Barry Mills, the brutal leader of the white supremacist prison gang called the Aryan Brotherhood, died on July 8 behind bars, where he had spent nearly three-quarters of his life,. In their response, state prosecutors hardly defended Thompson against these attacks, noting that he testified to avoid potential racketeering charges and in the hopes of pleasing parole authorities down the line. If you enjoyed the episode, Subscribe to the Channel=====This channel covers corruption in the. Leitess fired back: You just admitted to the jury you put a death sentence on those three men.. Thompson became a life coach and drug counselor and was featured in several documentaries, portraying himself as a symbol of redemption, the Bee said. Accused:Daniel Troxell, left, and Ronald Yandell, right, are among 16 leaders and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood gang who are awaiting trial in California, Prosecutors said alleged Aryan Brotherhood inmates including Jason Corbett (left) and William Sylvester (right) may be too dangerous to leave jail even for a court appearance, The defendants were charged with murder, plotting murder and running a large drug-trafficking ring within the California State Prison-Sacramento, pictured above. [16], In November 2020, more than sixty individuals that were associated with the Aryan Brotherhood were arrested in a multi-agency operation that took place in California, Montana, and Nevada. After writing vigorous notes to his attorneys during Almonys testimony, Leissler took the rare step Friday of testifying at his own murder trial. Basically, the story was, Oh, well, were going to apply for unemployment for you, well take a fee and well give you the rest, Lake County District Attorney Susan Krones told the Sacramento Bee. A second, similar suit by one of Bradys co-defendants in the racketeering case alleged Aryan Brotherhood leader Ronald Renegade Yandell is still active. The husband is said to be a leader in the organization, according to witness testimony during a preliminary hearing in March, the Leavenworth Times reports. Much of the evidence is based on wiretapped conversations from contraband cellphones obtained by several Aryan Brotherhood members. History. Instead, they pinned the conspiracy and the murder on Almony, who acted as a council member with the same, if not more, authority, they argued. [34], A sort of internal banking or accounting system was instituted, which allowed them to "tax" criminal activity on the streets, and collect 20% on the proceeds, money which is then laundered and controlled by the commission. Whether Leissler was the first or second-in-command doesnt matter, States Attorney Anne Colt Leitess told the jury in closing arguments, he still supervised and participated in a criminal gang. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Minnesota Gov. I have previously spoken about the danger of the normalization of white supremacist symbology as well as the Long Beach community staunchly standing by its Muslim-American neighbors when President Trump proposed a registry for Muslim-Americans, actions that many felt contributed toward normalizing racist ideology and rhetoric. In addition, attorney Kevin Macnamara is accused of aiding the gang by helping smuggle drugs and cellphones into prisons. In telling his side of the story, Leissler erupted in emotion, choking on grief over his mothers death one moment and shouting in frustration the next. Annapolis, Md. Thompson became a life coach and drug counselor and was featured in several documentaries, portraying himself as a symbol of redemption, the Bee said. Thompson says he was the only high-ranking member to vote against the 1983 hit, and that it left a bad taste in his mouth. New members are on probation for a year, must swear a blood oath for life, and must commit a violent act to join the Brotherhood, such as killing a rival inmate, assaulting an officer or murdering an African American or Hispanic prisoner. Thompson, who turns 70 in October, is perhaps the most well-known ex-Aryan Brotherhood member, who joined in the 1970s then dropped out in the 1980s. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal judge has allowed an alleged Aryan Brotherhood leader housed at the Sacramento County Main Jail to sue Sheriff Scott Jones and a jail chaplain over the alleged restriction of his Buddhist diet, according to documents filed last month. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A one-time top member of the notorious Aryan Brotherhood who claimed to have turned his life around after 45 years in prison is now charged with defrauding Northern Californians out of nearly $400,000 in unemployment benefits. The gang's purpose at that time was to protect white inmates from being physically attacked by Black and Hispanic inmates. He claimed to have been a high-ranking leader of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang who taught himself to read and earned college degrees while in prison. The Aryan Brotherhood was founded in California's infamous San Quentin State Prison in the 1960s and has grown into one of the country's most feared and well-known white supremacist prison. 12.06.10. