The Aryan Brotherhood of Mississippi, a violent prison gang, is explored through the chilling story of Michael Hudson's murder, revealing the gang's structure, drug trade, and the consequences of loyalty and betrayal among its members.
In December 2010, Joseph Brandon Creel, an oil worker and former college football player, found himself embroiled in a chilling situation that would expose the dark underbelly of the Aryan Brotherhood of Mississippi (ABM). This gang, rooted in prison culture, had a significant influence on both incarcerated individuals and those living in the free world. The events that unfolded that night would reveal the gang's violent nature and the consequences of loyalty and betrayal.
Three weeks before Christmas, Creel was enjoying a quiet evening with his girlfriend when he noticed an alarming number of missed calls on his phone. Responding to an urgent request, he quickly dressed and rode his motorcycle to a remote trailer in Petal, Mississippi. There, he was met by two anxious men and the unmistakable smell of cleaning chemicals. Inside the trailer lay the body of Michael "Skip" Hudson, a fellow gang member, wrapped in a rug. Hudson's death was a direct result of escalating gang politics and the methamphetamine trade.
The ABM was established in 1984, modeled after the original Aryan Brotherhood in California. It adopted a paramilitary structure with ranks including captains, lieutenants, and soldiers, governed by a council known as the wheel. The gang's influence spread from prisons to the streets of Mississippi, becoming the premier choice for white inmates. The ABM divided its operations geographically into Northern, Central, and Southern Mississippi, with each region under the control of a spoke.
The ABM embraced various symbols and slogans, including the number 13, representing the letter M for Mississippi. Their main patch has evolved over time but typically features the letters A and B. Members often refer to themselves as "the family" and meet weekly for gatherings known as "Church." The gang's colors—blue, gold, silver, and black—carry specific meanings, with blue representing the upper echelon and black serving as their uniform color.
The ABM's operations were heavily funded by the sale of crystal meth, which was often self-produced due to lax laws in neighboring states. The gang's members were deeply involved in the drug trade, with connections extending beyond Mississippi. In the early 2010s, the ABM sought to unify with the California Aryan Brotherhood, which would have required adopting new symbols and a constitution.
The events leading to Hudson's murder began when he failed to repay a $600 debt for methamphetamine. After Hudson missed a scheduled punishment meeting, tensions escalated. Frankie Owens, an ABM captain, took it upon himself to "gift wrap" Hudson and deliver him to Eric Parker, another ABM member. Hudson was brutally beaten and ultimately murdered in a trailer, with Creel later called in to dispose of the body.
Unbeknownst to the gang members, James Dean, who had lured Hudson to his death, was an FBI informant. He had witnessed the kidnapping and murder but failed to alert authorities out of fear of the gang. This decision would haunt him as the events unfolded.
After disposing of Hudson's body, the gang members attempted to cover their tracks. However, the presence of multiple eyewitnesses and the eventual wiretap by federal authorities led to the exposure of the ABM's extensive meth operations. Seventeen members were indicted, including leaders and associates, as the gang's internal betrayals began to surface.
During the trials, many former members testified against Parker and Owens in exchange for leniency. Creel expressed guilt over turning on his former associates but also blamed Parker for the situation. The trials revealed the extent of the gang's violence and the impact of crystal meth on their lives.
The story of the Aryan Brotherhood of Mississippi serves as a grim reminder of the destructive power of gang life and the drug trade. As former members recounted their experiences, they identified crystal meth as the true downfall of their lives, overshadowing the violence and criminality that defined their existence. The ABM's legacy is one of betrayal, violence, and the tragic consequences of a life steeped in crime.
