Solid Wood Soldiers
| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Snake River Correctional Institution, Oregon, United States |
| Years active | 1990´s–present[1] |
| Territory | Texas |
| Ethnicity | White American |
| Activities | Drug trafficking, Murder, extortion,assaults |
The Solid Wood Soldiers (SWS, Stupid Woods or The Wolfpack[2]) is a neo-Nazi prison gang and an organized crime syndicate that is based in the state of Texas. Is mostly known for being involved in crimes such as drug trafficking, assault, murder and racketeering and strong ties to other white supremacist groups.[2][3]
Symbology and identification
[edit]The Solid Wood Soldiers commonly tattoos features the initials SWS, with the two S's often represented by lightning bolts, representing as a marker of membership and allegiance to the gang.[2] Initials usually appears the image of a bear claw, with the number 4 in the middle and sometimes the letters HCRL. Others symbols used by the group is the number four (sometimes representein in Latin or roman numerals) refers to the four letters, which stand for "Honor," "Courage," "Respect," and "Loyalty",[2] the 14/10 numeric symbol in reference of the fourteen words slogan, and the number is about the gang's creed "Unity is the only solution to the white man's revolution."[2]
Arrests
[edit]Between 7 and 8 of 2013, twelve gang members were detained during an anti-racketeering operation in Vidor, Texas. The suspects they were also involved in other crimes methamphetamine trafficking and murder in the Eastern District of Texas.[1][4][5] In January of 2014, Tanner Lynn Bourque, a.k.a “Two Shoes,” or “Hitman,” were pleaded guilty in a murder which happen in Liberty County in 2011 and aiding drug trafficking and was sentenced to life in prison in federal prision.[6][7]
On January 19 of 2023, Orange County Narcotics Division along with other agencies executed a search warrant against Christopher Paul Kirbow, a gang member was seized an indetermined cuantmethamphetamine, ecstasy, hydrocodone, and distribution paraphernalia. The operation took place in the city of Vidor, Orange County, Texas.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "12 Southeast Texas Residents Arrested On Federal Racketeering Charges". United States Attorney. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ a b c d e "'Solid Wood Soldiers". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "Texas among worst for racist prison gangs, Anti-Defamation League study finds". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "Four Southeast Texans Guilty Of Federal Racketeering Crimes". United States Attorney. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ "White Supremacist Pleads Guilty To Racketeering". CBS News Texas. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ "Orange County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering Murder". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ "Man with ties to Aryan Brotherhood gets life sentence in Liberty Co. murder". Chron. Retrieved 2025-02-27.}
- ^ "White supremacist gang member arrested after deputies find drugs, stolen items at house in Vidor". 12 News Now. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ "ORSO and other agencies arrest SWS gang member accused of distributing meth in Vidor area". KFSD. Retrieved 2025-02-27.