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Aryan Circle was founded in the mid-1980s as a breakaway from the larger, older Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. This story has been shared 104,709 times. In February 2021, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office also issued warrants for Boone's arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and . "The brand" meant the inmate belonged to Aryan Brotherhood. Founded in the early 1980s, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, also known as the ABT, the Tip and Ace Deuce, is an unrelated knockoff of the racist prison gang Aryan Brotherhood. He was one of 16 alleged Aryan Brotherhood members and associates indicted in four separate cases involving racketeering, murder and drug trafficking in 2019. - A Billings, Missouri, man who belongs to the Aryan Brotherhood pleaded guilty in federal court today to methamphetamine trafficking. OSullivan was an high-ranking member of rival gang Dead Man Inc., and his murder a message not to mess with the Aryan Brotherhood. Ex-Aryan Brotherhood leader charged with California EDD fraud. They each have their [ruling] commission but they're allies." But according to authorities in Lake County, Thompson found prosperity through something else entirely: a massive fraud scheme that raked in millions through fradulent business loans and Employment Development Department applications. [17] They took on organized crime-level power inside much of the United States' prison system, where they eventually accumulated greater power and influence than the American Mafia. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Accepting the truth of all allegations, plaintiff has demonstrated the violation of attorney/client confidentiality but has not demonstrated any resulting injury to plaintiffs defense in the criminal case(Brady) cannot demonstrate any concrete prejudice to his defense against the criminal charges he faces, because the criminal case is far from concluded, Claire wrote in her order, adding that these allegations are being addressed by the federal judge presiding over the Aryan Brotherhood racketeering case. With a $35 billion economy, low taxes, a vast multi-modal transportation system, highly skilled workforce and excellent educational institutions, Anne Arundel County is the premier location to do business. Love, Loyalty, and Respect. This ended with the creation of two separate, but related organizations, the California Aryan Brotherhood, and the federal prison Aryan Brotherhood. California has said bogus EDD payouts to fraudsters including prisoners on death row cost it about $11 billion. In recent court records, he described Thompson as a liar and exaggerator whose multiple hearsay claims about Hickeys murder never should have been given to jurors. It was believed that Silverstein and Fountain strangled Chappelle in his cell. I have best friends that are Black, in prison and on the street, Leissler said. You had to be killed, he said. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. That doesnt make me racist.. He allegedly bragged about special treatment this status brought him, like authorities serving him a whole Thanksgiving turkey along with the knives to cut it, in the Los Angeles County Jail. Almony was granted immunity for his testimony in three separate trials for OSullivans murder, meaning he is exempt from being charged for any crimes he admitted to while on the stand. I am grateful for the efforts of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit that investigated this crime, as well as the members of the Intelligence and Investigative Division of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services which assisted in the gang-related investigation and recovery of evidence in this case.. ", "Was this Murder Victim also a Serial Killer? Published: 11:01 EST, 5 August 2021 | Updated: 12:44 EST, 5 August 2021. Gotti also organized a business partnership which operated on the outside between his group and the Brotherhood and as a result of this business partnership, the group's power greatly expanded on the streets. I dont agree with interracial [relationships]. The discussion around racism has been both local and national. USAO Monitor Selection For Corporate Criminal Enforcement. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has characterized it as "the nation's oldest major white supremacist prison gang and a national crime syndicate" while the . Identifiers and Symbols Identifiers and symbols are an important part to any gang. There might be 29 current leaders in solitary confinement, but this does not stop crimes from being committed (SPLC, n.d.). Most prisons in the United States were racially segregated until the 1960s. It is moderately active in organized crime and the Canadian prison system. (WJZ) -- Joseph Leissler, a leader of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood gang in the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, was convicted on murder and gang charges stemming from the killing of John O'Sullivan, a member of a rival gang, Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said Monday. Claires recommendations need to be signed off on by a U.S. District judge before the suit is thrown out. Almony, 37, referred to his former father figure as Big Joe or Nazi Joe while explaining to the jury how the white supremacist gang made money selling drugs and food, recruited members including correctional officers and battled to earn a reputation for violence under Leisslers direction. Thanks for contacting us. June 9, 2021 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A one-time top member of the notorious Aryan Brotherhood who claimed to have turned his life around after 45 years in prison is now charged with defrauding Northern Californians out of nearly $400,000 in unemployment benefits. Members also have a fondness for medieval Vikings and the pirates of the Golden Age. A man left a bullet-riddled car with three dead men inside it at the ER. [8][7] The gangs were also involved in a power struggle in the East Bay, which