycle Club. Cisneros the cuts and various colors for the Cossacks.
testified that he was familiar with the Cossacks Deputy Cisneros also testified that Appellant
and that they were a nationwide outlaw was formerly a Sergeant-at-Arms for the Dallas
motorcycle gang. The Cossacks had gang chapter of the Cossacks. In that role, he
colors (yellow and gold), a gang symbol (the reported directly to the president of the chapter
“ugly man”), and an organizational structure. and was a bodyguard to the president
G r o u p s of the chapter. He was also the “enforcer” for
would obtain permission from the Cossack the chapter, “meaning they can deal
national leadership to organize a local out the punishment for a member breaking the
chapter. Members paid dues to the national rules.” The “punishment” could range
organization, earned patches to wear on from a “physical punishment” to a fine.
their vests upon obtaining full membership, Appellant was also involved in the “Twin
and had to return Cossack insignia upon Peaks Waco incident” where a fight broke out
resignation or “excommunication.” Deputy in the parking lot between members
Cisneros further testified that members of the Bandidos and members of the Cossacks,
Sept./Oct. 2022 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • (512) 458-3140 33
