Who are the Aryan Brotherhood?
The Aryan Brotherhood is the oldest white supremacist prison gang in the United States. Founded in 1964 this national crime organization is also known as The Brand, Alice Baker, AB or One-Two. Today the AB is one of the largest and deadliest prison gangs in the United States with an estimated 20,000 members within Prison and on the streets. In recent years they have been taking over California prisons as well.
Members:
20,000
Motto:
Blood In, Blood Out
Founded:
1964 San Quinton State Prison
Ethnicity:
White
“An Aryan brother is without a care/He walks where the weak and heartless won’t dare/And if by chance he should stumble, and lose control/His brothers will be there, to help reach is goal/For a worthy brother, no need is too great/He need not but ask, fulfillment’s his fate/For an Aryan brother, death holds no fear/Vengeance will be his, through his brothers still here.”
— Aryan Brother membership pledge
History of the Aryan Brotherhood
Like most prison gangs race plays a role in what gang or affiliation one could belong to. Most United States prisons were racially segregated until 1960. When these prisons started to desegregate may inmates started to join together by race for protection. The AB was said to form in San Quentin State and was formed in part to strike back against the Black Guerrilla Family.
In the early 1990s, the focus on killing for strictly racial reasons halted somewhat to focus on organized criminal activities like prostitution, drug trafficking and murder for hire.
Symbols and Images that are identifiable
Below are some of the symbols and markings that the AB use to identify themselves. Although more symbols may be used these are some of the more notable and recognizable ones used. As of now, the AB has more power than the Italian Crime Families within the prison walls. In fact, when Gotti was serving time in Marion Federal Penitentiary he enlisted the protection of the Aryan Brotherhood gang.
- Shamrock Cloverleaf
- Initials “AB”
- Swastikas
- Double Lighting Bolts
- Number: “666”
- HH for “Heil Hitler”
What are the crimes committed by the Aryan Brotherhood?
The AB is a ruthless prison gang the instill fear within prisons across the Nation. The AB focuses on organized crime and makes up a high amount of murders inside prisons. Along with murder, the gang makes money by drug trafficking, extortion, inmate prostitution, and other criminal activities. This gang has a white-only membership and typically there is a hierarchical that has a twelve-man council and a three-man commission. The AB does have an affiliation with the Aryan Nations.
Although in earlier times the AB would kill black or Hispanics purely off of race. Now the gang has become more sophisticated and killing are more related to drug deals, power, and money.
Organized crime makes more money
Because the gang shifted to a more organized crime approach they were able to gain more power quickly inside and outside of prison. instead of killing for racial reasons the gang moved to more contract killings, drug trafficking and prostitution for bringing in more cash then ever before. This made the group grow in size and strength within prison.
Allies and Rivals
Rivals
Black prison gang tends to be a rival of the AB. but when business happens they will work with black groups within the prison to deal and move drugs. They are long-standing hatred toward black individuals and black prison gangs. Because of this, the AB rivals would be:
- The Black Guerrilla Family or BGF
- Bloods
- Crips
- La Nuestra Familia
- El Rukns
- Nortenos
- Almighty Balck P. Stone Nation
Allies
When American Mafia crime boss John Gotti was sentenced in prison in 1992 he contacted the AB for protection within the prison. This led to a larger partnership between the two outside of prison which greatly grow the power of the AB on the streets. Because of this, the Aryan Brotherhood gang was able to efficiently run operations within the prison to the outside.
- Mexican Mafia
- Surenos
- Nazi Lowriders
- Ku Klux Klan
- Aryan Nations
- Public Enemy No. 1
- Irish Mob
- American Mafia
- Dirty White Boys
Prosecuting the gang is no easy matter
Because many of the gang members are currently serving life sentences without parole. However, federal strike forces have been successful and bringing down AB members for organized crimes, killing, and more.
The Aryan Brotherhood is a ruthless prions gang that has ties to organized crime, murder, drug trafficking, and killings inside federal prisons
