Multiple White Supremacist Gang Members among 54 Defendants Charged in RICO Indictment in Arkansas.
Dozens of members of a white supremacist gang allegedly responsible for multiple acts of violence were charged in a superseding indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The New Aryan Empire (NAE) is a racketeering enterprise, which committed violent acts—attempted murder, kidnapping, and maiming—in support of its organization and its wide-ranging drug-trafficking operation.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Special Agent in Charge Diane Upchurch of the FBI Little Rock, Arkansas Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Justin King of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Little Rock District Office and Acting Resident Agent in Charge Warren Newman of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) Little Rock District Office, made the announcement.
“According to the allegations in the indictment announced today, New Aryan Empire associates maintained their criminal enterprise by engaging in multiple acts of violence — including kidnapping and attempting to murder one informant, and stabbing and maiming two others suspected of cooperating with law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “I want to thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for vigorously investigating this vicious criminal organization.”
The case, named “To The Dirt,” which is in reference to the NAE slogan referring to the rule that members must remain in the NAE until they die, began in 2016 when ATF assisted the Pope County Sheriff’s Office in a murder investigation. The murder involved members of the NAE, a white supremacist organization that began as a prison gang and has since expanded beyond the prisons. Investigators learned that several members of the NAE conducted meetings in Pope County and became involved in methamphetamine distribution.
Troy R. Loadholt, 37; Jeffrey G. Howell, 34; and Amos Adame, 46, all from Russellville, remain fugitives. April Howell, 29, and Amanda Rapp, 37, both of Russellville, and Courtney Talley, 32, of Dardanelle, Arkansas, were arrested Tuesday morning. Most of the defendants are residents of Pope and Yell Counties, Arkansas.
The superseding indictment alleges that between May 2014 and May 2016, NAE associates Marcus Millsap, 51, of Danville, Arkansas, and James Oliver, 47, of Russellville, as well as NAE President Wesley Gullett, 29, of Russellville, solicited several NAE members and associates to murder the confidential informant responsible for Millsap being charged with drug trafficking. According to the indictment, NAE members believed this informant had provided information about Millsap to law enforcement.
Thirty-five defendants are in either state or federal custody, while 16 were previously released on federal bond. Daniel Adame, 32, of Russellville, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The superseding indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on Feb. 5, 2019, named 11 additional defendants and added charges for the defendants’ involvement in acts involving attempted murder, kidnapping, maiming, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
“The violence and hatred alleged in this superseding indictment have no place in society,” said U.S. Attorney Hiland. “We are committed to helping our communities remain free from these types of crimes using every resource available, including the powerful RICO statutes when appropriate. The significant charges in this case represent the hard work of our state and federal law enforcement agencies, and this office’s commitment to removing violent, repeat offenders from the streets.”
Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized Crime