Aryan Brotherhood Member Admits Meth Trafficking

BEAUMONT, TX – The streets of Jefferson County are a little less flooded with poison today after 41-year-old Chad Piazza of Port Acres admitted to running meth in the area. Piazza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on December 9, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone, according to a release from U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.

The case, built on evidence gathered since January 2012, reveals Piazza wasn’t working alone. He teamed up with Wendy Claudine Hopkins, 45, of Groves, Texas, to push the deadly drug throughout Jefferson County. But what makes this case particularly disturbing is the revelation that Piazza is a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), and exploited that connection to further his criminal enterprise.

Federal investigators say Piazza leveraged his ABT affiliation to facilitate the drug trade. A grand jury handed down an indictment on May 15, 2014, charging both Piazza and Hopkins with drug trafficking violations. Piazza made his guilty plea right as jury selection for his trial was about to begin, effectively cutting his losses.

Hopkins, too, has already copped a plea, admitting to the same charge on November 5, 2014. Both defendants now face a minimum of 10 years in federal prison, a small price to pay for peddling misery. Sentencing dates remain unconfirmed, leaving a degree of uncertainty for both criminals.

The takedown was a joint effort, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Port Arthur Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office all contributing to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross led the prosecution, ensuring these two will answer for their crimes.

This bust is a stark reminder that the Aryan Brotherhood’s reach extends beyond prison walls, infiltrating communities and fueling the drug trade. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of both Piazza and Hopkins, as well as any further developments related to the ABT’s criminal activities in Texas.