White Supremacists sentenced to life: They order murders from California prison
Francis Clement and Kenneth Johnson, leaders of the organization, were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. John Stinson, another ringleader, received 20 years in prison in a case involving eleven other members.
Three members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a violent white supremacist gang operating within the California prison system, received life sentences after being convicted of directing those crimes from jail. The federal court in Fresno sentenced two of them to life in prison and a third to 20 years in prison after collaborating with the police saying that they used contraband cell phones to coordinate at least five murders between 2020 and 2022.
The most alarming is how these leaders maintained their criminal power, controlling drug trafficking and ordering homicides when they were convicted. Those crimes generated a wave of violence that impacted communities both inside and outside the prison walls.
California's Aryan Brotherhood: life sentence to their leaders
Francis Clement and Kenneth Johnson, the leader of the gangs, were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. John Stinson, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. These are the result of a prosecution involving eleven other members of the Aryan Brotherhood, charged under the RICO Act against criminal organizations.
The evidence showed that Clement and Johnson planned murders against people within the gang who broke rules or owed debts to the group. In addition, these leaders controlled methamphetamine trafficking in and out of prison.
Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, leads the investigation to proceed with gang leaders. Photo: GLR Composition / Department of Justice.
Aryan Brotherhood crimes and modus operandi in California.
The illegal use of cell phones was key for the Aryan Brotherhood to keep its criminal network operating from California. John Stinson, as one of the ringleaders, authorized the entry of new members and decided on punishments, including murder.
Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, explained: “This gang sowed fear and chaos within the prison system, with impacts that go far beyond the prisons. For her part, U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith assured that these sentences represent an important blow against this dangerous organization. Despite this, authorities insist that controlling cell phone trafficking is fundamental to prevent these groups from continuing to operate from prisons and putting public security at risk with their crimes.
