A federal jury has found three members of the Sundowners Motorcycle Club not guilty of extortion in trying to collect a $1,000 debt from a woman.
The verdict marks the end of yet another trial in a long list of charges against 39 Sundowners arrested last year following a yearlong undercover investigation by the FBI.
The jury deliberated about three hours Tuesday before returning a not guilty verdict against Michael "Stewey" Dennis Steward, 49, Salt Lake City, Charles "Chico" Mirelez, 43, Salt Lake City, and Jeffrey "Free" Johnson, 41, Kearns, on one felony count of collection of a debt by extortionate means.
During the seven-day trial, the victim, Tina Marie Shagla, testified that the men had threatened her and her daughter, beat her and taken her truck because she owed Steward $1,000. Steward had a prior relationship with Shagla.
Defense attorneys portrayed Shagla as a "chameleon" who changed her story in order to avoid paying her debt. FBI agents approached Shagla while investigating a wide range of criminal activity at the Sundowners clubhouse, 17 S. 800 West.
In April, a federal jury found club president Richard N. Knudsen guilty of 42 drug-related charges, including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. The same jury also returned numerous guilty verdicts against Mirelez and Johnson.
Robert "Nasty Bob" Dale entered a guilty plea in connection with Shagla's extortion case. Knudsen was dismissed from the extortion trial after Judge Dee Benson agreed with defense attorneys that there was not enough evidence to include him in the case.
Assistant U.S. District Attorney Richard McKelvie said the men acted like "classic predators" against Shagla, preying on her weaknesses and attacking in a group.
"They are like jackals," he said. Just because Shagla has made many poor decisions in her life does not mean these men can commit crimes without expecting to be punished, he added.
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