Aryan Brotherhood leader Ronald Yandell sentenced to life in prison for murder and drug smuggling

Ronald Dean Yandell, a leader of the Aryan Brotherhood, was sentenced to multiple life terms for murder and drug smuggling plots. He claimed political retaliation during his court appearance, stating, “I’m still standing,” and indicated plans to appeal. Yandell and co-defendant William Sylvester were convicted in a racketeering case that began in 2019. Despite their convictions, they remain in state prison, with no clear timeline for transfer to federal facilities, which was the original goal of the prosecution. Yandell has spent most of his life in prison, facing accusations of violence against guards and involvement in a hunger strike against solitary confinement. His defense argued that he was targeted due to his activism, but the court denied motions to overturn his convictions.