Russellville, AR – Five associates of the white supremacist gang “New Aryan Empire” (NAE) are headed to federal prison following guilty pleas and sentencing for crimes ranging from drug trafficking to kidnapping. The sentences, handed down this week, represent a significant blow to the gang’s operations in Pope County and beyond, but the feds warn the fight isn’t over.
Russell Robinson, 38, of Dover, Arkansas, received the harshest sentence – 204 months – after admitting to kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, and maiming in aid of racketeering. The charges stem from a brutal attack connected to the NAE’s attempts to control the local drug trade. Federal prosecutors detailed how Robinson used violence to enforce the gang’s dominance and silence rivals.
Four other NAE members also received substantial prison terms. Jeffrey Howell, 42, will spend 188 months behind bars. Richard Hampton, 35, Tiffany Parker, 31, and April Teeter, 29, each received 96 months, except Teeter who was sentenced to 90 months, all for conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine. Each will also face five years of supervised release upon completion of their sentences. The investigation, dubbed “To The Dirt,” revealed a sophisticated network built on intimidation and the relentless push of meth into the region.
The case began in 2016, a joint operation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, the Russellville Police Department, and the FBI. What started as a probe into local drug activity quickly unraveled a larger conspiracy: the NAE, initially formed as a prison gang, had successfully transitioned into a major drug trafficking organization, leveraging its established network and violent reputation.
According to court documents, the NAE wasn’t just about ideology. It was about power and profit. The gang’s motto centered around racial purity and a strict code of membership, but its actions focused on expanding its control over the methamphetamine market. The feds say the NAE’s internal rules dictated harsh punishments for infractions, fostering a climate of fear and violence that extended beyond prison walls. Over 50 individuals have been convicted so far as a result of the “To The Dirt” investigation.
While these sentences represent a victory, federal prosecutors acknowledge the NAE isn’t completely dismantled. One fugitive remains at large, and the feds are continuing to investigate potential remaining associates and financial networks. The message is clear: the crackdown on the New Aryan Empire is ongoing, and anyone still involved in their criminal enterprise will be pursued relentlessly. The streets of Pope County, and beyond, are a little less dangerous with these five locked up, but the fight against organized white supremacist crime is far from over.
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