A white supremacist prison gang is being blamed for the death of a Texas man. The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas described by the Justice Department as a criminal organization that originated nearly 40 years ago in San Quentin State Prison in California. It has reportedly been operating in as an independent gang in Texas since the 1970s. It is known today as an especially violent prison gang. In Texas, the group has more than 1000 members.
Last month, Gregory Willkomm’s body was found by the San Jacinto River, in northeast Harris County. Police have now arrested eight people several of whom have already been identified as members of the racist gang.
Magnolia, Texas Police Lt. Joe Sclider said one of the killers had been living in Willkomm's home at the time of the murder.
The Brotherhood has been involved in other murders and acts of violence throughout the years across the state.
In September David Mitchamore, Jr. of Lufkin, and Christy Rochelle Brown of Hudson, were found face down, shot execution style. Sheriff Thomas Kerss said at the time, "..."we do believe that this was an ordered execution uh by the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas"
In that case Charles Frazier, April Flanagan, husband and wife, Brent and Terrie Stalsby and Carl Carver are all charged with being part of an intricate contract murder plot. Police believe these killings could be part of a war between parts of the Aryan Nation as it appears various faction of the group may be at war with each other.
Just yesterday the FBI issued an intelligence warning for Dallas-area law enforcement officers because of information that an alleged leader of the Aryan Brotherhood was trying to gather the names of federal agents, state troopers and police officers.
Dallas-Fort Worth television station KTVT reported Tuesday that the intelligence bulletin warns that an alleged Aryan Brotherhood leader awaiting trial is seeking out members of the brotherhood who were recruited as police informants to gather the information about officers.
The warning centers on Jason Lee Hankins, a reported general for the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Hankins is being held at Lew Sterrit awaiting his capital murder trial.
The FBI fears the officers' names will be used to locate their residences, telephone numbers or undercover status.
The intelligence bulletin also warns of another possible threat from members of the Aryan Circle threatening to steal weapons from the homes and cars of officers.
The FBI said an intelligence bulletin means there's enough information for a warning.
The following comes from the Houston Chronicle.
Man's burned body linked to white supremacist gang
Investigators say several members of a white supremacist prison gang are linked to the disappearance and death of a Magnolia man last month, said Montgomery County Sheriff's Office officials.
Gregory Willkomm was reported missing on Sept. 28 after he was last seen mowing his lawn. On Sept. 29, authorities discovered a burned body along the banks of the San Jacinto River in northeast Harris County near the Montgomery County line.
Authorities have since identified the body as 52-year-old Willkomm, who was a white man.
"We don't know the cause of death right now," said Detective Sgt. Ken Culbreath of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives were able to find eight suspects, many linked to the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, by tracing suspicious credit card use and attempted bank transactions with Willkomm's identifying information.
"Through critical transactions we began to identify suspects in photos," Culbreath said.
A primary suspect was Willkomm's roommate, a 32-year-old male member of the Aryan Brotherhood who had recently moved into the victim's house. In all, three people are facing murder charges, while five others are facing charges of attempted use of Willkomm's identifying information.
The suspects are all in custody, but they have not been indicted yet, authorities said.
"We're hoping that we may be able to make more arrests," Culbreath said.
The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is a criminal gang with affiliations in both prisons and the free world, Culbreath said.
Montgomery County deputies said they arrested the suspects with assistance from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, the Henderson County Sheriff's Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The investigation is ongoing, detectives said, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5800.
Last month, Gregory Willkomm’s body was found by the San Jacinto River, in northeast Harris County. Police have now arrested eight people several of whom have already been identified as members of the racist gang.
Magnolia, Texas Police Lt. Joe Sclider said one of the killers had been living in Willkomm's home at the time of the murder.
The Brotherhood has been involved in other murders and acts of violence throughout the years across the state.
In September David Mitchamore, Jr. of Lufkin, and Christy Rochelle Brown of Hudson, were found face down, shot execution style. Sheriff Thomas Kerss said at the time, "..."we do believe that this was an ordered execution uh by the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas"
In that case Charles Frazier, April Flanagan, husband and wife, Brent and Terrie Stalsby and Carl Carver are all charged with being part of an intricate contract murder plot. Police believe these killings could be part of a war between parts of the Aryan Nation as it appears various faction of the group may be at war with each other.
Just yesterday the FBI issued an intelligence warning for Dallas-area law enforcement officers because of information that an alleged leader of the Aryan Brotherhood was trying to gather the names of federal agents, state troopers and police officers.
Dallas-Fort Worth television station KTVT reported Tuesday that the intelligence bulletin warns that an alleged Aryan Brotherhood leader awaiting trial is seeking out members of the brotherhood who were recruited as police informants to gather the information about officers.
The warning centers on Jason Lee Hankins, a reported general for the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Hankins is being held at Lew Sterrit awaiting his capital murder trial.
The FBI fears the officers' names will be used to locate their residences, telephone numbers or undercover status.
The intelligence bulletin also warns of another possible threat from members of the Aryan Circle threatening to steal weapons from the homes and cars of officers.
The FBI said an intelligence bulletin means there's enough information for a warning.
The following comes from the Houston Chronicle.
Man's burned body linked to white supremacist gang
Investigators say several members of a white supremacist prison gang are linked to the disappearance and death of a Magnolia man last month, said Montgomery County Sheriff's Office officials.
Gregory Willkomm was reported missing on Sept. 28 after he was last seen mowing his lawn. On Sept. 29, authorities discovered a burned body along the banks of the San Jacinto River in northeast Harris County near the Montgomery County line.
Authorities have since identified the body as 52-year-old Willkomm, who was a white man.
"We don't know the cause of death right now," said Detective Sgt. Ken Culbreath of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives were able to find eight suspects, many linked to the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, by tracing suspicious credit card use and attempted bank transactions with Willkomm's identifying information.
"Through critical transactions we began to identify suspects in photos," Culbreath said.
A primary suspect was Willkomm's roommate, a 32-year-old male member of the Aryan Brotherhood who had recently moved into the victim's house. In all, three people are facing murder charges, while five others are facing charges of attempted use of Willkomm's identifying information.
The suspects are all in custody, but they have not been indicted yet, authorities said.
"We're hoping that we may be able to make more arrests," Culbreath said.
The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is a criminal gang with affiliations in both prisons and the free world, Culbreath said.
Montgomery County deputies said they arrested the suspects with assistance from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, the Henderson County Sheriff's Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The investigation is ongoing, detectives said, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5800.
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