Dangerous Convictions for PDF - ADL

Dangerous
Convictions:
AN INTRODUCTION TO EXTREMIST ACTIVITIES IN PRISONS
to Aryan Brotherhood, NLR was able to become the principal gang within the
Youth Authority and eventually to move into penitentiaries throughout
California and across the West Coast. NLR maintains strong ties to Aryan
Brotherhood and, like the older gang, has become a source of violence and
criminal activity in prison. Aryan Brotherhood still maintains a strong presence
in the nation’s prison systems, albeit less active, while NLR has also
become a major force, viewing itself as superior to all other white gangs and
deferring only to Aryan Brotherhood. Both gangs engage in drug trafficking,
extortion and attacks on inmates and corrections staff.
Inside prison, NLR followed a path much like that of Aryan Brotherhood.
Once aligned with the Brotherhood, the Nazi Low Riders grew rapidly,
recruiting new members with propaganda revolving around white supremacy.
Taking its cues from Aryan Brotherhood, NLR aligned itself with southern
Hispanic gangs like the Mexican Mafia in a power struggle against black and
northern Hispanic gangs (Black Guerrilla Family and La Nuestra Familia) in
an effort to control the drug trade and other criminal activity within the prisons.
NLR has accepted members with Hispanic surnames as well as members
with Hispanic wives or girlfriends. One former NLR member explained,
“You must have at least half white blood but no Black blood.” NLR also
mimicked the brutality that was a hallmark of Aryan Brotherhood and at one
point was credited with the majority of California prison violence. Violence
is generally related to the drug trade, but NLR members have also been
known to lead revolts and instigate confrontations among inmates and with
officials in correction facilities. In September 1999, William Richie and
David Rolph, NLR members incarcerated at San Bernardino County jail,
attacked a black inmate, using a “shank” (slang for homemade knives) to slash
the inmate’s face and body. Three other NLR members, Jason Schmaus,
Danny Black and Michael Beattie, were recently convicted of the 1995 murder
of an inmate who admitted to being behind bars for committing a sex
offense (NLR and Aryan Brotherhood both forbid sex offenses and may punish
violators with death).
Corrections departments have taken a hard-line response to NLR and have
had some success in stopping some of its criminal acts. In response, NLR, like
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