12 SE Texans indicted for 'whites only' racketeering

Juanette Cunningham, 46 of Vidor, indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Juanette Cunningham, 46 of Vidor, indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Photo: Orange County Sheriff Photo: Orange County Sheriff Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close 12 SE Texans indicted for 'whites only' racketeering 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

A dozen Southeast Texas residents have been indicted in a "whites only" racketeering enterprise involving methamphetamine distribution and murder.

The four-count indictment was presented to a federal grand jury last Thursday, while seven of the charged defendants were already in custody. The other five were arrested Friday, according to a statement from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

The indictment described SWS as a race-based organization operating inside and outside of jails and prisons primarily in Texas. It was founded in the 1990s by inmates within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

SWS, originally founded as "Stupid Woods," is also known as "Solid Wood Soldiers" and "Separate White State." It has a constitution and bylaws that outline the duties, responsibilities and requirements associated with membership, according to the statement.

The indictment charges all the defendants with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine between September 2010 and March 2011.

The indictment also charges Don Stanely, 25, Tanner "Two Shoes" and "Hitman" Lynn Bourque, 33, Kristopher "Hollywood" Leigh Guidry, 28, and Vicki Stark-Fitts, 49, with murder in aid of racketeering.

According to the release, on March 14, 2011m four of the men fatally shot James Lee "Lil Bit" Sedtal in Liberty County on behalf of SWS, after Sedtal assaulted a man associated with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas.

If convicted of the conspiracy charge, the defendants each face 10 years to life in federal prison.

The case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Time Machine Initiative. Time Machine is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

IMakris@beaumontenterprise.com

Twitter.com/imakris

INDICTED

Don Stanley, 25, of Vidor- also indicted with murder in aid of racketeering

Tanner "Two Shoes" and "Hitman" Lynn Bourque, 33, of Port Arthur- also indicted with murder in aid of racketeering

Kristopher "Hollywood" Leigh Guidry, 28, of Vidor- also indicted with murder in aid of racketeering

Vicki Stark-Fitts, 49, of Hull- also indicted with murder in aid of racketeering

Craig "Lone Wolf" Pipps, 40, of Vidor

Erica Nicole Parrott, 27, of Vidor

Ricky Allen Nichols, 54, of Vidor

Michael Taylor Word, 45, of Silsbee

Juanette "Netty" Marie Cunningham, 46, of Vidor

Mikell "Mikey" Allen Cunningham, 28, of Vidor

Cassi Diane Hetzel, 37, of Silsbee

Mack Langston Warner, 33, of Silsbee

IMakris@beaumontenterprise.com

Twitter.com/imakris