A Southern California Sheriff’s Deputy, Christopher Bingham, has been accused of living a double life as a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang and was arrested on March 23 after being caught riding with two gang members. Bingham, an 18-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, was found with an unloaded, unregistered firearm and was later released after being booked at the Smith Correctional Facility.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had been investigating Bingham since January 2024 after learning that he had been associating with gang members. A search warrant was obtained for his home in Twentynine Palms, Calif., where police found approximately 160 firearms, including a fully automatic assault rifle with a grenade launcher attached. Destructive devices, silencers, gang paraphernalia, and a stolen shotgun from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were also discovered during the search.
San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus condemned Bingham’s actions, stating that criminal behavior would not be tolerated and that he had been placed on compulsory leave immediately. The case was referred to the District Attorney’s Office, where Bingham has been charged with multiple felonies, including possession of a machine gun, grand theft of a firearm, and participation in a criminal street gang. His bail was set at $500,000.
It is believed that Bingham was associated with the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang, although the specific gang was not named by the department. Bingham owned a gun store in Twentynine Palms called O’Three Tactical, which he operated as a side business while working for the Sheriff’s Department. The store closed in June 2021, with Bingham citing financial difficulties as the reason for its closure on Facebook.
Bingham was also involved in a murder trial in 2019, where he testified that he had sold a handgun to Rafael Aikens, who was later convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her mother in 2017. Aikens received a life sentence for the murders, but it was not revealed whether the gun sold by Bingham played a role in the crimes. Bingham’s connection to the murders raised further concerns about his involvement in criminal activities while serving as a Sheriff’s Deputy.
District Attorney Jason Anderson expressed certainty that Bingham’s association with the gang was with the Mongols and the charges against him include an enhancement for gang affiliation, as per California Penal Code 186.22 PC. Bingham’s case has raised questions about the extent of his involvement with the gang and the impact it may have had on his role within the Sheriff’s Department. The investigation into Bingham’s activities continues as authorities work to understand the full scope of his criminal behavior.
