LOS ANGELES — Authorities reported on Tuesday that a leader of the Aryan Brotherhood, a notorious white supremacist gang, is implicated in a violent incident that could have resulted in the attempted murder of two correctional officers at California State Prison in Sacramento. Ronald D. Yandell allegedly assaulted the officers last Friday morning while they were escorting him back to his cell after a medical appointment within the prison.
According to prison officials, Yandell utilized an “improvised weapon” during the attack, however, he discarded the weapon after one of the officers deployed pepper spray. He was subsequently contained and returned to his cell without further issues, with no injuries reported among the staff members involved.
Yandell is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole due to previous convictions for first-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, having been incarcerated at the facility since 2004. The incident will be referred to the district attorney’s office to explore felony charges against him for this recent assault.
The Aryan Brotherhood gang originated in the late 1960s within California’s prison system and is notorious for its violence and criminal activities, which have since extended to federal penitentiaries. Authorities have dedicated considerable efforts over the years to dismantle this organization and mitigate its influence.
In 2019, following an extensive investigation, Yandell faced charges for the murders of several inmates, including a member of a rival gang and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood deemed disloyal. Reports noted that he was part of a three-member leadership body within the gang.
In April, a jury found Yandell guilty on multiple counts related to murder and conspiracy, involving efforts to commit murder as part of racketeering activities, as well as charges concerning the distribution of illicit drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine.
Officials disclosed that Yandell and his cellmate were instrumental in orchestrating a large-scale drug trafficking ring involving heroin and methamphetamine, utilizing contraband cell phones to coordinate murders and drug operations across Sacramento and other urban areas in California, while also managing Aryan Brotherhood membership.
One notable rival gang member killed under Yandell’s command was Hugo Pinell, who was associated with the Black Guerilla Family gang and was infamously linked to the San Quentin 6. Pinell, who had long distanced himself from gang affiliations, was slain shortly after being moved from solitary confinement.
