Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against 18 members and associates of a “violent white supremacist” prison gang based in Alaska.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday revealed murder, assault, kidnapping and other charges against six alleged members of the 1488 gang in the murder of a former member.
Two other 1488 members previously pleaded guilty to murder charges in Michael Staton’s killing, according to the indictment. Federal authorities also brought charges related to firearm possession, narcotics, carjacking and other crimes against over a dozen 1488 members.
{mosads}Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said in a statement that the defendants, ranging in age from 26 to 53, murdered Staton to impress their “vile and racist” gang.
“The defendants allegedly participated in the heinous murder of Michael Staton, with the goal of impressing their vile and racist gang,” Benczkowski said.
The indictment details the white supremacist practices of the 1488 gang, including identifying their affiliation with Nazi-linked symbols. The gang also barred “homosexuals, ‘rats,’ or individuals who had been charged with sex offenses,” prosecutors said.
The gang operates in state-run prisons in Alaska, Arizona and Colorado, according to ABC News, which added that members are required to “be white, look white and act white.”