SALT LAKE CITY — More than a dozen Utah-based white supremacist gang members and associates have been arrested and charged in 15 federal drug and firearms trafficking cases, unsealed for the first time Friday morning.
The Department of Justice announced the arrests and charges of 21 documented gang members and associates of several Utah-based white supremacy gangs, allegedly responsible for distributing drugs and firearms around the Salt Lake City and Ogden areas.
Following a 16-month investigation into Utah members and associates of the Soldiers of Aryan Culture (SAC), Silent Aryan Warriors (SAW) and Noble Elect Thugs (NET) gangs -- fifteen methamphetamine and firearms trafficking based-indictments were unsealed in federal court Friday morning.
“We’ve got a lot of crime here in Utah,” said U.S Marshal for the District of Utah, Matt Harris in a press briefing Friday. “These targets were violent, they’re criminals and they’re the worst in our communities.”
The investigation, which started in June 2019 and involved federal and local agencies, targeted drug and weapons trafficking activity by SAC members throughout Salt Lake City, West Valley City and Ogden. Ultimately leading law enforcement to a number of gang members and associates actively involved in trafficking methamphetamine and firearms.
Around 1.65-pounds of methamphetamine were purchased during the investigation and fifteen firearms were recovered, including ten during the investigation and five when the arrest warrants were executed.
“Utah has a huge demand for illicit drugs,” said Utah U.S Attorney, John Huber. “Just a constant, endless demand for it, it’s an insatiable appetite.”
“There’s an endless number of sellers who want to provide these drugs to the community,” Huber continued. “All of this… has led to a complex and pervasive criminal underworld, more pervasive and dangerous than most Utahns could imagine.”
According to a press release, “Many of the defendants have been involved in criminal conduct in Utah communities for years.”
Huber said the beehive state is no stranger to white supremacy groups, stating the debut of SAC in a Utah prison in the 1990s – the gang now has a presence in prison systems throughout the United States.
“Unfortunately, this is a Utah product, there are many things to be proud of in Utah from our snow, beautiful mountains, national parks,” said Huber. “White supremacy gangs, it’s one of ours, we own it and were not proud of it.
The 21 arrests contribute to more than 300 alleged Utah-based criminals, now facing federal convictions for similar charges in recent years.
Still, state and federal leaders maintain that their continued combined efforts, will put an end to the danger and crime organized crime brings to our communities.
“I think this operation today sends the message that, we will not tolerate violent organizations here in our state,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Chief, Brian Redd.
According to DPS, the intelligence gained during the investigation is crucial to future success against organized crime. The information is analyzed and then dispersed to law enforcement partners to give investigators and officers a better understanding of how organized crime operates in the state.
The 21 defendants charged in the 15-separate indictments include three multi-defendant cases and 12 single-defendant cases.
The information below has been provided by the Department of Justice and the Utah U.S Attorney’s Office.
Multi-Defendant cases:
- Steven Mack Swena, Clinton Dean Spencer
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 5-years mandatory minimum, 40-years statutory maximum, $5-million fine
- Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 10-years mandatory minimum, life maximum, $10-million fine
- Felon in Possession of Firearm
- Maximum penalty: 10-years statutory maximum, $250-thousand fine
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine
- Richard Ryan, Amanda Lee Graham, Jared Loren Brown, Thomas Radford
- Distribution of 50-grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) and aiding/abetting
- Maximum Penalty: 5-years mandatory minimum, 40-years statutory maximum, $5-million fine
- Distribution of 50-grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) and aiding/abetting
- Justin William Austin, Cody Kelly Wright, Jerrad Luis Colvin
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine (3 counts)
- Maximum penalty: 5-years mandatory minimum, 40-years statutory maximum, $5-million fine
- Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 10-years mandatory minimum, life maximum, $10-million fine
- Distribution of Heroin (Justin William Austin)
- Maximum penalty: Up to 20-years in prison, $1-million fine
- Carry/use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Justin William Austin)
- Maximum penalty: 5-years mandatory minimum up to life statutory maximum, $250-thousand fine
- Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Justin William Austin)
- Maximum penalty: Up to 10-years statutory maximum, $25-thousand fine
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine (3 counts)
Single Defendant Cases:
- James William Broadhead
- 2-counts distribution of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 20-years statutory maximum, $1-million fine
- 2-counts possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Narcotics Traffickin
- Maximum penalty: 5-years consecutive sentence, life maximum
- 3-counts of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition
- Maximum penalty: 10-years statutory maximum, $250-thousand fine
- 2-counts distribution of methamphetamine
- Johnathan Dale Miller
- Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 10-years mandatory minimum, life maximum, $10-million fine
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 5-years mandatory minimum, 40-years statutory maximum, $5-million fine
- Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Brian Christopher Jenson
- Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 10-years mandatory minimum, life maximum, $10-million fine
- Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Timothy Cox
- Heather Brooke Hebdon
- Jesse Harris
- Bret Miller
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 5-years mandatory minimum, 40-years statutory maximum, $5-million fine
- Distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine
- Michael Byrd
- Timothy Daniel Jepsen
- Distribution of methamphetamine
- Maximum penalty: 20-years statutory maximum, $1-million fine
- Distribution of methamphetamine
- Tyler William Riding
- Jordan Anderson
- Chance Robison
- Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Justin William Austin)
- Maximum penalty: Up to 10-years statutory maximum, $25-thousand fine
- Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Justin William Austin)
Prosecutors have filed a notice of a sentencing enhancement for Timothy Cox and Timothy Daniel Jepsen. The enhancement has the potential to double their statutory maximum sentence or, if applicable, their mandatory minimum sentence.
According to the Department of Justice, eleven defendants were arrested Wednesday, the other 10 were already in custody.
