United States v. Mark Dencklau

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 22-30068

Plaintiff-Appellee, D.C. No. 3:18-cr- 00319-MO-1 v.

MARK LEROY DENCKLAU, OPINION

Defendant-Appellant.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 22-30069

Plaintiff-Appellee, D.C. No. 3:18-cr- 00319-MO-6 v.

CHAD LEROY ERICKSON,

Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon Michael W. Mosman, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted November 7, 2025 Portland, Oregon Filed November 28, 2025

Before: MILAN D. SMITH, JR., JACQUELINE H. NGUYEN, and HOLLY A. THOMAS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge Milan D. Smith, Jr.

SUMMARY *

Criminal Law

The panel affirmed Mark Leroy Dencklau’s and Chad Leroy Erickson’s convictions and life sentences for offenses arising from the kidnapping and murder of a former fellow member of the Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club (GJMC). Dencklau and Erickson were both convicted of murder in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute (VICAR) (Count 2), VICAR kidnapping resulting in death (Count 3), kidnapping…