The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is much more than white supremacists fighting for their vision of racial inequality. The contemporary prison gang, modeled after a similar organization which began in California during the 1960s, has ties in and out of the incarceration system and dabbled in murder, kidnapping, racketeering and drug distribution, reports the Washington Post.
"ABT uses extreme violence and threats of violence to maintain internal discipline and retaliate against those believed to be cooperating with law enforcement," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. "Through violence and intimidation, ABT allegedly exerts control over prison populations and neighborhoods, and instills fear in those who come in contact with its members."
As an example, Breuer said that alleged ABT leader Kelly Ray Elley and others ordered subordinates to kill a prospective member and to make the killing "as messy as possible" to send a message to gang members not to cooperate with law enforcement. Elley also allegedly ordered gang members to return the man's severed finger as a trophy.
Read more at the Washington Post.