U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced this week that his office has charged members of a white supremacist gang known as the 1488s and some of their associates.
The charges involve usual gang stuff: murder, assault, kidnapping, and running a racketeering enterprise involving narcotics distribution and firearms trafficking. The murder rap comes from an incident involving stolen drugs and a stolen Hells Angels vest by a gang member who ended up dead.
Indicted for murder, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, kidnapping, and conspiracy are men whose nicknames names sounds straight out of true crime literary genre:
- Filthy Fuhrer, (formerly Timothy Lobdell), 42. In 2017, Lobell changed his name legally to Filthy Fuhrer in Anchorage District Court, Judge Pamela Washington presiding. The name change took place the same year he is accused in the murder of gang associate and petty drug dealer Michael Staton.
- Roy Naughton, aka “Thumper,” 40.
- Glen Baldwin, aka “Glen Dog,” 37. Baldwin is still at large and believed to be in Florida.
- Craig King, aka “Oakie,” 53.
- Beau Cook, 32.
- Colter O’Dell, 26.
It’s unclear how a prison gang can actually be broken up when the punishment is just more prison.
Fuhrer, Naughton, Baldwin, King, Cook, and O’Dell are accused of having a role in the August 2017 beating, kidnapping, and murder of Michael Staton, whose gang name was “Steak Knife.”
Staton was the subject of a missing persons report by Alaska Department of Public Safety in 2017 after his family reported him missing in Wasilla. His beaten body was found rolled up inside a carpet. His remains were unclaimed by family members and eventually disposed of by the State Coroner.
Two other key members already pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering:
- Nicholas M. Kozorra, aka “Beast,” 29
- Dustin J. Clowers, 34.
The 1488s are a violent and whites-only prison-based gang with as many as 100 members operating inside and outside of state prisons throughout Alaska and in Arizona and Colorado.
Gang members allegedly offer protection to white inmates if they join the gang, and all members are required to “be white, look white and act white.” They don’t accept gay members.
Members allegedly often sport tattoos incorporating Nazi-style symbols. The most coveted tattoo of 1488s members was the 1488s “patch” that could be worn only by “made” members who generally gained full membership by committing an act of violence on behalf of the gang.
The 1488s take their name from a white supremacist slogan and the “Heil Hitler” salute, with H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.
“The highest priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Alaska, which is consistent with the priorities of the Attorney General of the United States, is to stop violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Schroder. “We will focus on chronic violent offenders, including criminals who unify through racial hatred and commit violent crimes.”
“While the violent crimes these individuals are charged with are certainly serious in and of themselves, their affiliation in support of a white supremacy enterprise is of even greater concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Peterson of FBI’s Anchorage Division. “This impactful case demonstrates law enforcement’s abilities to penetrate even the most secret organizations through cooperation at all levels and sharing a common goal.”
“We are very proud of the meticulous work done by all of our trooper investigators and the investigators from our partnering agencies,” said AST Captain David Hanson, Commander of Alaska Bureau of Investigation. “This outcome was made possible through the effort and guidance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which resulted in an array of federal indictments on numerous 1488 gang members.”
An additional 14 indictments resulted from the investigation into the 1488 organization, members, and associates including:
- Christopher Davidson, 35, sentenced to serve 90 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms;
- Justin Eaton, aka “Skulls,” 44, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Justin Hoff, 30, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Taylor Lack, 23, sentenced to serve six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Mica Messinger, 37, sentenced to serve 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Angie Minnick, 41, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances;
- Alexander Netling, aka “Bruiser,” 25, sentenced to serve five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Michael Oman, aka “Donkey,” 29, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Jason Rose, aka “Honkey,” 42, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Shawn Schmidt, 33, sentenced to serve 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Charles Soper, aka “Slim,” 25, sentenced to serve 34 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm;
- Jeffrey Robinson, 37, sentenced to serve nine years in prison for drug conspiracy;
- Roy Naughton, sentenced to serve 100 months in prison for carjacking;
- Colter O’Dell, sentenced to serve 27 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, as part of their operations, 1488s members and associates allegedly engaged in illegal activities under the protection of the enterprise, including narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and other illegal activities to generate income. The 1488s allegedly had a detailed and uniform organizational structure, which is outlined in written “rules” widely distributed to members throughout Alaska and elsewhere. Members of the 1488s allegedly acted in different roles in order to further the goals of their organization, including “bosses” who had ultimate authority in all gang matters. “Key holders” were allegedly responsible for all gang matters within penal facilities where 1488s had a presence, and in “free world” Alaska (outside of prison). “Enforcers” were allegedly responsible for enforcing the rules and performing tasks as assigned by higher-ranking gang members.
Agencies involved include the FBI and AST Alaska Bureau of Investigation Special Crimes Investigation Unit and Technical Crimes Unit, the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) Mat-Su Drug Unit, AST ‘B’ Detachment Major Crimes Unit and Criminal Suppression Unit, and AST’s participation in the Task Force Officer program led the investigation. Investigative Assistance was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Anchorage Police Department (APD), the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections and the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor and James Klugman of the District of Alaska and Trial Attorney Marty Woelfle of OCGS.