The justice system just dealt a heavy blow to the Aryan Brotherhood, one of the most notorious prison gangs in the country.
On May 19, a federal judge handed down sentences to three gang members after they were found guilty of running a violent criminal empire behind bars and on the streets.
Life Sentences for Ruthless Leaders
Francis Clement, 58, and Kenneth Johnson, 63, were both convicted of racketeering conspiracy and multiple murders connected to their gang activities.
Clement was found guilty of five murders, all committed while he was incarcerated, and Johnson was convicted of two murders.
Both men received life sentences without the possibility of parole, ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
John Stinson, 70, also a high-ranking gang member already serving time in California state prison, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and sentenced to an additional 20 years in federal prison.
Inside the Criminal Operations of the Aryan Brotherhood
Court evidence revealed that from 2016 to 2023, the Aryan Brotherhood engaged in a terrifying range of crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, fraud, and robbery.
Clement and Johnson, as top gang leaders, used smuggled cellphones inside prisons to direct these illegal activities both inside and outside prison walls.
The gang’s drug trafficking was especially extensive, with methamphetamine regularly smuggled into California prisons, where it was sold to inmates.
The killings ordered by Clement and Johnson were brutal and calculated — each victim was targeted because they were believed to have broken gang rules or owed money to the organization.
These murders spanned multiple years, demonstrating the gang’s ongoing campaign of violence.
The Role of John Stinson in the Gang’s Enterprise
Stinson wasn’t just a member; he was a key leader who wielded significant power over the gang’s operations.
He sponsored new members, settled disputes, and even approved murders.
He also used a contraband cellphone from his prison cell to conduct Aryan Brotherhood business, including drug trafficking, earning a cut of the profits from these illegal sales.
Wiretapped conversations presented during the trial revealed how deeply Stinson was involved in orchestrating the gang’s criminal activities, even while confined behind bars.
Officials Speak Out on the Impact of These Sentences
Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, emphasized the danger posed by prison gangs like the Aryan Brotherhood: “Organized crime inside prisons, enabled by contraband phones, doesn’t just stay inside—it floods communities with dangerous drugs and violence.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California added that the Aryan Brotherhood’s influence stretches beyond prison walls, affecting multiple counties and states.
She vowed the Justice Department will continue to fight these violent organizations relentlessly.
Daniel Driscoll, Acting Director of the ATF, underscored the message these sentences send: “Prison walls don’t protect violent gang leaders from facing justice.
We are committed to dismantling these gangs and holding their leaders accountable, no matter where they operate.”
The Bigger Picture: Ongoing Investigations and Prosecutions
This case is part of a broader effort by federal agencies to disrupt organized crime.
The original indictment charged 11 people connected to the Aryan Brotherhood, with some defendants still awaiting trial and others having already pleaded guilty.
The investigation was a massive multi-agency operation involving the ATF, state correctional officers, the U.S. Marshals, local police departments, and district attorney offices across California.
How Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Tackle These Threats
The case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a coordinated approach where prosecutors and law enforcement agencies join forces to identify and break up the most dangerous criminal enterprises threatening the country.
If you want to learn more about how OCDETF fights organized crime, you can check out their official site at justice.gov.