United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OXFORD, Miss. - A member of the Aryan Brotherhood of (ABM) gang was sentenced to life in prison for his participation in a variety of violent criminal acts, including racketeering conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and other related offenses. 

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Felicia C. Adams of the Northern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam of the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) New Orleans Division, Special Agent in Charge Constance Hester of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (ATF) New Orleans Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze of the FBI in Mississippi and Director John Dowdy of the Mississippi Bureau of (MBN) made the announcement.

“The sentencing of this gang member is an example of DEA’s relentless pursuit to target organizations that plague and pollute our communities.  Because drug trafficking and gang violence isn’t confined to one jurisdiction or community, it is important that law enforcement continues to work together to improve the quality of life for the citizens we serve in our communities and neighborhoods,”  said Special Agent in Charge Azzam.  “DEAs continued pledge to the people of Mississippi is to continue to work with all our law enforcement partners, to pursue these violent thugs, criminals and drug traffickers.”

Eric Glenn Parker, 36, of Forrest County, Mississippi, a member of ABM, was sentenced on Dec. 16, 2016 to serve life in prison by U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson of the Northern District of Mississippi.  On April 13, 2016, Parker was found guilty by a federal jury of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, murder and methamphetamine distribution.

The ABM is the Mississippi-centered branch of the Aryan Brotherhood, a violent, “whites only,” prison-based gang with members and associates operating inside and outside of state penal institutions.  The ABM is engaged in racketeering activities, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, money laundering, firearms trafficking and trafficking in marijuana and methamphetamine, both inside and outside correctional facilities.  According to trial evidence, Owens and three co-defendants served at varying times on the ABM’s three-member “wheel” that oversaw and directed ABM activity throughout Mississippi during the conspiracy.

According to evidence presented at trial, ABM leaders ordered other gang members to lure an individual to an ABM house so that they could murder him for an unpaid drug debt.  ABM gang members kidnapped the victim, beat him severely, and delivered him to Parker. Parker, along with Frank George Owens Jr., his co-defendant at trial, beat the victim to death and delivered the body to a co-defendant, who burned the victim’s body for days in order to incinerate it.  In addition, Parker dealt methamphetamine on behalf of the ABM, which garnered him a leadership position in the gang.

Today’s sentencing marks the culmination of a 2.5-year investigation into and prosecution of the ABM, which resulted in the conviction of 42 members and associates of the gang.  Owens, 44, of D’Iberville, Mississippi, was convicted along with Parker of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, murder and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.  On Nov. 2, 2016, Owens was sentenced to life in prison and 120 months for attempted murder.

The DEA, ATF, FBI and the MBN investigated the case.  The U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Protective Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Mississippi Highway Patrol; Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; Mississippi Department of Corrections; Harrison County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office; South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team; Tupelo, Mississippi, Police Department; North Mississippi Narcotics Unit; Tishomingo County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office; Lee County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office; Forrest County, Mississippi, District Attorney’s Office; Prentiss County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office; Jones County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office; Harrison County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office; and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team provided valuable assistance in the investigation.  The Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices of the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi prosecuted the case.

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.