Soldiers of Aryan Culture
The Soldiers of Aryan Culture (SAC), sometimes referred to as Soldiers of the Aryan Culture and Soldiers of an Aryan Culture, is a large American white supremacist prison gang.[10]
S.A.C. emblem | |
| Years active | 1997–present |
|---|---|
| Territory | Federal prison system, Utah, Texas,[1] Massachusetts, Pennsylvania[2] Montana, Virginia,[3] and Georgia[4] |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking,[5] assault,[6] gun running,[7] mail fraud, extortion,[8] and murder |
| Allies |
|
Initially based in Utah, SAC has since spread across the nation, having members in several states across the United States as well as the federal prison system.
History edit
American prisoner Tracy David "Tinman" Swena[9] founded the Soldiers of Aryan Culture in 1997. According to Tracy Swena's brother, Steve, Tracy had been influenced to establish a white power group after an Aryan Brotherhood affiliate introduced him to white supremacist literature sometime in the mid-to-late 1990s. Prior to that, Steve Swena alleges that his brother was a non-racist who was once a part of a multi-racial street gang and an avid fan of hip hop music.
The SAC has grown since its initial founding, making its way across the United States.
Overview edit
Organizational structure edit
The Soldiers of Aryan Culture operate both inside and outside prison walls and are classified as a security threat group. SAC "officers" outside of prison stay in contact with those inside correctional facilities and communicate orders by phone.
The gang is organized by a paramilitary-esque ranking structure consisting of generals, captains, lieutenants, sergeants and soldiers. The more criminal activity that a member engages in, the more likely they'll advance to a higher rank. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, SAC members rose through the ranks by committing violence against Hispanic and black inmates chosen at random.
SAC accepts new members by invitation only from a lieutenant or sergeant. Prospective members are required to complete a six to 12-month period of missions. These orders typically call for attacks on other inmates. Once the mission is complete and the member is approved, they receive a SAC "patch" (tattoo) of the group's insignia: a swastika interwoven with an Iron Cross – sometimes accompanied by the initials "SAC". There also exist special patches for certain deeds, such as the SS bolts.[11]
Ideology edit
Like most other white supremacist prison gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood and the Nazi Lowriders, the SAC are strongly anti-Semitic.[9][12][13] For the Soldiers of Aryan Culture, hatred towards Jews is rather common.
The SAC code of conduct requires its members to attack known sex offenders and informants. Additionally, members are forbidden from cooperating with law enforcement and engaging in miscegenation, unless the gang leadership approves of it.[14]
Criminal activities edit
The SAC engage in a number of different illicit actions, most notably drug production, extortion and violence. Throughout the group's history, there have also been instances of death threats, arms trafficking, courthouse violence[15] and other crimes, including orchestrated assaults on prison guards.[16]
Notable crimes edit
2002 Winter Olympics bomb plot edit
SAC first gained significant notoriety in 2002 when members of the group, along with members of the Silent Aryan Warriors (another white supremacist prison gang), allegedly planned to attack Jewish athletes at the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City by using pipe bombs.
Scott Biswell standoff edit
On August 11, 2002, Scott Biswell, a leader of the SAC, engaged in an armed confrontation with law enforcement members that resulted in his death.
An arrest warrant had been issued for Biswell following an incident in West Valley City, Utah, where he reportedly threatened two women and an infant child with a firearm over a traffic dispute.[17] Biswell, who was out on parole, fled with his girlfriend Kortni Grimm – also wanted for child endangerment in a separate incident – to the Amenity Inn motel in Provo, Utah.[18]
Executing the warrant, five members of the Provo police SWAT approached his motel room and forcibly entered the premises. Upon entry, Biswell was seen in bed with Grimm aiming a handgun at the SWAT unit. Biswell was gunned down instantly, and Grimm – believed to be unarmed – was wounded, later dying after being taken to the hospital.[18][19]
RICO indictment edit
Twelve SAC leaders were indicted in 2003 following a law enforcement investigation. The indictment resulted in as long as 20-year sentences in federal prison. Additional lower-ranking members were tried and received prison sentences ranging from three to 15 and 1/2 years.[20][21]
Murder of Gabriel Rhone edit
While being escorted by prison guards at USP Beaumont in 2007, SAC members Mark Isaac "Snuff" Snarr and Edgar Balthazar Garcia were able to free themselves from their restraints and subsequently stabbed the prison guards escorting them with makeshift knives. Using the keys they took off the guards, the two then unlocked the cell door of inmate Gabriel Rhone and proceeded to stab him a total of 50 times. In the process, Snarr and Garcia were quickly detained by prison personnel wielding chemical agents. While the two guards survived the attack, Rhone did not.[22]
Investigators believed that Rhone was murdered because of his apparent escalating bizarre and violent behavior. Attorneys for Snarr and Garcia claimed that he had repeatedly threatened to kill their clients. Rhone had been serving a life sentence for a 1997 armed robbery in Washington, D.C.[23]
Snarr and Garcia were indicted in 2009 and charged with first-degree murder. In 2010, both assailants were sentenced to death as punishment for the incident. As of 2020, they are both on death row at USP Terre Haute, awaiting execution.