led to the killing of Hells Angels vice-president Michael O'Farrell on June 6, 1989. Thats exactly how I feel, Leissler said from the stand. I never ever said I ordered a hit on OSullivan, Leissler said, his body leaned into the microphone and his voice broadcasted throughout the courtroom. OSullivan was a ranking member of a rival gang, Dead Man Incorporated (DMI). As authorities in Lake County are fighting to keep Thompson incarcerated he is being held without bail on a parole violation, on top of the 33-count complaint lawyers with the California Attorney Generals office are fighting to hold together a 1986 double murder conviction while acknowledging that one of its key witnesses, Thompson, is not to be trusted. Two members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a national neo-Nazi prison gang that's led by Leissler in Maryland, stabbed and cut O'Sullivan 54 times in the hallway of Jessup Correctional Institution.. Thompson and Hutchins also were accused of falsely applying for EDD benefits themselves, alleging they were working while they were still in prison, and they are suspected of $1.5 million in loan fraud, authorities said. Michael Lynne Thompson spent 45 years in California prisons after his conviction in two murders in Orange County in 1973, eventually becoming a leader in the notorious Aryan Brotherhood. Hutchins was arrested in late May, according to jail records. Bay Area man admits to selling heroin in case that led to massive Aryan Brotherhood bust Two Universal Aryan Brotherhood (UAB) influential gang members pleaded guilty Tuesday for conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise that committed acts of murder, kidnapping, the trafficking of methamphetamine and firearms, money laundering, assault, and robbery throughout the State of Oklahoma, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. The attack was in retaliation for an assault on one of their members at Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown. The group's origins date back to 1985, when it was founded by several former Aryan Brotherhood members and others rejected for membership. [16] The first of a series of trials involving four high level members ended in convictions in July 2006. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles, Alleged Aryan Brotherhood members agree to make video court appearances, avoiding legal battle over 'unprecedented' restrictions. But it is unknown by authorities if these two groups are officially linked together or not. He and co-defendant Eric Hutchins, 45, are accused of taking advantage of at least 16 people last year as the state Employment Development Department was handing out money to help those whose jobs were lost because of business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. 12.06.10. The gang has focused on the economic activities which organized crime entities typically engage in, particularly drug trafficking, extortion, inmate prostitution, and murder-for-hire. He was featured in two early 2000s TV documentaries on the Aryan Brotherhood, where he said he dropped out and began cooperating with authorities over outrage that the gangs other leaders authorized an Aryan Brotherhood member named Curtis Price to murder the father of a former gang member. Shortly after, an inmate, identified as John OSullivan, entered his cell to retrieve his belongings to take a shower when he was attacked by three inmates, identified as Vincent Bunner, Calvin Lockner and Brian Hare. Its my hope that the verdict provides the loved ones of Mr. OSullivan with a sense of solace, now that the fourth person involved in his death was held accountable and sentenced., In a victim impact statement read in court, Mr. OSullivans mother wrote that life has been turned upside down since his death. After dedicating himself to the Christian Identity and after the moving to Idaho Butler founded the Aryan Nations and would become one of the most well known and influential leaders of the American Nationalist Group. The trio stabbed OSullivan with homemade metal knives. The jury thought otherwise. After a six-year investigation, prosecutors have charged dozens of Aryan Brotherhood leaders and members with a litany of counts that includes 32 murders. Yandell, serving a life sentence for a double murder, is described as one of the gang's three-member leadership commission, as is Troxell. California has said bogus EDD payouts to fraudsters including prisoners on death row cost it about $11 billion. [29]:325, In an investigation in California prisons which ended in 1989, the FBI characterized the Brotherhood as a "violent, white supremacist group",[30] and a 2008 DHS intelligence conference in Newport, Rhode Island divided violent domestic extremism into three types, and concluded that white supremacist groups like Aryan Brotherhood remained a threat and a cause for concern. Guards have alleged finding three phones, plastic wrappers and power cables concealed in the seat cushion of Macnamara's wheelchair. On June 1, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a twelve-count Superseding Indictment against Change Alan Wilson and Deanna Dannett Wilson. And Leissler, who has a Nazi swastika tattooed on his chest and requires his members to ink the symbol on their bodies, has a Jewish fianc and Black family members, he told the jury. Fountain used similar tactics to kill Robert Hoffman. (WJZ) -- Joseph Leissler, a leader of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood gang in the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, was convicted on murder and gang charges. Brady is there facing a slew of federal charges, including