ABT Gang Leader Gets 87 Months for Texas Beating

Steven Walter Cooke, also known as ‘Stainless,’ was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in an aggravated assault that took place in Tomball, Texas, in September 2008.

According to court documents, Cooke, a high-ranking member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), pleaded guilty on March 16, 2012, to racketeering aggravated assault for his role in the beating of an ABT prospect member. The beating took place at Cooke’s home in Tomball on September 22, 2008, and left the victim with serious bodily injury, including an orbital blowout fracture.

The victim was beaten because he violated ABT rules of conduct. The ABT, a powerful race-based, state-wide organization, operated inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout the United States. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang formed in the California prison system during the 1960s.

The ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery, and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members and associates were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as ‘direct orders.’

Cooke’s sentence will run concurrent with a life sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on May 3, 2012, in the Eastern District of Texas in connection with Cooke’s role in a 2008 Liberty County, Texas, homicide. Eleven of the 12 co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to violent crimes in aid of racketeering aggravated assault. The 12th ABT gang member, David Harlow, 43, aka ‘Bam Bam,’ was found guilty at trial by Senior Judge Werlein on March 21, 2012, and was sentenced on July 27, 2012, to 120 months in prison.

The case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Texas Rangers; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Walker County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; the Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department; the Houston Police Department-Gang Division; the Tomball Police Department; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Inspector General; and the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman of the Southern District of Texas.

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