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57 white supremacist members busted in Texas drug sting

On Behalf of | May 30, 2018 | Drug Charges

Fifty-seven Texas white supremacist members have been charged with crimes related to drug trafficking and kidnapping conspiracy according to federal authorities. Of the defendants charged, 42 were arrested in late April, 9 of them were already in custody for unrelated crimes, and 6 are still at large. The charges were announced on April 30.

Court documents allege that the defendants are associated with several prison gangs known to promote white supremacy. These gangs include the Aryan Brotherhood, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, the Aryan Circle, the Dirty White Boys, the Peckerwoods and the Soldiers of Aryan Culture. Four of the defendants are charged with kidnapping a Grand Prairie man they claim stole money from them and chopping off part of his left index finger with an axe. Another defendant allegedly rammed an unmarked police car with a stolen SUV when officers attempted to arrest him on an outstanding burglary warrant at a hotel in November 2017. He was shot by officers, taken to a hospital for treatment and arrested. A subsequent search of his hotel room reportedly uncovered 111 grams of an illegal drug.

Most of the other defendants are charged with conspiring to traffic methamphetamine from October 2015 through April 2018. While investigating the alleged drug ring, federal officers reportedly seized 190 kilograms of methamphetamine, 31 firearms and $376,587 in cash.

Federal drug charges typically lead to more severe penalties than state drug charges. Individuals facing federal charges may wish to seek the guidance of a criminal defense attorney. After reviewing the evidence, an attorney may recommend fighting the charges in court. In other circumstances, legal counsel may opt to negotiate a plea deal that reduces the charges.

Source: Star-Telegram, “57 white supremacist gang members charged in ‘staggering’ Texas meth case, feds say,” Matthew Martinez, May 2, 2018

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