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Press Release

25 Waco Area Aryan Brotherhood Members And Associates Charged In Connection With Methamphetamine Distribution Operation

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

In the Waco area today, federal and state authorities arrested 21 Aryan Brotherhood (AB) members and associates, including ranking AB members 54–year-old Wayne Huisinger of Belton, TX, and  39–year-old Robert Eaton of Kempner, Texas, for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher H. Combs, San Antonio Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division. 

A federal grand jury indictment, unsealed this afternoon, charges 20 of the 21 arrested, as well as four others who were already in custody prior to today, with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  Robert Helms, age 29, of Temple, TX, who was also arrested this morning, was charged today by a federal criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  Helms faces up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.  A list of the defendants is below. 

The indictment alleges that since November 2013, the defendants conspired to distribute various amounts of methamphetamine.  During this 10-month-long operation, investigators conducted several controlled methamphetamine purchases.  To date, authorities have seized approximately nine pounds of “crystal” methamphetamine, 15 firearms, over $9,000 in U.S. Currency and other assets in connection with this investigation.

“These charges resulted from unprecedented collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement targeting a large-scale prison gang involved in violent organized crime over three counties in Central Texas,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.  “This effort not only exemplifies our commitment to prevent gang violence and criminal activity from poisoning our communities, but it also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute the leaders and members of these violent criminal enterprises regardless of where they lay their heads.”

“Operation ‘La Flama Blanca’ has inflicted a debilitating blow to the network of shadow and often violent facilitators of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas,” said Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration--Houston Field Division.  “This operation highlights a deliberate and strategic effort to cut off and shut down the supply of methamphetamine trafficked by the Aryan Brotherhood and the corresponding impact that this horrific drug inflicts on our communities.”

Upon conviction, the defendants face a statutory penalty of between ten years and life imprisonment for distributing more than 500 grams; between five and 40 years imprisonment for distributing between 50 grams and 500 grams; or, up to 20 years imprisonment for distributing less than 50 grams. 

These charges and arrests resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Temple Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Office of Inspector General, McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Coryell County Sheriff’s Office, Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Gatesville Police Department, Lampasas Police Department, Killeen Police Department and the Austin Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Frazier and Stephanie Smith-Burris are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government. 

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ARRESTED TODAY (21)

                                                                                                                                     STATUTORY
NAME                                                     AGE   RESIDENCE           AMOUNT      PENALTY

ROBERT EATON aka “Compound Rob”     39        Kempner, TX              > 500 grams     10 years to life
AMANDA PETRIE                                                34        Temple, TX                 > 500 grams     10 years to life
SYLVIA O’NEAL                                                     41        Temple                          > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
DAVID AGUILAR                                                  34        Belton, TX                   > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
ROBERT MORGAN aka “Hopper”                 44        Temple                         > 500 grams     10 years to life
WAYNE MARTIN HUISINGER                     54        Belton                           > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
LOREN SWANSON                                               39        Belton                           > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
ERIC GANOS                                                           39        Temple                         > 500 grams     10 years to life
DERRICK COOPER aka “Red”                        34        Temple                         > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
KIRT EASTER                                                       48        Belton                           > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
COLBY WARREN                                                 40        Gatesville, TX           > 50 grams           5 to 40 years   
NICOLE MARSHALL                                          34        Gatesville                    > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
CHRISTOPHER BRECKENRIDGE              39        Gatesville                    > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
ROBERT BLAKE DOTY                                    31        Temple                         < 50 grams          up to 20 years
SONYA WHITENBURG                                   22        Flat, TX                        > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
FARRON RUSSELL                                            33        Belton                            < 50 grams          up to 20 years
VICKI KAY LEVY                                               51        Belton                            < 50 grams           up to 20 years
RONNIE KNEPLER                                           53        Belton                            > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
RICKY LEVY                                                        53        Nolanville, TX           < 50 grams           up to 20 years
MICHELLE JOHNSON                                    46        Belton                            < 50 grams           up to 20 years
**ROBERT HELMS                                           29        Temple                          < 50 grams           up to 20 years

ALREADY IN CUSTODY PRIOR TO TODAY (4)

NAME                                                      AGE   RESIDENCE      AMOUNT      STAT. PENALTY

HENRY DAVID WALKER aka “Stalker”       52        Temple                     > 500 grams      10 years to life
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN                                           33        Temple                      > 50 grams            5 to 40 years
JAMES MALADY                                                     27        Belton                       < 50 grams          up to 20 years
OSCAR WALKER aka “Country”                      29        Temple                     > 500 grams       10 years to life

** Charged by criminal complaint.

Updated December 15, 2014