carrying out a prison murder on behalf of the Aryan Brotherhood. Two members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a national neo-Nazi prison gang thats led by Leissler in Maryland, stabbed and cut OSullivan 54 times in the hallway of Jessup Correctional Institution. Sylvester and his cellmate, Yandell, allegedly used smuggled cell phones to organize heroin and methamphetamine in California. [28], The initial motivation for the formation of the group in San Quentin in 1964 was self-protection against an existing black prison gang. The jury deliberated for about two hours. Brian Hare, who stood lookout during the attack, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. / CBS San Francisco. October 12, 2021 pgagameday Comments Off. Johnson named the Aryan Brotherhood, Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, and the Aryan Circle as examples of white supremacist prison-based gangs which are radicalization threats. If convicted of engaging in a monetary transaction using drug proceeds, Deanna Wilson faces a period of imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of not more than $250,000 (or a fine of twice the value of the property involved in the transaction whichever is greater). Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Snyder is prosecuting the case. [28] Investigators saw evidence that Aryan Brotherhood members were operating outside of prisons and noticed connections between the gang and violent crimes, firearms trafficking, and drug trafficking. [4] History [ edit] [37] Other rival gangs include the Black P. Stones, Bloods, Crips, D.C. Leissler, 52, was convicted on charges of first-degree murder, three gang-related charges and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. A spokesman for Jones declined to comment to Newsweek, citing pending litigation. [17] In the early 1970s, the Aryan Brotherhood had a connection with Charles Manson and the Manson Family. The Anne Arundel County Government consists of Departments and Offices as well as Boards & Commissions and other entities. (Handout photo) Joining is difficult. Three suspected members. The Aryan Brotherhood, also known as the Brand or the AB, is a neo-Nazi prison gang and an organized crime syndicate which is based in the United States and has an estimated 15,000-20,000 members both inside and outside prisons. Black Guerilla Family leader Hugo 'Yogi' Pinell, a killer with ties to the 1960s black revolutionary movement, was killed by the Aryan Brotherood in 2015, it is alleged. Defense attorneys Thomas Rafter and Jane McGough didnt try to argue that Leissler wasnt involved in a gang. Crime and Public Safety | His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 2. In 2020, two of the accomplices, Bunner and Lockner, were tried and convicted of second degree murder and were each sentenced to the maximum time of 30 years consecutive to sentences they were already serving. On October 22, 1983, gang members from the Aryan Brotherhood killed two correction officers at Marion. LAKEPORT Before being freed from state prison after more than 40 years behind bars, ex-Aryan Brotherhood leader Michael Lynn Thompson promised the parole board hed dedicate his life to philanthropy through his self-help program called Live, Learn & Prosper. In the lawsuit, Yandell says he has been locked in a cell for 23 hours a day after being transferred to Sacramento County Main Jail in July 2019. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Criminal activities inside prison walls include male prostitution, gambling, extortion, and drug trafficking,[4] primarily involving methamphetamines. [1][25][26][27] Bingham and Mills were convicted of murder and sent back to United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility Prison (ADX) in Florence, Colorado, escaping the death penalty. A collection of tools and resources developed to empower citizens with information. Megyn Kelly asks what it will take for CNN boss Chris Licht to fire Don Lemon after repeated gaffes at women's expense, Liam Neeson reveals he was offered to play James Bond in the 1990s but his future wife Natasha Richardson wouldn't marry him if he took the role, Ex-Mets pitching coach Phil Regan, 85, sues for age discrimination after being let go in 2019 because he was 'too old' at 82. He was paroled after turning on the group and cooperating with authorities in criminal cases. The Aryan Brotherhood has members inside federal and state prisons, and outside on the streets. He claimed to have been a high-ranking leader of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang who taught himself to read and earned college degrees while in prison. Reference is made to public filings for further information. Their testimony included the rule that only a high-ranking gang member could order an attack on OSullivan because of his status as an elder in a rival gang. The prosecutors added that the prisoners' dangerous behavior was evident as they continued to commit crimes while being held at Sacramento County Jail and New Folsom Prison, The Mercury News reports. However, Mi. The Aryan Brotherhood is a smart gang with many ways of getting around the law. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ex-Aryan Brotherhood leader charged with massive California unemployment fraud scheme Ex-Aryan Brotherhood leader charged with, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Ex-Aryan Brotherhood leader charged with massive California unemployment fraud scheme after being paroled from murder case. A jury found Leissler guilty of all charges which included first degree murder, supervising a criminal gang, participation in a criminal gang resulting in death, participation in a criminal gang, and conspiracy to commit first degree murder on August 23, 2021. 