U.S. MARSHALS ANNOUNCE ARREST OF ALLEGED MURDERS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

March 04, 2016

Joseph Barreras, Deputy U.S. Marshal

District of New Mexico 

U.S. Marshals Arrest Wanted Murderers

Albuquerque, NM - The U.S. Marshals Service in New Mexico and the Eastern District of Oklahoma worked together to bring the alleged killers and New Mexico’s most wanted fugitives, Matthew Chavez and Veronica Trimble to justice.

Chavez and Trimble are wanted by the Albuquerque Police Department for Murder (Open Count), Armed Robbery (Deadly Weapon), Arson, Assault with the Intent to Commit a Violent Felony, Tampering with Evidence, Conspiracy to Commit a First Degree Felony, Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon), Receiving and Transferring a Stolen Motor Vehicle. The suspects are wanted for the murder of 24-year-old Tyler Lackey and the two fugitives are suspects in multiple other alleged armed robberies.

Due to surveillance by Deputy U.S. Marshals in an undercover capacity and extensive law enforcement networking these suspects were tracked down across multiple states and safely apprehended.

United States Marshal Conrad Candelaria said, “The Marshals Service for the Districts of New Mexico and Oklahoma worked tirelessly, applying broad and comprehensive undercover and surveillance techniques that led to the apprehension of two dangerous fugitives. Above it all the Marshals Service and its task force officers extend deep and sincere condolences to family of our slain veteran."

ARYAN BROTHERHOOD OF TEXAS LEADER SENTENCED TO 87 MONTHS IN PRISON

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,

Friday, August 31, 2012

Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Leader Sentenced in Houston for Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering

WASHINGTON – A high ranking member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) was sentenced today for his role in an aggravated assault that took place in Tomball, Texas, in September 2008, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.

Steven Walter Cooke, 48, aka "Stainless," pleaded guilty on March 16, 2012, to racketeering aggravated assault for his role in the beating of an ABT prospect member. Cooke was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison by senior U.S. District Court Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. The sentence will run concurrent with a life sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on May 3, 2012, in the Eastern District of Texas in connection with Cooke’s role in a 2008 Liberty County, Texas, homicide.

According to court documents, the defendant was a leader of the ABT, a powerful race-based, state-wide organization that operated inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout the United States. The ABT 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 court documents, previously, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT has expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

According to court documents, the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, 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."

According to court documents, Cooke, along with 11 fellow ABT gang members, participated in the beating of a prospective ABT member at Cooke’s home in Tomball on Sept. 22, 2008. The ABT prospect, who sustained serious bodily injury, including an orbital blowout fracture, was beaten by ABT gang members because he violated ABT rules of conduct.

Eleven of the 12 co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to violent crimes in aid of racketeering aggravated assault. The 12th ABT gang member, David Harlow, 43, aka "Bam Bam," was found guilty at trial by Senior Judge Werlein on March 21, 2012. Harlow was sentenced on July 27, 2012, to 120 months in prison.

This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Texas Rangers; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Walker County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; the Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department; the Houston Police Department-Gang Division; the Tomball Police Department; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Inspector General; and the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman of the Southern District of Texas.

ARYAN BROTHERHOOD OF TEXAS GANG MEMBER GETS 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
An Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang member from Houston was sentenced today to serve 10 years in prison for his role in an aggravated assault that took place in Tomball, Texas, in September 2008, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.


David Harlow, 43, aka "Bam Bam," was found guilty at trial on March 21, 2012, of racketeering aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit racketeering aggravated assault for his role in the severe beating of a prospective ABT member. Harlow was convicted on two counts and sentenced to serve 36 months on count one and 120 months on count two, to run concurrently. In addition to the prison term, Harlow was also sentenced to pay a $2,000 fine by senior U.S. District Court Judge Ewing Werlein Jr.

According to court documents, Harlow was a member of the ABT, a powerful race-based, state-wide organization that operated inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout the United States. The ABT 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 court documents, previously, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT has expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

According to court documents, the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, 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."



According to court documents, Harlow, along with 11 fellow ABT gang members, participated in the beating of a prospective ABT member at the home of another ABT gang leader, Steven Walter Cooke, 48, aka "Stainless," in Tomball, on Sept. 22, 2008. The ABT prospect, who sustained serious bodily injury, was beaten by ABT gang members because he violated ABT rules of conduct.

The remaining 11 co-defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault.

This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Texas Ranger Division – Texas Department of Public Safety; the Walker County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; the Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department; the Houston Police Department-Gang Division; the Tomball Police Department; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Inspector General; and the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office.