Aryan Brotherhood Members Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges
Two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang members have pleaded guilty to
racketeering charges related to their membership in the ABT's criminal
enterprise, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of
the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth
Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.
Steven Worthey, of San Antonio, Texas, pleaded guilty last week before
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake in the Southern District of Texas to one
count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. James Lawrence
Burns, aka "Chance," of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to the
same charge on July 3, 2014.
According to court documents, Worthey, Burns 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. Worthey,
Burns and numerous 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, Worthey and Burns admitted
to being members of the ABT criminal enterprise.
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 violated the rules or posed 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.
Worthey and Burns are both scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 8, 2014.
Each faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Worthey and Burns are two of 36 defendants charged with conducting racketeering
activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. To
date, 32 defendants have pleaded guilty.
This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force 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; U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department
of Public Safety; Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff's Office; Houston
Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice
– Office of Inspector General; Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's
Office; Atascosa County, Texas, Sheriff's Office; Orange County, Texas,
Sheriff's Office; Waller County, Texas, Sheriff's Office; Alvin,
Texas, Police Department; Carrollton, Texas, Police Department; Mesquite,
Texas, Police Department; Montgomery County District Attorney's Office;
and the Atascosa County District Attorney's Office.
The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Division's Organized
Crime and Gang Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern
District of Texas.
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