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Two More Aryan Warrior Gang Members Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Sentences for Federal Racketeering Convictions

U.S. Attorney’s Office December 09, 2009
  • District of Nevada (703) 388-6336

LAS VEGAS—Aryan Warrior gang members Charles Gensemer, 45, and Robert Young, 31, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to 35 years and 17 years in prison, respectively, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Gensemer and Young were convicted by a federal jury in July of federal racketeering conspiracy charges, consisting of multiple acts of murder, attempted murder, extortion, operating an illegal gambling business, identity theft and fraud, and drug trafficking.

Three of the five gang members convicted in July have now been sentenced. James Wallis, aka “Gargoyle,” 48, a member of the Aryan Warrior prison/street gang, was sentenced last month to 25 years in prison. Kenneth Krum, aka “Yum Yum,” 49, and Michael Wayne Yost, aka “Big Mike,” 55, are scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2009.

Fourteen defendants were originally charged in the case in 2007. Seven pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 5 to 16 years, and Ronald “Joey” Sellers is awaiting trial. In addition, Michael Kennedy, an admitted leader of the Aryan Warriors pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy in a related case and awaits sentencing. Michael Calabrese, an associate of the Aryan Warriors, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony gun possession and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

During the six-week jury trial that extended into July, the government established that the “Aryan Warriors,” is a criminal organization that operates inside the Nevada prison system and in certain communities in Nevada. The organization offers protection to white inmates if they join the criminal enterprise, and they assert control over other prisoners through violence and extortion. They also corrupt guards, extort money and favors from prisoners’ family members, distribute illegal drugs, and run extensive illegal gambling operations. Members adhere to written manifestos, introduced into evidence, which set forth positions or ranks within the enterprise and which direct members and prospects to gain access to computer records, prison records and court records. Members and associates of the Aryan Warriors elicit communications with prison staff for the purpose of identifying inmates and prison staff whom they perceive as contrary to their racial cause and a danger to their illegal activities.

Specific evidence introduced at trial demonstrated that Gensemer operated one of the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratories ever discovered in Nevada, and that he became a member of the organization after orchestrating the burning of a fellow inmate. The government also introduced evidence that Gensemer attacked and beat four individuals, in addition to his attempted murder, the court found, of another man. During the execution of a search warrant in April 2006, law enforcement discovered numerous firearms and ammunition at Gensemer’s residence, located near McCarran International Airport. A search of another residence of Gensemer yielded a bunker and materials used to manufacture methamphetamine.

At trial, the government presented the testimony of victims extorted by Young while a prisoner at Ely. Additionally, the government established that Young and other Aryan Warrior “prospects” committed the brutal beating of Scott Irvin, another Aryan Warrior who had fallen from favor. Young received his “stripes” for the attack, which secured his position within the organization. In Young’s cell, law enforcement discovered numerous “Mo-Slaying” letters, representative of a scheme by the Aryan Warriors to solicit money from homosexuals, as well as photographs of a horribly beaten Irvin.

As a criminal enterprise, the defendants were also charged, in the RICO Conspiracy, with murdering inmate Jacob Armstrong at the Nevada state prison in Ely and committing numerous violent assaults both inside and outside the state prison system, including the stabbing of co-defendant Guy Almony at the North Las Vegas Detention Center while awaiting trial.

The cases were investigated by the FBI and Nevada Department of Corrections Inspector General’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Bliss and Nicholas D. Dickinson and Thom Gover of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Other agencies that have contributed to the investigated include the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Nye County Sheriff’s Department.

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