Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
On May 19, 2025, a federal judge in Fresno, California sentenced three members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang for their involvement in a racketeering conspiracy that included multiple murders and other crimes. Francis Clement, 58, was found guilty of RICO conspiracy and five counts of murder related to his activities while in state prison. He received a life sentence without parole.
Kenneth Johnson, 63, was also convicted of RICO conspiracy and two counts of murder. He too was sentenced to life in prison. John Stinson, 70, who was already serving time in the California state prison system, was found guilty of one count of RICO conspiracy and received an additional 20-year sentence.
Court documents revealed that between 2016 and 2023, the Aryan Brotherhood engaged in various criminal activities including drug trafficking and fraud. Both Johnson and Clement held leadership roles within the gang and directed operations from inside prison using smuggled cellphones. They were involved in ordering several murders as part of their criminal enterprise.
Stinson was identified as a high-ranking leader with significant authority over the gang's operations. He used contraband cellphones to manage activities on behalf of the Aryan Brotherhood and participated in drug trafficking schemes.
Matthew Galeotti from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division commented on the case: “The convicted defendants led a notorious prison gang that committed ruthless murders... The Criminal Division will continue to pursue crime syndicates...”
Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith stated: “Today’s sentences are yet another blow to the leadership of a violent criminal enterprise run from inside California prisons...”
Daniel Driscoll from ATF added: “These sentences send a clear message: the walls of a prison do not shield violent gang leaders from justice...”
The indictment charged 11 defendants with RICO conspiracy among other crimes; five are awaiting trial while three have pleaded guilty.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including ATF, CDCR's Office of Correctional Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, several police departments across California, and district attorney offices.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Stokman and James Conolly along with Trial Attorney Jared Engelking are prosecuting this case under OCDETF which targets high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
