Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

More than 60 Aryan Brotherhood Gang Members and Associates Arrested for Violent Crime, Firearms, Fraud, and Drug Trafficking
justice.gov ^ | November 20, 2020 | U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of California

Posted on 11/29/2020 9:34:21 AM PST by ransomnote

FRESNO, Calif. — As part of a multi-agency operation, more than 60 individuals associated with the Aryan Brotherhood were arrested in California, Nevada and Montana on federal and state charges in connection with their gang activities, including violent crimes, illegal firearms trafficking and possession and drug trafficking.

The charges were announced today by U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman of the ATF’s San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office, and Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims.

“For the second time in less than 18 months, we are announcing federal charges against Aryan Brotherhood members and associates, a violent gang operating in California prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Scott. “Yesterday, five inmates were transferred to federal custody from California state prisons. All were serving lengthy sentences, two were serving life sentences for murder. We are committed to doing everything we can to stop these violent inmates from orchestrating their criminal activities from inside prison walls.”

“This operation was an expansive multi-agency law enforcement investigation into the ongoing violent criminal activity conducted by the Aryan Brotherhood and associated gangs throughout the Fresno area and the nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Gorman. “ATF and our law enforcement partners knew that if we effectively and efficiently leveraged our resources and specialties that we would accomplish much more together than we could alone. From the outset, we had a clear plan and a sharp focus for running an investigation that would impact the community for the better. Thanks to a tremendous amount of great work on the street level, we have accomplished what we set out to do.”

“The FBI continues to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure we all have safe neighborhoods for our families. Our collaborative investigation is a testament to the success of a multi-agency approach to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling criminal organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Ragan. “In addition to the significant efforts of our partners, FBI agents, deputized task force officers, intelligence analysts, and support personnel alone have committed more than 6,000 hours of work to the success of this operation since August 2019.”

Earlier this year, investigators began seeing evidence that Aryan Brotherhood (AB) members and associates in prison were directing criminal activities outside of the prison walls. The AB is gang formed in the California prison system in about 1964 by white inmates who wanted to gain power and authority in prison. It includes other associated gangs, such as Fresnecks, Peckerwoods, and Skinheads.

During the course of the investigation, robberies, murders, drug trafficking, pervasive fraud, and firearms offenses occurring in Fresno, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Inyo, and other areas in California, were tied to the AB prison gang. Eventually, the investigation reached as far as Montana, Missouri, Idaho, and Alabama. Eleven acts of violence were intercepted before they were accomplished, and over 80 pounds of methamphetamine, 5 pounds of heroin, and over 25 firearms were seized.

According to the federal complaint, a network of defendants engaged in a series of firearms and drug trafficking offenses, mostly led by defendants Robert Eversole, Kenneth Bash, and Todd Morgan. The drug offenses involved pound quantities of methamphetamine, and the trafficking extended outside of California. Additionally, several defendants participated in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs and dangerous contraband into prisons. The complaint also alleges illegal firearms possession related to a plan to commit a murder. The complaint charges the following defendants:

1)         Kenneth Bash, aka “Bash” of Salinas Valley State Prison (drug trafficking)

2)         Robert Eversole, aka “Rage,” of Kern Valley State Prison (firearms and drug trafficking)

3)         Stephanie Madsen of Torrance (drug trafficking)

4)         Todd Morgan, aka “Fox,” of Salinas Valley State Prison (drug trafficking)

5)         David Zachocki, aka “Lil David Z,” of Lodi (felon in possession of a firearm)

6)         Cody Brown of Atascadero (drug trafficking)

7)         Regina Broomall, aka “G,” of Santa Maria (firearms trafficking)

8)         Geoffrey Guess, aka “Active,” of Fresno (firearms trafficking)

9)         Angel Lopez, aka “Rascal,” of Salinas Valley State Prison (drug trafficking)

10)       Joseph McWilliams, aka “Janky,” (drug trafficking, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense)

11)       James Armstrong (drug trafficking)

12)       Marlon Palmer, aka “P-Nut,” of Salinas Valley State Prison (drug trafficking)

13)       Samantha Booth of Clovis (drug trafficking)

14)       Jacob Renshaw, aka “Shredder,” in custody in Montana (drug trafficking)

15)       Amanda Gourley, aka “Biggie,” of Fresno (drug trafficking)

The Fresno County District Attorney’s office has charged more than 30 people in connection with this investigation for gang conspiracy, fraud and violent crimes including kidnapping, carjacking, assault with a firearm and arson.

As part of this operation, 39 federal and state search warrants were served in Fresno, Santa Maria, Los Angeles, and Montana. Multiple guns, and over 7 pounds of methamphetamine, prescription pills and heroin were found and seized as a result of these searches. Additionally, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation conducted searches of 63 cells in 14 state prisons in California related to this investigation. Among the items seized in the prisons were cellphones and drugs.

This investigation was conducted by the California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Special Services Unit (SSU).

Assisting in the arrests were the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bishop Police Department, and the Clovis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Stokman and Thomas Newman, and Fresno County Deputy District Attorneys Robert Veneman-Hughes and Dennis Lewis are handling the prosecutions.

The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Topic(s): 
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime
 


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

1 posted on 11/29/2020 9:34:21 AM PST by ransomnote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

Be nice if they applied the same effort to antifa and blm.