Murder of Leo Johns edit
On March 3, 2016, SAC members Christopher Cramer and Ricky Fackrell fatally stabbed inmate Leo Johns at USP Beaumont. Johns, who was also a member of the SAC, had allegedly made a remark that had offended a fellow member of the gang, which is thought to be why the attack took place. According to court documents, the killing had been planned for a total 3 months in advance.[24][25]
Cramer and Fackrell were convicted of first-degree murder and subsequently sentenced to death by a federal jury in Beaumont. Both are currently awaiting execution at USP Terre Haute.
Distribution of drugs and firearms edit
In October 2020, 21 members of the SAC, Silent Aryan Warriors, and Noble Elect Thugs were charged in Utah with distribution of drugs – including heroin and 1.65 pounds (0.75 kg) of methamphetamine – and firearms following a joint local-federal investigation that began in June 2019.[26][27]
Known members and associates edit
- Tracy David "Tinman" Swena - Released from federal prison on January 12, 2021.
- Lee Ervin "Dallas" Heyen[9] – Drug dealer who was later convicted for the rape of two teenage girls.[28]
- Jason Robert Widdison – Currently serving a sentence of 31 years and eight months in federal prison for the murder of Kenneth Mills, a white inmate who did not object to having an African American cellmate at the USP Atlanta.[29]
- Donald R. Lafond - Co-defendant in the Widdison USP Atlanta murder.
- Kevin "M&M" Mclaughlin [9]
- Lance "Lil' Lance" Vanderstappen[9] – Attacked a Hispanic inmate in 2001. The victim, who Vanderstappen stabbed with a shank he smuggled into a federal courthouse, suffered non-life-threatening wounds.[30] Committed suicide in 2006 while serving his sentence at ADX Florence.[31]
- Joe Rakes - Accused of sending a threatening letter to a federal prosecutor who was trying to dismantle the gang.[32][33]
- John Arthur "Cajun" McGee[9][34]
- David "Castle" Fink[9][34]
- Michael Sean Polk - A co-conspirator of a carjacking robbery that resulted in an armed confrontation.[35]
- Jason "Kid" Bates - Convicted of blinding a fellow Weber County jail inmate in one eye in 2001.[9][34][36]
- Eric Judkins - Heavily tattooed bank robber and prison escapee who seriously assaulted an inmate while serving time in federal prison. It is unknown if this assault was gang-related.[37][38]
- Andrew "Nutz" Beck[9][34]
- Jeff "Sherwood" Schirado[9][34]
- Thomas "Slugger" Goatz
- Chase Petersen[citation needed]
- Robert Austin[39]
- Timothy Troy Walker – Currently serving natural life without the possibility of parole for the 2013 murder of Draper, Utah police Sgt. Derek Johnson and attempted murder of Traci Vaillancourt as well as an additional sentence of 5 years to life for the 2019 stabbing attack of a fellow inmate at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah.[citation needed]
- Dennis Judd[40]
- David Kay
- Tennille Smith "Dangerous" Jones - First and only female recognized as a Sac member. 2003 she was charged for 2 counts of Aggravated Attempted Homicide after she introduced a shotgun to a Coalville, Utah Superbowl shooting. Also racked up charges including Assaults, A slew of Gun offenses and is currently undergoing a gun trafficking case. In 2015 she stabbed another inmate for ratting on other Sac members.
- Kenyon Fletcher
Currently serving time at the Utah state prison for bank robbery and gun crimes
See also edit
- Prison gangs in the United States
- Universal Aryan Brotherhood – Another white supremacist prison gang in the United States.
- 211 Crew – An American white supremacist prison gang with a notorious reputation for violence.
- Aryan Nations – An anti-Semitic white supremacist hate group, initially based in Idaho.
- ADX Florence – A supermax prison facility reserved for the most notorious American criminals. Tracy Swena was briefly held here for some time as was Lance Vanderstappen, who committed suicide at the facility in 2006.[31]
References edit
- ^ Oyeniyi, Doyin (May 3, 2018). "White Supremacist Gang Members' 'Vast Criminal Conspiracy' Detailed". Texas Monthly. from the original on June 25, 2020.
- ^ "2011 National Gang Threat Assessment". Federal Bureau of Investigation. from the original on June 28, 2020.
- ^ Arick, Bradford (August 15, 2017). "Police say there are 5 hate groups we know about here in the FM". KXJB-LD. from the original on July 22, 2020.
- ^ White Supremacist Prison Gangs in the United States: A Preliminary Inventory (PDF) (Report). Anti-Defamation League. (PDF) from the original on September 21, 2020.
