Date: 03-05-2021

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:20-cr-00083-TH

Judge: Thad Heartfield

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Jefferson County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:

Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description: Beaumont, Texas assault and battery charge criminal defense lawyers represented Michael Martin, a/k/a Aryan Prodigy, age 38, and Bobby Dayle Boney, age 50, with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering.

This case is part of a larger investigation into the Aryan Circle, Operation Noble Virtue, that has targeted AC leadership and resulted in prosecutions and convictions in six different jurisdictions to date. According to information presented in court and contained in court filings, the AC is a violent, white supremacist organization that originated in the Texas Department of Corrections and operates in federal prisons across the country, as well as outside prisons in states including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. The AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects, and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, and threats. Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.

Martin and Boney both joined the AC in the early 2000s and have gang tattoos indicating their affiliation. Both served in leadership roles within the gang. For a period of time, Martin served as an upper board member, which meant that he was one of the five highest-ranking leaders in the gang. Also, for a period of time, Boney held the leadership rank of vice president, which meant that he gave orders to other AC members and disciplined members who were not following the gang’s directives, among other things.

Prior to October 2016, AC members learned that another member wanted to switch his gang affiliation, or “patch over,” from the AC to a different gang. Martin ordered AC members to attack the former member in order to “X” him, or remove him from the gang, because it violated the AC’s rules to join another organization. AC members, including Martin and Boney, held a “church,” or meeting, at an AC member’s home in the Tyler, Texas, area where they planned the logistics of the assault.

On Oct. 2, 2016, Martin, Boney, and other AC members met at a park near Tyler to carry out the assault. On Martin’s order, Boney and another AC member violently beat the victim, including kicking the victim in the head while he was on the ground. This attack resulted in the victim seeking medical care.

Martin and Boney will be sentenced at a date to be determined.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Eastern District of Texas made the announcement.

This case is part of a larger investigation into the Aryan Circle by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct One Constable’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey Department of Corrections-Special Investigations Division; Indiana State Police; Fort Smith (AR) Police Department; Arkansas Department of Corrections; Arnold (MO) Police Department; Jefferson County (MO) Sheriff’s Department; St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; St. Louis County (MO) Police Department; Indiana Department of Corrections; Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Smith County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; McCurtain County (OK) Sheriff’s Office; Montgomery County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Liberty County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Harris County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Mercer County (NJ) District Attorney’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) District Attorney’s Office; and the Sebastian County (AR) District Attorney’s Office.

Trial Attorney Bethany Lipman of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp of the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

VIOLENT CRIMES IN AID OF RACKETEERING, ASSAULT, RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY - AIDING & ABETTING
(2)

Outcome: 03/04/2021 NOTICE RESETTING HEARING as to Michael Martin Change of Plea Hearing RESET for 3/4/2021 02:30 PM in Ctrm 4 (Beaumont) before Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn. ***Time and Judge Change***(ttp, ) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
03/04/2021 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn:Change of Plea Hearing as to Michael Martin held on 3/4/2021. Deft sworn and advised of his rights and pending allegations. Deft pled Guilty to Count 2 and was remanded to USM custody. Appearances: C Rapp, AUSA; R Gertz, def cnsl. Court Time: 3:05pm - 3:16pm (Courtroom Deputy & FTR Op: Piper, T.) (ttp, ) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
03/04/2021 143 CONSENT to Administration of Guilty Plea and Fed.R.Crim.P.11 Allocution by U.S. Magistrate Judge by Michael Martin (ttp, ) (Entered: 03/04/2021)
03/04/2021 144 Factual Basis by USA as to Michael Martin. (ttp, ) (Entered: 03/04/2021)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: