HOUSTON – In a shocking turn of events, three members of the notorious Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang have pleaded guilty to racketeering charges.
Sammy Keith Shipman, 31, also known as ‘Stubby,’ pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity before U.S. Judge Sim Lake. Shipman’s co-defendants, William David Maynard, 43, also known as ‘Baby Huey,’ and Dustin Lee Harris, 29, also known as ‘Lightning,’ pleaded guilty to the same charge on November 20 and 19, 2013, respectively.
According to court documents, Shipman, Maynard, Harris, 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. The defendants and numerous other 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.
By pleading guilty to racketeering charges, Shipman, Maynard, and Harris admitted to being members of the ABT criminal enterprise and committing multiple acts of violence and/or narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT.
The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang 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 violate the rules or pose 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.’
Shipman, Maynard, and Harris are four of 36 defendants charged with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. To date, 18 defendants have pleaded guilty. The case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Public Safety; Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General; sheriff’s offices in Harris, Tarrant, Atascosa, Orange, and Waller Counties; police departments in Alvin, Carrollton, and Mesquite, Texas; as well as the Montgomery and Atascosa County District Attorney’s Offices.
Related Federal Cases
- Charles Lee Roberts, Racketeering, Texas 2013 · California
- James Francis Sampsell, Racketeering, Texas 2014 · California
- Ronald Lee Prince, Racketeering Charges, Texas 2014 · California
- Federal Defendant Brought to Justice for Racketeering, New York NY,… · New York
- Amilcar Romero, Racketeering Conspiracy, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · New York
ðŸâ€â€™ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized Crime