Aryan Brotherhood prison gang running background checks on applicants to keep out informants; won’t accept child molesters and rapists
The Aryan Brotherhood considers murder, robbery, burglary, dope dealing, etc. acceptable, but child molestation and rape are considered despicable.
RESUME REQUIRED TO JOIN TEXAS PRISON GANG
By Dane Schiller
Houston Chronicle
September 7, 2012
The climb to membership in the feared Aryan Brotherhood of Texas prison gang isn't just about getting inked with racially charged tattoos and obeying underworld orders, but also includes a stipulation that gangster prospects show government-issued proof of their criminal credentials.
Recruits are required to provide their FBI-issued rap sheets, replete with a list of arrests, convictions and sentences, according to court records and law enforcement authorities. The documents amount to résumés of bad deeds and have come up repeatedly during a four-year investigation that sent several dozen of the gang's soldiers, leaders and associates to prison for drug trafficking, murder, assault and other crimes. While the gang - which was born in the Texas prison system in the 1980s and operates statewide - tolerates drug dealers, killers and kidnappers among its ruffian ranks, there is no room for child molesters or rapists, officials say.
Form 12
Starting with a one-page Aryan Brotherhood application known as a Form 12 (the "1" is for A in Aryan and the "2" is for B in Brotherhood) and the accompanying FBI criminal history, leaders probe backgrounds and drill deep.
Malcolm Bales, the chief federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Texas, said hundreds of the applications were seized at the Tomball home of a gang general who is now serving life.
"We recovered literally what I would say is a treasure trove of (gang) materials," Bales said. "It was a huge number of Form 12s and letters, correspondence and pictures. It was a tremendous find for law enforcement."
Gang leaders also want to root out snitches by checking to see if a convict has done a respectable amount of time for his crimes. If he was cut loose too easy, it's a red flag signaling he might be a government informant.
The gang, which carves Texas into five territories, does not hesitate to brutalize those who cross them. Some of the harshest murders, maiming and beatings have been reserved for members who cross the gang. One had a tattoo burned off his body with a welding torch. Another, along with his girlfriend, was blasted in the head with a shotgun.
Background checks
And so, for all the mayhem the state's largest Aryan gang unleashes behind bars and in the streets, joining can be more bureaucratic than bloody.
"The background check is still one of the most important things they do," said Emil Garza, head of the central gang intelligence office for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The gang historically has tried to stay away from sexual predators and been concerned about possible infiltration by informants, he said.
"There are a lot of things that are tell-tale signs to these guys that you are working for someone," Garza said. "They have nothing but time to figure this out."
There is also a "Blind Faith Commitment," pledge that must be signed. It is a vow to follow all orders without hesitation, and an understanding that membership is for life.
Part of survival
Now that law-enforcement authorities know about the applications and related membership documents, Garza said the gang also has started asking outside contacts to run names and Social Security numbers through any of the many Web sites that sell background information.
Mark Pitcavage, director of investigative research for the Anti-Defamation League, said he suspects many of the larger, organized prison gangs require applications and background checks in order to survive.
They have so many members that they can't all know each other, let alone where they are from or what they have done in the past, said Pitcavage, who specializes in extremist groups.
"There are certain crimes that are considered acceptable, at least they wouldn't blink at," he said. "And other things that are despicable."
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