1,[35][36] and the national hate-based organization Aryan Nations. Prosecutors say one murder victim was a longtime leader of a rival black gang, killed just days after he was released from decades of solitary confinement. [22][23], In April 1993, members of the Aryan Brotherhood along with members of the Black Muslims and other gangs in the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility initiated the Lucasville Prison Riot in Lucasville. A message seeking comment from the county public defenders office, which represents the men, wasnt immediately returned after hours on Wednesday. [4], In its early days, the group had a one-man, one-vote system, but this broke down as a result of the group's rapid expansion, and it was replaced by the establishment of a hierarchical structure, headed by a 12-man council, and overseen by a three-member commission. Authorities have been trying to bring down the Aryan Brotherhood, also known as The Brand, for decades. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller agreed that the decision was 'unprecedented,' and defense attorney's argued that the move infringes upon their clients' right to face criminal charges in person. [20][21], By the 1990s, the Aryan Brotherhood had shifted its focus away from killing for strictly racial reasons and focused on organized crime such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and sanctioned murders. On August 9, 1982, the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office opened a. Barry Byron Mills, a convicted murderer, was the leader of the Aryan Brotherhood until his death in 2018. [33] The group also has an alliance with the Mexican Mafia (La Eme), as the two are mutual enemies of Black Guerrilla Family. [41], An analysis by Slate describes the Aryan prison gang classification as "further outside the white supremacy mainstream", and describes them as largely independent of other white supremacist groups, although the lines blurred as time went on. The major gangs . The group's membership ballooned throughout the 1990s as Aryan Circle members waged . Silverstein killed an officer named Merle Clutts, stabbing him approximately 40 times. Prosecutors allege that the men, who had met in prison, bilked mainly homeless people or transients who were living off Social Security or disability payments by pretending to counsel them, the Sacramento Bee reported. "And in most of these cases they never got any of the unemployment.". [17] Sentencing occurred in March 2006 for three of the most powerful leaders of the gang, including Barry Mills and Tyler Bingham, who were indicted for numerous crimes, including murder, conspiracy, drug trafficking, and racketeering and for ordering killings and beatings from their cells. OSullivan was set to get out of prison just months after the attack. Pinell became infamous. [17] This situation was personified when, after being assaulted by an African-American inmate while incarcerated in Marion Federal Penitentiary in 1996, Gambino crime family boss John Gotti allegedly asked the Aryan Brotherhood to murder his attacker. It was originally nicknamed the "Diamond Tooth Gang" because of the glass shards that some members put in their teeth. When he was finally granted parole in 2019 after more than a dozen denials, he pledged that his life of crime was over and said hed taken a vow of nonviolence that would last for the rest of his days. I want Almond dead. Gotti's attacker was immediately transferred to protective custody and the planned retaliation was abandoned. Leissler, who is serving life in prison for his role in robbing and killing a disabled man in Kensington, faces two possible life sentences. District Courts (Annapolis & Glen Burnie). Now Thompson stands accused not of violent crimes, but exploitative white collar offenses, such as bilking homeless people out of unemployment, or signing up a fake Southern California firefighting company for $1.5 million in business loans. With almost 54,000 businesses, Anne Arundel County is a major hub of commerce and development. I want Lockner dead. Nuestra Familia. Leissler was found guilty on all five counts, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and supervising a gang that resulted in OSullivans death. New members were branded with a tattoo, following the procedure in a prison novel popular among inmates. 34 Aryan Brotherhood members or associates were arrested and warrants were issued for the arrests of ten more. OSullivan succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene. Michael Thompson, 69, was arrested Monday in Lake County. Related Articles According to federal prosecutors, the men were plotting to smuggle cellphones into the Sacramento County Jail and discussed 'taking out' a person who had introduced on their wives to an undercover federal agent. For years, it remained relatively small, then began . Despite its racist philosophy, the Aryan Brotherhood had a drug smuggling partnership with the Mexican Mafia, prosecutors claim. Department DirectoryBoards & CommissionsOther Entities, Anne Arundel County provides a wide array of services and programs for its Citizens, Businesses, and Visitors. The two men stabbed Smith 67 times. Annapolis, Md. That case involves Curtis Floyd Price, who was allegedly ordered by the white supremacist gang to murder Richard Barnes, a Los Angeles resident whose son, Steven Barnes, had dropped out of the gang and agreed to testify against its members. 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