HOUSTON - A member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) gang pleaded guilty last week to racketeering charges related to his membership in the ABT's criminal enterprise, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.

Christopher James Morris, aka, "Rockstar," 37, of Dallas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.

On February 22, 2013, Morris's co-conspirator Chad Ray Folmsbee, aka, "Polar Bear," 30, of Houston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.

According to court documents, Morris, Folmsbee and other ABT gang members and associates, agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping, and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT gang. Morris, Folmsbee, and numerous ABT gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout Texas to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary assaults against fellow gang members, and discuss acts of violence against rival gang members, among other things.

By pleading guilty to racketeering charges, Morris and Folmsbee have admitted to being members of the ABT criminal enterprise.

According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s. According to the superseding indictment, previously, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

Court documents allege that the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, assault, robbery, and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members, and often associates, were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as "direct orders."

According to the superseding indictment, in order to be considered for ABT membership, a person must be sponsored by another gang member. Once sponsored, a prospective member must serve an unspecified term, during which he is referred to as a prospect, while his conduct is observed by the members of the ABT.

At sentencing, Morris and Folmsbee each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. Morris and Folmsbee are both scheduled for sentencing on September 26, 2013.

Morris and Folmsbee are two of 35 defendants charged with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges. Ben Christian Dillon, 40, of Houston and James Marshall Meldrum, 40, of Dallas each pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy on January 31, 2013.

This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Public Safety; Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff's Office; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Office of Inspector General; Harris County, Texas Sheriff's Office; Tarrant County, Texas Sheriff's Office; Atascosa County, Texas, Sheriff's Office; Orange County, Texas Sheriff's Office; Waller County, Texas, Sheriff's Office; Fort Worth, Texas Police Department; Alvin, Texas Police Department; Carrollton, Texas, Police Department; Montgomery County District Attorney's Office; Atascosa County District Attorney's Office; and the Kaufman County, Texas, District Attorney's Office.