Aryan Brotherhood Leaders Convicted of RICO, Murder, and Drug Trafficking with Mexican Mafia

Yandell, Troxell, and Sylvester are currently serving life sentences in California. With these federal convictions and additional life sentences likely; they will begin serving time within the federal prison system. Decades ago, authorities looked to convict prison gang leaders on federal RICO charges in attempts to strip their power in the California prison system by moving them across the country into federal institutions.

Ronald Yandell became a member of the Federal Aryan Brotherhood program while serving a 10-year federal prison sentence for meth trafficking in the 1990s. Shortly after his 2001 prison release, he committed a double homicide in Costa County, California, and was sentenced to life in California state prison in 2004. His status grew quickly in the California prison system, having been part of the federal system.

He eventually became part of the AB’s Three-Man Commission, along with Danny Troxell, and Edgar “The Snail” Hevle.

Sylvester zip-tied following his killing of fellow inmate Ronald Richardson in 2011.

Billy Sylvester had gained membership to ‘The Brand’ in 2011 following his killing of Folsom inmate Ronald Richardson in their small exercise yard. Richardson was a member of the skinhead gang USAS (United Society of Aryan Skinheads). The USAS had defied AB member leadership and were actively attempting to form an alliance of skinhead prison gangs that could rival the Aryan Brotherhood as an independent white gang and remove their base of power in various California prisons. AB members were given the green light and expected to attack any USAS and allied gang members.

Further conversations revealed that Orange County PEN1 (Public Enemy Number One) gang member, and at that time, a potential AB member, Matt “Cyco” Hall managed street distribution and sent money back up to the AB members. Money had been paid either by PO Box, money order, or Paypal. Hall became a fugitive following the indictment and hanged himself in his prison cell after being arrested in Costa Rica.Yandell had been looking to further purchase heroin from Mosca and keep buying larger quantities. The taps disclosed that Yandell sought to buy larger quantities at heavier discounts and had told Jeanna they would eventually become “The Cartel.”

Yandell directed Jeanna that they could get the $100 per ounce discount if her customer (the undercover DEA Agent) would purchase over 9 ounces of “black” heroin twice a month.

In August 2016, Sylvester was caught with contraband and shortly after, Yandell called Burhop to have money orders sent and held for Sylvester as a result. He also called a man, believed to be “Mosca” telling him about it and that they should talk in person at Folsom prison days later about the issues to avoid using their cellphones. Yandell spoke with Mosca, looking to coordinate the purchase of the kilo for $24,000. Mosca said the price would be $25,000, but was reminded by Yandell that Sylvester had mentioned the price was told to him by Mosca to be between $22,000 and $24,000.

Yandell told Jeanna the fact that Mosca had “an unlimited supply” of heroin and they looked to purchase kilograms at a further discount for $20,000, especially as the quality of previous heroin from Torres had been low. Torres himself questioned the high-quality claim from his supplier and that he would look to get high-quality heroin provided at a lower cost to make up for it and provide three ounces free.

Authorities seized heroin connected to Mosca from a Burhop-linked stash house in Fontana, California.

Agreement to End Hostilities

In 2012, prisoners in Pelican Bay State Prison’s Security Housing Unit (SHU) announced a push to end all hostilities between racial groups within California’s prisons and jails. The handwritten announcement was sent to prison advocacy organizations. It is signed by several prisoners, identifying themselves as the PBSP-SHU Short Corridor Collective.

Ronald Yandell

“I knew my life was in danger due to my participation as a hunger strike representative and co-author of the “Agreement to End Hostilities” manifesto between all races. When I was released from Pelican Bay Security Housing Units (SHU) in 2015, IGI said I would “one day pay for it.” Ronald Yandell claimed in early 2019 that he was the victim of an attempted kidnapping and possible murder by vengeful IGI officers. He claimed he was told he would be transferred back to Pelican Bay SHU, even though he was 

We have been played, all of us, from the prison to the streets. Our power is in coming together. We can take back what belongs to us, our sovereignty, and the treasures that belong to everyone. They got people out there working two or three jobs to stay above water, keeping them too exhausted to fight the world that is being forced upon them. This is not the life we were born to live.”

-Ronald Yandell