54 members of Arkansas white supremacist gang indicted

(AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted members of what authorities say is white supremacist gang responsible for multiple acts of violence and drug trafficking in Arkansas.

U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland says indictments were unsealed Tuesday against 54 members of a gang called the New Aryan Empire.

The indictments were returned under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which targets criminal organizations. Hiland says indictments against the organization’s leaders and members had inflicted “significant damage” to the group that he says has trafficked “copious amounts of methamphetamine” in the state.

Indictments were returned in October 2017 accusing several members of the same gang of drug and gun crimes. The latest charges allege they operated a criminal enterprise by engaging in acts of violence including attempted murder and kidnapping.