Three Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Members Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges

HOUSTON—Three members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang (ABT) pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to their membership in the ABT’s criminal enterprise, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Sammy Keith Shipman, aka “Stubby,” 31, of Houston, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Judge Sim Lake to one count of conspiracy to participating in racketeering activity.

William David Maynard, aka “Baby Huey,” 43, of Houston, pleaded guilty November 20, 2013. Dustin Lee Harris, aka “Lightning,” 29, of Dallas, pleaded guilty November 19, 2013. Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participating in racketeering activity.

According to court documents, Shipman, Maynard, Harris, and other ABT gang members and associates agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping, and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT gang. The defendants and numerous other ABT gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout Texas to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary assaults against fellow gang members and discuss acts of violence against rival gang members, among other things.

By pleading guilty to racketeering charges, Shipman, Maynard, and Harris admitted to being members of the ABT criminal enterprise and committing multiple acts of violence and/or narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT.

According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s. According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

Court documents allege that the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, assault, robbery, and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members, and oftentimes associates, were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”

According to the superseding indictment, in order to be considered for ABT membership, a person must be sponsored by another gang member. Once sponsored, a prospective member must serve an unspecified term, during which he is referred to as a prospect, while his conduct is observed by the members of the ABT.

At sentencing, scheduled for February 20, 2014, Shipman, Maynard, and Harris each face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Shipman, Maynard, and Harris are four of 36 defendants charged with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. To date, 18 defendants have pleaded guilty.

This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Public Safety; Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Office of Inspector General; sheriff’s offices in Harris, Tarrant, Atascosa, Orange, and Waller Counties; police departments in Alvin, Carrollton, and Mesquite Texas; and the Montgomery and Atascosa County District Attorney’s Offices.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.