Racist Gang's Rampages Lessen Somewhat
Posted: May 13, 2003
The Nazi Low Riders (NLR), a violent racist prison gang based primarily in California, has not been as active since the indictment of twelve prominent members on racketeering charges in February 2002. The indictment and increased vigilance and preventative measures by corrections officials have reduced the problems caused by the prison gang. In fact, many prison officials in California are now more concerned about an up-and-coming prison gang, Public Enemy Number One (PENI), which is attempting to replace the NLR as the main subordinate group to the Aryan Brotherhood. The original rise of the NLR is largely attributed to its role as "enforcers" for the Aryan Brotherhood.
Nevertheless, NLR violent and criminal activities continue, both in the prisons and on the streets. Most notorious was the arrest of three people with NLR ties in April 2003 for the murder of a bisexual man in Salinas, California. According to Monterey County prosecutors, Jeanne Soja, Daymon Schrock, and Dominique Daniel England kidnapped, tortured, and killed carnival worker Robert Maricle in December 2002. Authorities said Shrock was a known NLR member, while England was "likely" an associate.
Less well publicized but no less serious was a March 7 shooting at a Wal-Mart in Ukiah, California. Neal Beckman was shot and killed in the parking lot of the store after shooting a police officer. Police subsequently found five pipe bombs in the car Beckman and his girlfriend had driven to the store. According to authorities, Beckman had ties to the Nazi Low Riders.
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