Charges Filed Against Members, Associates Of Utah White Supremacist Gangs

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Federal charges have been filed against 21 gang members and associates of White supremacist groups in along the Wasatch Front for drug distribution and illegal weapons trafficking.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah John W. Huber announced the charges at a press conference Friday. He said 15 indictments were unsealed in federal court earlier in the day.

Charges included the distribution of methamphetamine, firearm possession of felon and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics trafficking offense.

“There are many things to be proud of in Utah,” Huber said. “From our snow, beautiful mountains, national parks. White supremacy gangs — it’s one of ours. We own it and we’re not proud of it.”

“Unfortunately, this is a #Utah problem,” says United States Attorney John W. Huber about white supremacist gangs.

The charges against 21 documented gang members and associates is the result of a 16-month investigation that started in June 2019.@KSLcom @kslnewsradio @KSL5TV

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) October 16, 2020

Officials said the suspects were gang members or affiliated with Soldiers of Aryan Culture (SAC) members, Silent Aryan Warriors (SAW) members, Noble Elect Thugs (NET) members and associates.

“Soldiers of Aryan Culture started in the 1990s at the Utah State Prison at the Point of the Mountain,” Huber said. “Since then, it has grown in influence and pervasiveness to where now it is in prison systems throughout the united states. A very unfortunate export of Utah.”

The indictments were the culmination of an investigation that began in June 2019, and involved several federal and local law enforcement agencies throughout Salt Lake City, West Valley City and Ogden.

“These partnerships and these types of investigations make a difference in all of our neighborhoods,” said Eric Young, deputy chief with the Ogden Police Department. They take people off the streets that are making our neighborhoods unsafe and unstable.”

Officials said 15 firearms were recovered during the investigation.

Arrest warrants were executed Wednesday for 11 of the suspects. The others were already in custody, some of whom were already charged in unrelated crimes.

“This case demonstrates their potential for violence and their willingness to provide narcotics and dangerous weapons to the streets of all the cities across the Wasatch Front,” said Lt. Mike Schoenfield, director of the Salt Lake County Metro Gang Task Force.

The suspects and charges filed against them are listed below:

Multi-Defendant Cases

• Steven Mack Swena, Clinton Dean Spencer
  • Distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 5 years mandatory minimum, 40 years statutory maximum, $5 million fine
  • Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 10 years mandatory minimum, Life maximum, $10 million fine
  • Felon in Possession of Firearm
    • Maximum penalty: 10 years statutory maximum, $250,000 fine

• Richard Ryan, Amanda Lee Graham, Jared Loren Brown, Thomas Radford
  • Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) and aiding/abetting
    • Maximum penalty: 5 years mandatory minimum, 40 years statutory maximum, $5 million fine

• Justin William Austin, Cody Kelly Wright, Jerrad Luis Colvin
  • Distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (3 counts)
    • Maximum penalty: 5 years mandatory minimum, 40 years statutory maximum, $5 million fine
  • Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 10 year mandatory minimum, life statutory maximum, $10 million fine
  • Distribution of heroin (Austin)
    • Maximum penalty: Up to 20 years in prison, $1 million fine
  • Carry/use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Austin)
    • Maximum penalty: 5 years mandatory minimum up to life statutory maximum, $250,000 fine
  • Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Austin)
    • Maximum penalty: Up to 10 years statutory maximum, $250,000 fine

Single Defendant Cases

• James William Broadhead
  • 2 counts of Distribution of methamphetamine
    • Maximum Penalty: 20 years statutory maximum, $1 million fine
  • 2 counts of Possession of Firearm In Furtherance of Narcotics Trafficking
    • Maximum Penalty: 5 years consecutive sentence, Life maximum
  • 3 counts of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition
    • Maximum Penalty: 10 years statutory maximum, $250,000 fine

• Johnathan Dale Miller
  • Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 10 years mandatory minimum, Life maximum, $10 million fine
  • Distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 5 years mandatory minimum, 40 years statutory maximum, $5 million fine

• Brian Christopher Jenson
  • Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 10 years mandatory minimum, Life maximum, $10 million fine
• Timothy Cox
• Heather Brooke Hebdon
• Jesse Harris
• Bret Miller
  • Distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 5 years mandatory minimum, 40 years statutory maximum, $5 million fine

• Michael Byrd
• Timothy Daniel Jepsen
  • Distribution of Methamphetamine
    • Maximum penalty: 20 years statutory maximum, $1 million fine

• Tyler William Riding
• Jordan Anderson
• Chance Robinson
  • Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition
    • Maximum Penalty: 10 years statutory maximum, $250,000 fine