One week ago, Williamson County deputies arrested four suspected Aryan Brotherhood of Texas or ABT members. They were accused of tying up and beating a woman and two men in a Leander area trailer home.
"It's all just a high profile type of crime that we're all concerned about,” said APD Gang Sgt. Lester Vanzura.
Sgt. Lester Vanzura works in partnership with the FBI to closely monitor members of the ABT.
"Probably documented around 80, 83 -- something like that here in the Austin area,” he said.
The Aryan Brotherhood originated in California. The Texas branch formed in the 1980's. Membership has since been extended to those outside prison walls. Vanzura says the numbers in the Austin area remain steady.
Members reside in rural areas similar to the neighborhood north of Leander where the kidnapping occurred. Unlike the tattooed, brawling prison members seen on cable shows, Vanzura says members in our communities like to keep a low profile. The crime of choice is typically dealing narcotics.
"These guys don't have horns growing out of them they aren't inherently evil. They're trying to raise a family too. They'll have a barbecue with their neighbor,” he said.
Vanzura says the gang should not be feared any more than your average criminal. He adds, what happened last Thursday was not random.
"There's a reason behind something that is this public that would draw the attention of the police," he said.
Vanzura says he depends on intelligence to stay one step ahead of gang members. If you know of any gang activity in your neighborhood, call CrimeStoppers at 472-TIPS. You can remain anonymous.
