A federal judge sentenced 16 Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang members to prison following their convictions on methamphetamine distribution as part of a large-scale drug-trafficking network and racketeering activities in South Texas.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sentenced James Randall Lee Ross, 45, a.k.a. “Silver” to 24 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, said U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick for the Southern District of Texas, the agency which prosecuted the case. Fifteen other ABT members were convicted previously on drug distribution and racketeering charges.
Of the 16, Ross, Michael Lee “Rooster” Craig, 44; David Wayne “Spider” Frost, 47; Mark Clairborne “Shiloh” Pennington, 59; Brian Russell Campbell, 35, a.k.a. “Iceman” and “Loyalty;” and Johnny Glenn “Panhead” Voiles, 47; were convicted of conspiracy to participate in ABT racketeering activity between 1995 and 2017. Ross, Frost, and Craig were also convicted of violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity that took place in September 2015.
Jimmy Curtis “Curt” Mullenax III 40; Kenneth “K-Dog” Brandenburh, 44; Matthew Jay “Pie Face” Thompson, 33; Pedro “Pete” Campos, 59; Abby Telge, 28; Johnny Hagensick, 49; Randy Stasney, 60; Allen Saunders, 35; Blanca Blanche Sandoval, 40; and Sue Campbell, 34 were also convicted.
Additionally, multiple defendants were convicted of a large-scale methamphetamine conspiracy trafficked in the Corpus Christi area since at least 2012 through 2018, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
All 16 ABT gang members were Corpus Christi residents and were convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine from July 2012 to July 2017. They received sentences ranging from 10 to 24 years in federal prison.
ABT, a powerful race-based criminal organization, operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas. Their members and associates engage in the illegal trafficking of controlled substances, extortion, murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapons and other acts of violence.
One of the purposes of the criminal enterprise was to keep victims in fear of the enterprise and in fear of its leaders, members, and associates through threats of violence and violent acts. The organization also has been involved in racketeering activities almost since its inception, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The white supremacist, neo-Nazi group established itself in Texas during the early 1980s. The press release stated that the group adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang founded in San Quentin State Prison in the 1960s. The organization offers protection to white inmates if they join the criminal enterprise. They adhere to the motto “God Forgives, Brothers Don’t.” Membership is for life. The only way out of the gang referred to as “family” is by death. All ABT members take a “blood oath” to obey supervisors. Failure to comply may result in severe beating or death.
Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Texas Department of Public Safety; Nueces County Sheriff’s Office; Corpus Christi Police Department; and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigations into these cases.
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