Arkansas white supremacist gang accused of brutal tactics

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Federal prosecutors revealed Tuesday what they said were the violent attempts of a white supremacist gang in Arkansas to silence witnesses to the group's meth-trafficking, including permanently disfiguring one person's face with a hot knife.

U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland said a new round of indictments in the ongoing case, which were unsealed Tuesday, name 54 members of the New Aryan Empire, a white supremacist organization that began as a prison gang in the 1990s but now engages in narcotics trafficking, witness intimidation and acts of violence including attempted murder, kidnapping and assault.

Indictments were originally returned in October 2017 accusing 44 members of the gang with drug and gun crimes. The latest charges name additional members and add counts for alleged involvement in violent crimes committed by the group, including kidnapping a person and attacking another with guns, bats and knives.

Prosecutors said that during the federal and state joint investigation, agents made 59 controlled purchases of methamphetamine and seized more than 25 pounds of meth, in addition to 69 guns and $70,000 in drug proceeds.

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