- ^ "Officials: 'Hundreds of syringes,' drugs, guns, found in Salt Lake gang member's home". Gephardt Daily. June 20, 2019. from the original on July 23, 2020.
- ^ Fattah, Geoffrey (April 30, 2007). "Utah intent on keeping supremacists out". Deseret News. from the original on July 23, 2020.
- ^ "White supremacists branch out to drug and gun trafficking". The Louisiana Weekly. February 24, 2020. from the original on April 25, 2020.
- ^ "Aryan Culture leader appears in court". Deseret News. January 14, 2004. from the original on November 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Morlin, Bill (July 16, 2014). "Utah White Supremacist Gang Member Sentenced for Firing Gun at Salt Lake Synagogue". Hatewatch. Southern Poverty Law Center. from the original on July 23, 2020.
- ^ "Gang handout". Salt Lake Area Gang Project. February 11, 2011. from the original on November 9, 2020.
- ^ Reavy, Pat (June 28, 2007). "Tattoos tell a tale of intimidation". Deseret News. from the original on July 23, 2020.
- ^ . Anti-Defamation League. August 14, 2002. Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Imhoff, Vincent (May 21, 2013). "Prison Gang Culture, Segregation, and its Repercussions on the Street". ENLawyers. from the original on August 13, 2020.
- ^ "Aryan Culture Secretive and Dangerous". KSL.com. December 1, 2004. from the original on July 23, 2020.
- ^ Fattah, Geoffrey (July 13, 2005). "Sentencing turns into courthouse violence". Deseret News. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "'General' for White Supremacist Group Gets Prison Sentence". KSL.com. Associated Press. July 3, 2005. from the original on November 26, 2020.
- ^ Coleman, Jesse (October 8, 2002). "Update: Provo officers cleared in report on shooting deaths". Daily Herald. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Coleman, Jesse; Stewart, Amy K. (August 14, 2002). "Police: Forced entry standard". Daily Herald. from the original on November 26, 2020.
- ^ Fattah, Geoffrey (August 21, 2002). "Provo agonizes over slayings". Deseret News. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Fattah, Geoffrey (March 31, 2008). "Statute is potent anti-gang weapon". Deseret News. from the original on November 26, 2020.
- ^ "14 face charges of gang crimes". The Salt Lake Tribune.[dead link]
- ^ Fountain, Ken (May 4, 2010). "Man recalls stabbing incident in murder trial testimony". The Beaumont Enterprise. from the original on December 11, 2017.
- ^ Fountain, Ken (May 3, 2010). "Video kicks off trial in fatal stabbing of federal inmate". The Beaumont Enterprise. from the original on January 28, 2018.
- ^ Coello, Sara (June 13, 2018). "White supremacists sentenced to death for murdering fellow gang member in Beaumont prison". The Dallas Morning News. from the original on November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Ricky Fackrell and Christopher Cramer Federal Death Row". My Crime Library. 26 June 2023.
- ^ Jacobs, Becky (October 16, 2020). "Members of Utah white supremacy gangs face federal drug, firearm charges". The Salt Lake Tribune. from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Members, Associates Of White Supremacist Gangs Charged In Methamphetamine And Firearms Trafficking Cases" (Press release). United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah. October 16, 2020. from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Knox, Annie (September 10, 2018). "Utah man sentenced to prison for rape of teenage girls". Deseret News. from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Two Federal Inmates Sentenced For Racially-Motivated Murder" (Press release). United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. June 2, 2014. from the original on May 29, 2017.
- ^ Dobner, Jennifer (July 13, 2005). "Supremacist allegedly stabs Hispanic inmate in federal court". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Israelsen, Brent (April 22, 2006). "Inmate hangs himself in Colorado". The Salt Lake Tribune. from the original on November 26, 2020.
- ^ "United States of America v. Joe Rakes" (PDF). United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. December 26, 2007. No. 06-4208. (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Witnesses say they helped write threat to prosecutor". 23 March 2006.
- ^ a b c d e "Final three of 12 purported Aryans arrested". Daily Herald. December 13, 2003. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Manson, Pamela (September 12, 2016). "Two Utah men charged with aggravated robbery in confrontation that led to fatal shooting". The Salt Lake Tribune. from the original on November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Supremacist Inmate Sentenced to Time Served".
- ^ Hartley-Parkinson, Richard (August 30, 2017). "Heavily tattooed man on the run shouldn't be too difficult to find". Metro. from the original on August 31, 2017.
- ^ "Heavily tattooed escaped inmate found in Pennsylvania". WPVI-TV. Associated Press. September 1, 2017. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ Reavy, Pat (June 7, 2016). "Man convicted of murder as a teen gets 1st parole hearing after 20 years". KSL.com. from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Utah White Supremacist Gang Member Sentenced for Firing Gun at Salt Lake Synagogue".