Justin Petty, 41, a Los Angeles-based associate of the Aryan Brotherhood (AB) prison gang, has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. The U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced the plea today.
Between 2011 and 2016, Petty was part of an AB operation that engaged in multiple acts of murder and drug trafficking. His involvement included overseeing the distribution of narcotics from prison cells to the streets. He used smuggled cellphones to direct his criminal activities, including membership recruitment and criminal orders.
On September 6, 2016, Petty’s package was intercepted at CSP-Sacramento, containing contraband items such as cellphones, drugs, and tools hidden in food packages. Another package contained over 200 grams of heroin and 120 grams of methamphetamine.
This case is part of a larger investigation involving sixteen defendants charged with federal racketeering and other violent crimes. Nine were inmates, including Ronald Yandell and Billy Sylvester, who directed the drug trafficking operation from their prison cell using contraband cellphones.
Other defendants have also entered guilty pleas for various charges related to the conspiracy, including Nickolas Perez, Donald Mazza, Travis Burhop, Samuel Keeton, and Kristen Demar. This investigation was a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies.
Petty is set to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on May 8, 2023, facing life in prison and a fine up to $10 million.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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