Five Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang members from Dallas were sentenced to prison this week for their roles in the violent ABT enterprise. The sentencing comes after a multi-agency task force, consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Public Safety; Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General; Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Atascosa County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Orange County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Waller County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Alvin, Texas, Police Department; Carrollton, Texas, Police Department; Mesquite, Texas, Police Department; Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office; and the Atascosa County District Attorney’s Office, investigated the case.
The defendants were ordered to serve the following terms: James Lawrence Burns, 44, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in the ABT enterprise; Kenneth Hancock, 34, received a 15-year prison sentence; Dustin Harris, 30, was ordered to serve 10 years in prison; Christopher Morris, 39, was also sentenced to 10 years in prison; and Clay Kirkland, 35, received a sentence of over 11 years in prison.
In addition to the sentencing, the investigation found that the ABT was a powerful race-based, statewide organization that operates inside and outside of state federal prisons throughout Texas and the United States. The gang’s hierarchical structure required members to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”
According to court documents, members of the ABT enforced their rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. To be considered for ABT membership, a person must be sponsored by another gang member and serve an unspecified term as a prospect, during which his conduct is observed by the members of the ABT.
The investigation and subsequent sentencing are part of a larger effort to dismantle the ABT and bring those responsible for its violent activities to justice. The case is being prosecuted by David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ed Gallagher and Tim Braley of the Southern District of Texas.
Overall, the sentencing of these five ABT members sends a strong message that the ABT’s violent activities will not be tolerated. The investigation and prosecution of this case are a significant step forward in the fight against organized crime in Texas and throughout the United States.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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