The president of a violent white supremacist prison gang has been sentenced to more than three decades in jail.
Wesley Gullett. 31, leader of the far-right New Aryan Empire (NAE) gang, was sentenced to 35 years for his role in a racketing and drugs conspiracy, as well as committing "heinous" acts of violence.
Gullet was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Brian S. Miller after pleading guilty in February to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Gullet also admitting to solicitation to commit murder and attempted murder, among other violent acts.
During Wednesday's sentencing hearing, the court heard how Gullet had attempted to murder Bruce Wayne Hurley, an individual who had purchased methamphetamine from NAE members. Gullet believed Hurley was acting as an informant for law enforcement.
Other NAE members, under the direction of Gullett, also carried out attacks on others who they believed were working with law enforcement.
In one instance, NAE members kidnapped one man and then took turns beating him and branding his face with a hot knife.
The gang members also set a dog on the victim and had it bite him.
Another witness was kidnapped twice, beaten, and stabbed by the white supremacist gang.
The gang also killed and beat their own members for violating their codes.
"This defendant used his corrupt white supremacist organization to commit heinous crimes of violence," Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, said in a statement.
"These despicable acts, which included trying to murder a witness, will now appropriately be punished with 35 years in prison, where this defendant can no longer wreak havoc and poison our community."
The gang are also accused of methamphetamine trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement agents made 59 controlled purchases of methamphetamine from the members, seizing more than 25 pounds of the drug, as well as 69 firearms and more than $70,000 in drug proceeds.
In 2019, Gullett escaped from an Arkansas jail, along with another prisoner, but was later apprehended in Pope County.
Gullett was originally charged in October 2017, before 51 other defendants were charged with violent acts in a Second Superseding Indictment in September 2019.
Of the 51 suspects, three are awaiting trial, which is currently set for September 7. One defendant is still a fugitive, with the rest pleading guilty.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the white supremacist gang members have the letters "NEA" tattooed on them, as well as the numbers 2, 3, and 4 in either Latin or Roman numeral forms.
The numbers correspond to the numbers of letters in the words of the gang's slogan "To The Dirt."
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