An 18-year veteran of a California county sheriff’s department was arrested last month on multiple gun charges following a lengthy investigation into his involvement with a notorious motorcycle gang.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department launched its investigation into 45-year-old Christopher Bingham in January. He was arrested on March 23 during a traffic stop with another member of the “Outlaw Motorcycle Gang” and found to be possession of an unregistered firearm at the time.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Bingham’s home, where they found 160 firearms, including a fully automatic assault rifle with an attached grenade launcher, destructive devices, silencers, and a stolen sheriff’s department shotgun.
Detectives also found “paraphernalia” from the motorcycle gang, which was identified by the San Bernardino Sun as the Mongols, which is designated an organized crime group in by the US Department of Justice, the Australian Federal Police, and Europol.
According to the Sun, Bingham was found wearing Mongols gear once he was taken to jail.
“The actions of this deputy are alarming and inexcusable,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said. “He not only tarnishes his badge but also undermines the integrity and credibility of the entire department. Criminal behavior will not be tolerated, and we have placed him on compulsory leave effective immediately.”
On Thursday, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Bingham of possession of a machine gun, possession of a short-barreled rifle, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a destructive device, possession of silencers, and participation in a criminal street gang.
He was booked into jail on a $500,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned on Monday.
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[Featured image: Christopher Bingham/Facebook]
