Three members of the notorious Aryan Brotherhood were convicted of racketeering in a federal trial that uncovered a chilling network of orchestrated murders in Los Angeles County, all directed from behind prison walls. The jury in Fresno reached their verdict after three days of deliberation, finding Kenneth Johnson, 63, Francis Clement, 58, and John Stinson, 70, guilty of serious charges, with evidence revealing their substantial influence over white inmates within the California prison system.
During the monthlong trial, prosecutors presented a compelling case detailing how these men, already serving life sentences, maintained a reign of terror, effectively ruling through fear and violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stokman characterized them as the "elite" of the gang, asserting that they exercised life-and-death power over other inmates.
The trial specifically highlighted the murders of five individuals, with Johnson and Clement being found guilty of orchestrating the killings of Allan Roshanski and Ruslan Magomedgadzhiev, who were shot in Lomita on October 4, 2020. Prosecutors argued that Roshanski, a convicted pimp, had failed to share profits from a fraud scheme with Johnson and Clement, leading to his execution. Magomedgadzhiev was killed simply for being present with Roshanski.
Additionally, Clement was implicated in the murders of Michael Brizendine, killed in Lancaster on February 22, 2022, and James Yagle Jr. and Ronnie Ennis Jr., who were shot in Pomona on March 8, 2022. Witnesses, many of whom were admitted criminals themselves, testified that the victims had "disrespected" the Aryan Brotherhood or violated its rules, justifying their deaths in the eyes of the gang.
Defense attorneys for the convicted men criticized the prosecution’s reliance on the testimonies of convicted felons, arguing that these witnesses had little credibility and were motivated by the prospect of leniency in their own cases. Clement’s lawyer, Jane Fisher-Byrialsen, emphasized that the witnesses were "people who have nothing to trade in their lives but lies."
While Johnson’s attorney announced plans to appeal the verdict, the trial also spotlighted Stinson’s role, which appeared less defined compared to his co-defendants. Although some witnesses claimed he was part of the Aryan Brotherhood’s leadership, Stinson’s defense argued that no direct evidence linked him to the crimes. His attorney pointed out that the prosecution’s case against Stinson relied heavily on vague implications rather than concrete proof.
The trial revealed a disturbing undercurrent of violence and control exercised by the Aryan Brotherhood within California’s prison system, illustrating how criminal networks can extend their reach beyond prison walls. The three men are scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, a date that will determine the next chapter in this grim saga of organized crime.