By Gangsters Inc. Editors
An associate of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. 41-year-old Justin Petty, of Los Angeles, conspired with AB members at two different state prisons – CSP-Sacramento and High Desert state prison – to send packages containing food stuffed with contraband items into each prison through his employer, a contractor authorized by CDCR to pack and send sealed packages to inmates.
Between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder and drug trafficking offenses. Aryan Brotherhood members Ronald Yandell and Billy Sylvester oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their shared prison cell.
Running the yard
They used smuggled cellphones to direct their drug trafficking activity from their prison cell to the streets of Sacramento and other California cities. Using a contraband cellphone, Yandell and Sylvester communicated with Aryan Brotherhood members and associates to direct drug trafficking activities, membership in the gang, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities.
In June 2019, sixteen defendants were indicted for federal racketeering and other charges. The allegations include murders, drug trafficking and other violent crimes. Nine of the defendants were inmates in California prisons, and six of those were serving life sentences for murder.
Mailing meth, Bluetooth earpieces, metal saw blades and more
On September 6, 2016, Petty’s package was intercepted at CSP-Sacramento and found to contain three cellphones, two phone charging cables, six grinding discs, seven lighters, one cellphone battery, seven small screw drivers – five with flat heads and two with Phillips heads, two Bluetooth earpieces, 10 small metal saw blades, more than 20 grams of methamphetamine, and 15 grams of heroin.
The contraband items were hidden inside food packages, including a box of Quaker Oats, a box of Honey Buns snacks, a box of fudge brownies, and similar items. The contraband was concealed in a manner designed to avoid detection by prison staff who would have searched the box’s contents before giving them to the inmate.
Similarly, on September 6, 2016, another package from Petty was intercepted at the High Desert State Prison and found to contain about 10 cellphones, more than 200 grams of heroin, and 120 grams of methamphetamine. The cellphones and controlled substances were hidden inside boxes of Oatmeal Creme Pies and fudge brownies. They were concealed in a manner designed to avoid detection by prison staff who would have searched the box’s contents before giving them to the inmate addressee.
Other defendants who have entered guilty pleas as part of this investigation include:
- Nickolas Perez – RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy;
- Donald Mazza – RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering;
- Travis Burhop – RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering;
- Samuel Keeton – RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy; and
- Kristen Demar – RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy.
Petty is scheduled for sentencing on May 8, 2023. Petty faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine up to $10 million.
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