Aryan Brotherhood of Texas: 3 sentenced in racketeering conspiracy

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Three men who admitted to being Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang members and associates were sentenced Tuesday to lengthy prison terms, according to federal authorities.

James Sampsell, 44, of Odessa, Rusty Duke, 32, of Dallas, and Steven Worthey, 42, of San Antonio, were sentenced to serve respective terms of 140, 216 and 240 months in federal prison.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, citing information presented in court, says Sampsell, Duke and Worthey admitted they were members of the race-based gang and that they, along with other gang members and associates, committed murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the gang.

The ABT gang -- established in the early 1980s -- operates in and out of state and federal prisons in Texas and throughout the country, the U.S. Attorney's Office notes. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s. The ABT was previously primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy and separatism, but over time, the U.S. Attorney's Office points out, the ABT has expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

Sampsell, Duke and Worthey are three of 36 defendants convicted of conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. The last defendants are set for Dec. 16-18, 2014.