Aryan Brotherhood Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering Charges in Texas
HOUSTON, Texas – Two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang members have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to their membership in the ABT’s criminal enterprise.
Kenneth Michael Hancock, of Dallas, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. James Erik Sharron, aka ‘Flounder,’ of Houston, pleaded guilty to the same charge on July 14, 2014.
According to court documents, Hancock, Sharron, and other ABT gang members and associates agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping, and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT gang. Hancock, Sharron, and numerous ABT gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout Texas to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary assaults against fellow gang members, and discuss acts of violence against rival gang members, among other things.
By pleading guilty to racketeering charges, Hancock and Sharron admitted to being members of the ABT criminal enterprise.
The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s. According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.
Court documents allege that the ABT enforced its 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 violated the rules or posed a threat to the enterprise. Members, and oftentimes associates, were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as ‘direct orders.’
Hancock and Sharron are both scheduled to be sentenced on October 8, 2014. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Hancock and Sharron are two of 36 defendants charged with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. To date, 34 defendants have pleaded guilty.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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