U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert | U.S. Department of Justice
Ronald Yandell and William Sylvester, both members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, have been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison. U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller handed down the sentences for their involvement in murder and other crimes related to racketeering. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood members engaged in various criminal activities including murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the gang managed a heroin and methamphetamine operation from California prisons using smuggled cellphones.
In August 2015, Ronald Yandell ordered a brutal murder at CSP-Sacramento. He promised two inmates membership in the Aryan Brotherhood if they executed the killing. The Drug Enforcement Administration later intercepted calls where Yandell boasted about his role in the murder.
William Sylvester's crime took place on October 7, 2001, when he murdered another inmate at CSP-Sacramento to gain membership in the gang. The victim was part of a group that refused to acknowledge the Aryan Brotherhood's authority.
A federal jury found Yandell, Sylvester, and co-defendant Danny Troxell guilty of RICO conspiracy and other charges after a nine-week trial ending in April 2024. Troxell is scheduled for sentencing on February 18, 2025.
Kevin MacNamara faces pending charges but remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the DEA, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Vallejo Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Ross Pearson, and David Spencer are prosecuting this case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which aims to dismantle major criminal organizations through a collaborative approach.