2 posted on 11/29/2020 9:41:29 AM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

When are they going to release a list of all the black and Hispanic street gang members that the DoJ has arrested? Are there any? Or are they just targeting the smallest of the street gangs?


3 posted on 11/29/2020 9:43:05 AM PST by euram
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

Good - I have no problem with this. Now do Antifa.


4 posted on 11/29/2020 9:46:18 AM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: euram

No they are targeting the white supremacists because they are the biggest threat to the US.

DHS told us so.


5 posted on 11/29/2020 9:46:51 AM PST by hercuroc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: facedown

“Be nice if they applied the same effort to antifa and blm.”

You beat me to it.... my thoughts exactly.


6 posted on 11/29/2020 9:47:38 AM PST by DOC44
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: facedown

Wanted to join but they said they didn’t accept Jews.

BLM won’t let me in either.

Sure as heck can’t get “affirmative action,” even though we won lots of Nobel Prizes and stuff just like Obama did.

I guess I’m one of those privileged “minorities” only in the eyes of the Aryan Brotherhood.


7 posted on 11/29/2020 9:48:03 AM PST by golux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: facedown

It should be obvious by now - the FBI can find and use any law they need to prosecute someone/something for political ends.


8 posted on 11/29/2020 9:49:03 AM PST by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: euram
When are they going to release a list of all the black and Hispanic street gang members that the DoJ has arrested? Are there any? Or are they just targeting the smallest of the street gangs?

~~~~~~~~~

I've seen numerous DOJ posts on take downs (large, RICO prosecution) of mixed races, black and Hispanic gangs. Yesterday there was a take down of 700 thugs including MS-13 and 18th Street gang members.

More than 700 Members Of Transnational Organized Crime Groups Arrested in Central America in U.S. Assisted Operation

Today, senior law enforcement officials from the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras announced criminal charges in Central America against more than 700 members of transnational criminal organizations, primarily MS-13 and 18th Street gangs, which resulted from a one-week coordinated law enforcement action under Operation Regional Shield (ORS).

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/more-700-members-transnational-organized-crime-groups-arrested-central-america-us-assisted

 


9 posted on 11/29/2020 9:50:40 AM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: facedown

They are democrat owned not a chance.


10 posted on 11/29/2020 9:51:04 AM PST by Vaduz (women and children to be impacIQ of chimpsted the most.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

The feds and state focus on the white gang

Meanwhile the largest prison gang there is

The Sureños are tooling along unencumbered

Just like the free world

Get the white guy


11 posted on 11/29/2020 9:51:45 AM PST by wardaddy (I applaud Jim Robinson for his comments on the Southern Monuments decision ...thank you run the tra)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: facedown

So, did I miss that they’re Trump supporters? Funny thing, and not saying they’re related, we drove past the local Hells Angels chapter clubhouse yesterday and they had Trump flags flying.


12 posted on 11/29/2020 9:52:10 AM PST by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: golux

It’s funny You bring that up

One of the most feared leaders of the Tip was part Jewish and another was adopted Jewish

Too funny huh

ABs are not really racist hard core

It’s survival

They love the Surenos ....So Cal mexicans ...country’s largest gang and most powerful

The joint....your skin is your uniform....you have no choice in any serious prison ....even Jews....even liberal Jews

You do hard time....that Jew will be cliqued up with the Woodpile

Or giving up commissary and booty to some DC black


13 posted on 11/29/2020 9:55:55 AM PST by wardaddy (I applaud Jim Robinson for his comments on the Southern Monuments decision ...thank you run the tra)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

The feds and state focus on the white gang

Meanwhile the largest prison gang there is

The Sureños are tooling along unencumbered

Just like the free world

Get the white guy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve been watching DOJ website for awhile now. Many non-white gang/drugs/guns busts in RICO litigation.


14 posted on 11/29/2020 9:57:03 AM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: golux

Btw

Teasing Tyler Bingham about being part Jew or Tommy Silverstein for being adopted Jewish

Would have been very fool hardy

Both were homicidal sociopaths with high body counts of actual or ordered killings

Bingham probably was responsible for the deaths of at least 30 people

Tommy like the up close wet work stuff


15 posted on 11/29/2020 9:59:08 AM PST by wardaddy (I applaud Jim Robinson for his comments on the Southern Monuments decision ...thank you run the tra)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

Huh.

So President Trump doesn’t just enforce the laws against Americans of African Descent.


16 posted on 11/29/2020 9:59:09 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

Huh.

So President Trump doesn’t just enforce the laws against Americans of African Descent.

~~~~~~~~~
Exactly! :D


17 posted on 11/29/2020 10:00:09 AM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

Good.

Now do something about the thousands of AntiFa and BLM goons.


18 posted on 11/29/2020 10:03:02 AM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek
"Good - I have no problem with this. Now do Antifa."
No way in hell will they touch one of the leaders of Antifa Eric Coomer
19 posted on 11/29/2020 10:03:03 AM PST by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric Cartman voice* 'I love you, guys')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: golux

“Wanted to join but they said they didn’t accept Jews.

BLM won’t let me in either.”

Not fair. You should start your own gang.


20 posted on 11/29/2020 10:04:58 AM PST by HereInTheHeartland (Leave me alone, I have no incriminating evidence on the Clintons)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson