YAZOO CITY, MS – Two high-ranking members of the violent white supremacist prison gang, the Aryan Circle, were sentenced to a decade behind bars Wednesday for the attempted murder of an inmate at U.S. Penitentiary Yazoo City in Mississippi. William Glenn Chunn, aka “Big Head,” 40, of Humble, Texas, and Aaron Matthew Rentfrow, aka “Mongo,” 42, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, were convicted at trial on charges of violent crime in aid of racketeering (VICAR) attempted murder.
The brutal attack occurred on August 17, 2017, when Rentfrow savagely beat and stabbed the victim in a bid to earn full membership into the Aryan Circle. The motive? According to court documents, William Chunn, identified as one of the top five leaders of the national Aryan Circle, specifically ordered the assault because he believed the victim was homosexual. The victim suffered horrific injuries – fractured ribs, a collapsed lung requiring a chest tube, multiple chest puncture wounds, and severe lacerations to his face and head.
Federal prosecutors laid bare the inner workings of the Aryan Circle during the trial, painting a picture of a ruthless organization that enforces its twisted ideology through intimidation and extreme violence. Members are expected to unquestioningly obey the orders of their superiors. The gang operates both within and outside prison walls, expanding its reach and influence through a network of loyal followers.
This isn’t Chunn’s first federal conviction. He was previously found guilty of racketeering conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas and is already serving a life sentence for those separate crimes. The 10-year sentence handed down Wednesday will run concurrently with his existing life imprisonment, meaning he’ll likely die behind bars. Rentfrow, meanwhile, now faces a decade added to his existing prison term.
“The Aryan Circle is a dangerous organization that uses violence to control its members and maintain its power,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This sentencing sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such brutality.” U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi echoed that sentiment, stating his office is committed to dismantling these criminal enterprises.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Lakeita F. Rox-Love and Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter for the Southern District of Mississippi. The conviction highlights the ongoing battle against prison gangs and the relentless pursuit of justice for those victimized by their violence.
Related Federal Cases
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- Joe Crawford, Gun Trafficking to a Convicted Felon, Mississippi 2023 · Florida
- Esteban Bernadino-Betancourt, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Mississippi 2020 · Alabama
- William S. Evans III, Securities Fraud, Kentucky 2022 · Kentucky
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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